The former education commissioner, Quitugua added, should be honored for her “untiring and outstanding contributions to the Public School System and to the people of the commonwealth.”
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial signed the law on July 8 renaming the school in Songsong, Rota.
Senate Local Bill 17-1, which Sen. Jovita M. Taimanao introduced, is now Rota Local Law 17-6.
Quitugua said they will conduct a ceremony during the opening of classes in honor of their school’s new name.
“We are now preparing a big event. We are proud of our new name,” she told Variety.
She said they had been anticipating the name-change since Inos passed away on Aug. 10 last year. Inos, 55, had cancer.
During the public hearing on Taimanao’s bill, community members, particularly parents, expressed their support for it.
“Most of them were in favor and some even suggested that a bigger school or building should be named after Dr. Inos because her contributions were CNMI-wide,” Quitugua said.
She said they strongly supported the bill since Inos was a former administrator of their school.
Taimanao, Ind.-Rota, described Inos as a woman with a great work ethic.
“Knowing that education is an important factor to a person’s success, the late Dr. Rita Hocog Inos advocated its importance to the CNMI youth and led by example,” she said in her bill.
Under the new law, the mayor of Rota, in coordination with PSS, will prepare a plan of dedication within 60 days from the effective date of R.L.L. 17-6.
The current school uniforms, materials, supplies, equipment and other resources bearing the old name of the school will be used until depleted.
All new school materials and equipment will bear its new name.
Kindergarten
Also this year, Quitugua said their school was chosen as one of the three pilot areas for a full-day kindergarten class.
The other schools are Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School on Saipan and Tinian Elementary School.
She said they are anticipating having 15 to 20 kindergarten students from the Head Start Center in Songsong.
