Saipan Tribune

Monday, May 20, 2013

Friday, January 18, 2013

BOE affirms partnership with NMC, ad-hoc committee reestablished

The new leadership of the NMI 13th State Board of Education affirmed on Wednesday the organization's commitment in the establishment of a long-desired partnership with the Northern Marianas College Board of Regents.

Newly elected chairman Herman T. Guerrero re-established the ad-hoc committee identified by the previous board that will spearhead the collaboration with the regents. The three-member ad hoc committee will serve as official representatives of the BOE in any and all conversation with the BOR. Guerrero re-appointed Lucy Blanco-Maratita as chairman of the group with members Tanya King and Janice Tenorio.

Blanco-Maratita, during Wednesday's special meeting, disclosed that the committee remains committed in developing a memorandum of understanding with the regents which document will specifically point out the firm goals and objectives of the said partnership.

The committee chairperson reported to the board that based on her conversation with some members of the BOR, the counterpart board was reportedly still interested with the partnership with BOE. She revealed that it's the committee's plan to get a schedule for another roundtable discussion with the regents.

PSS is the islands' public educational institution that offers programs from kindergarten to high school while NMC is the only community college in the Commonwealth.

NMC offers, among other courses, a bachelor degree program for elementary education and certification for other courses such as special education and early intervention programs which also benefited the school system.

It was in September last year when the two institutions of learning in the Commonwealth got together for a historic meeting at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multipurpose Center with the goal of clearing the “gaps” between them and tighten their collaboration for the benefit of all students.

Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan, Ed.D, earlier disclosed to Saipan Tribune that the two institutions' relationship although “healthy,” needs to be improved for a better education system in the Commonwealth.

Sablan said she wants to see a “seamless transition” of PSS graduates to NMC.