Atalig is elected BOE chair
A new set of officers will helm the newly formed 19th Board of Education, with the most senior member, retired sergeant major Herman Manglona Atalig, being elected chairman during last Friday’s election of officers.
Atalig, who is Rota’s elected member and is a Vietnam War veteran, succeeds Antonio L. Borja of Tinian, who was the youngest elected member and chairman in BOE’s 35-year history.
All five voting members unanimously elected Atalig to his post, and also elected Saipan BOE member Maisie Bermudes Tenorio as the new BOE vice chairperson. She succeeds Atalig.
Another Saipan BOE member, Gregory Pat Borja, was re-elected unanimously as secretary/treasurer.
“I am overwhelmed with my colleagues entrusting me with this great responsibility. I feel that with all your support, we will continue to be united, to come together. And I strongly feel that if we continue to do that, we could move mountains,” said Atalig following his election. “I definitely accept this responsibility and will do my very best and all of my effort to continue to commit to helping our students. Our students will remain my priority—our priority.”
Atalig said it has been his nature to take care of the CNMI’s people since his time in the U.S. military, so he believes it is important to continue to support all Public School System staff and personnel, which is under the leadership of the new Education commissioner, Dr. Lawrence Camacho.
The new set of officers will serve one-year terms.
Before the election, then-chair Antonio L. Borja presided over the meeting. The election began with the process of nominating candidates to the various positions.
Atalig was nominated by Gregory Pat Borja.
Another Saipan elected BOE member, Andrew L. Orsini, nominated Tenorio.
Gregory Pat Borja was nominated by former chair Antonio L. Borja.
The BOE is the policymaking and governing body of PSS. It is a constitutionally created independent board of the CNMI government. It is composed of five elected and voting members and three non-voting members.
The three non-voting members are teacher representative Dr. Dora Borja Miura; student representative Jane Mozunder, and non-public school representative Dr. Ronald Snyder.
BOE policy requires an annual election of officers. (PR)
Newly elected Board of Education chair Herman M. Atalig of Rota, right, confers with his predecessor, former chair Antonio L. Borja of Tinian, during last Friday’s BOE meeting on Capital Hill.
-BOE
Herman Manglona Atalig
Gregory Pat Borja
Maisie Bermudes Tenorio
