Borja, Orsini elected Board of Education chair, secretary-treasurer

The current elected members of the CNMI Board of Education elected Gregory Pat Borja to lead the governing and policymaking body of the Public School System, filling out the position that was left vacant following the resignation due to health reasons of its former chairperson.

Rota’s Herman Atalig of Rota stepped down last July.

Prior to last week’s election, Maisie B. Tenorio assumed the acting chairperson capacity for four months. She reverts back to her previous position as vice chairperson.

Borja, the former secretary-treasurer, was nominated by Tinian BOE member Antonio L. Borja and was seconded by Tenorio. It was a unanimous board for all elected members. The other elected BOE members are Andrew L. Orsini of Saipan and Daniel O. Quitugua of Rota.

The BOE also elected Orsini as the new secretary-treasurer, succeeding Borja.

“I appreciate everyone’s faith in my leadership,” Borja said in a brief remark. He was also elected BOE chairman in 2022.

Orsini, for his part, expressed his appreciation to his colleagues: “I will do my best to serve the needs of our community through our BOE.”

New student representative is sworn in

Before the BOE election, then-acting chair Masie B. Tenorio administered the oath of office of Vinnie Juan Q. Sablan as the new student representative to the policy and governing body of the school district.

Sablan is the current speaker of the CNMI Youth Congress. He is a junior attending Kagman High School.

“I’m excited to serve our public school students with this new appointment. For now, I will use this opportunity to listen and observe (how the BOE works),” said Sablan.

Sablan was accompanied by his parents, Vinnie and Roca Sablan, during his official swearing-in yesterday morning at the BOE conference room on Capital Hill.

In welcoming the new student representative, Tenorio was joined by BOE members Gregory Pat Borja, Antonio L. Borja, Antonio L. Orsini, Daniel Quitugua, non-public school representative Dr. Ronald Snyder, and teacher representative Dr. Dora Miura, who participated online.

Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho led PSS management in witnessing the ceremony.

“We look forward to working with you through the many programs and initiatives that we have for our students… that are being implemented in all of our elementary, middle, and high schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota,” Camacho said.

Tenorio formally introduced the new student representative yesterday morning before the start of the regular BOE meeting.

“I would like to congratulate the new student representative who is also the speaker of the youth congress,” BOE member Quitugua said.

“Thank you for accepting this opportunity to take the lead on behalf of our public school students. We’re glad that you’re joining us,” BOE member Orsini said separately. (PR)