PSS, NMC eyes sharing of resources

The meager budget for education has gathered officials from the Public School System and the Northern Marianas College to discuss ways to share available resources.

In an interview with BOE Chairman Esther Fleming, she said PSS hopes to work with NMC to promote its advanced program in the high school level, Teachers Academy and implementation of set standards.

“I think we can be able to maximize our resources. We can utilize some of the resources that the college has to promote some of our programs,” she said.

Currently, PSS is planning to offer students who are performing ahead of the class an advanced academic program. Officials are looking at college instructors who can present the group with a higher academic challenge curriculum.

With the existence of the Teachers Academy at the Marianas High School, PSS would like to work closely with NMC’s Education program to prepare students with the standards set at the elementary and secondary levels.

“Then these students, who are aspiring to become teacher, would be more familiar, can build ownership and better implement the different standards that we set for our students,” she said.

The PSS has adopted U.S. standards on language, reading, Math and Science. At present, in-coming teachers have to undergo training about the various standards. In the future, the Board would like to welcome teachers who are already familiar with the different standards.

Board of Regents Chairman Manuel Sablan is also planning to merge its procurement requirement with PSS considering its size and resources.

“I think the Regent Chair has been a visionary on how we can be able to share, not only for the teaching staff but also for purchase orders on some of the large supplies we get from off-island,” Fleming said.

She is set to present such proposals to the board.

The college is scheduled to revive discussions with PSS over the promotion of the health profession in the secondary level to boost its Nursing program enrollment.

The program is continuously struggling with its yearly enrollment which has remained low despite of the huge demand for nurses in the CNMI.

In addition, NMC is pursuing plans to offer a four-year degree in Nursing and officials have considered the increase in its enrollment to justify government investment for a full program.