$200K needed for high school interscholastic sports

The Public School System recently asked for the governor’s help in funding an after-school sports program in the Commonwealth.

The PSS said it needs a total $200,000 to fund the Interscholastic Sports Program for the five high schools in the CNMI.

Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos disclosed in a statement that the money for the program could not be taken from either the Safe and Drug Free Program or Title V U.S. Department of Education federal funds, or even the annual local appropriation to the PSS.

“I am respectfully requesting your support for an [Office of Telecommunications and Information Applications] grant to support this expanded Interscholastic Sports Program,” the commissioner said. “It is for this reason that we seek your support for this Interscholastic Sports Program and respectfully request that you present it on our behalf to [Department of the Interior] Deputy Assistant Secretary David Cohen.”

The grant would support cost of coaches, referees, officials, and timekeepers, sports equipment, travel, and annual training for each sport.

If granted, each of the five high schools would get $36,756 for equipment and uniforms. The schools would also split $12,622 for team travel between Tinian, Rota, and Saipan, and another $4,000 for training of coaches, referees, umpires, and timekeepers.

The PSS receives some $36.9 million in local appropriation; however, Inos said that alone would not be able to support the program.

“The $36.9 million annual local appropriation to the PSS, provided under continuing resolution at P.L. 13-24 levels, pays for majority of our personnel and almost nothing else,” she said.

Interscholastic sports include archery, outrigger canoe racing, swimming, track and field, volleyball, baseball, basketball, football, and field hockey.

“Interscholastic sports provide high school athletes with the opportunity to achieve the success they seek in sports as well as developing teamwork skills that [they] will use for the rest of their lives in many endeavors far removed from competitive sports,” the commissioner said.

The OTIA assists state and local governments, educational and health care entities, libraries, public service agencies, and other groups to better provide public services and advance other national goals. It features a competitive grant program aimed at accomplishing those goals.

The PSS said the goal of the program is to provide competitive individual and team sports programs for the 3,162 students enrolled at secondary schools.