BOE, MPLA revive talks for new school

The Board of Education met with the Marianas Public Lands Authority yesterday afternoon to revive discussions on the prospective lot for the proposed new junior high and high school in the CNMI.

BOE chair Roman C. Benavente was joined at the MPLA meeting by vice chair Dino Jones, secretary and treasurer Marja Lee Taitano, board member Herman T. Guerrero and PSS CIP coordinator Elizabeth Balajadia. The board met with MPLA commissioner Edward Deleon Guerrero, deputy commissioner Vince Castro and engineer Manny Chargaulaf.

Benavente said the talks was just a preliminary meeting on the requirements of the Public School System for a new school to solve the overcrowding problems in public schools, particularly in Kagman.

“The meeting was to explore the land allocation in Marpi area and As Matuis,” said Benavente.

He said both offices discussed the 4.9-hectares of land needed to construct a new junior high and high school.

Benavente the area being eyed for this new school is close to an area with an existing swimming pool and a baseball field, which are ideal for a new school. He said it is important that the new school have the appropriate amenities to complement the needs of students.

He said, though, that nothing has been finalized yet and that the board would have to send a letter to MPLA asking to formalize the allotment and usage of the public land in Marpi and As Matuis areas for the new school construction.

The board would still have to wait for additional documents. The meeting yesterday, Benavente said, was part of the board’s legwork to firm up the project. Benavente said the MPLA seemed agreeable to the request of the board and would set up a follow-up meeting soon.

This year’s population in several schools increased due to the entry of new students who transferred from the private schools, Benavente said.

ON BUDGET

Benavente said there have been no additional remittances of the remaining funds being asked for by PSS from the local government since April.

Of the $1.1 million in approved funding for public school, as approved in a House Joint Resolution 14-32 in July, only $150,000 has been remitted to the Education office two days before the new school year started early this month. The money was being eyed to repair the burnt down science room of Kagman High School.

Benavente said it is challenging and, at the same time, hard for the board to follow up on their request because they understand the financial plight of the local government.

“We do understand them,” he said. He said he would still have to set up a meeting with the Department of Finance to follow up on the balance.