BOE still opposes Tatachug projects

The State Board of Education has deferred a motion calling for a legal action against Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona should he insist on carrying out construction of educational facilities at Tatachug, an area far from where two of the island’s high schools are located.

Two BOE members expressed disappointment over yesterday’s majority vote, worried that BOE may face legal sanctions following reports that Mr. Manglona may take the board to court if it refuses to take on responsibilities of running the proposed Tatachug facilities.

Board Chair Frances H. Diaz voted against the motion reluctant to drag the matter all the way to court.

“We will be spending public money to fight this case if ever,” she explained.

Member Marja Lee Taitano, however, exerted towering efforts during a BOE monthly meeting yesterday, cautioning the board against the mayor’s apparent political grandstanding because of the upcoming election.

“I will not have our children used as a political football,” she said.

The long-standing battle between Rota leaders and BOE on the proposed JROTC, vocational education, and public library facilities has drawn both parties into a tiff.

Rota leaders are determined to erect the said facilities with or without the nod from BOE, according to Ms. Taitano.

“Right now, the contract is being routed. They’re going to build it no matter what the board says,” BOE Capital Improvement Projects Chair Anthony Pellegrino said.

If the mayor and those involved in the construction insist to push through with the project despite BOE’s strong protests, the Commonwealth might as well do without an autonomous board, Mr. Pellegrino added.

“I’d rather fight this thing now than later when the structures are already built,” he continued.

The expenditure authority for the proposed facilities has funds from the Office of Insular Affairs and Rota’s very own CIP funds.

Member Esther Fleming, who is also opposing the construction initiatives, has opted to give way to the project citing it is does not involve PSS funds.

“That money was for the children of Rota — it was meant for PSS, remember the children of Rota. If something else is built with that money, it is not going to PSS,” said Ms. Taitano.

She added that Public Law 10-31 has been earmarked for the students of Rota to provide for the construction of classroom.

“Let’s not let them [Rota leaders] build something and then take us to court and make sure that we’re going to implement the use of it,” said Ms. Taitano.

BOE Teacher Representative David Borja has asked that the board seek legal opinion and review legislation concerning the issue.

Mr. Borja requested that the legal counsel report to the board on the intent and purpose of the said laws to get a clearer picture of the body’s fiduciary responsibilities.

Earlier, BOE members and Rota leaders signed an MOU on the proposed construction of the proposed facilities.

BOE members are mainly worried that overseeing the maintenance of the facilities would be a handful for PSS if it were to be constructed in Tatachug, far away from the school campuses.

The proposed site is also reportedly beside a poorly-managed dump site.

To fast-track on an important project, Mr. Manglona and BOE members earlier requested assistance from the Legislature to effectuate an amenable solution that would serve the best interests of the people of Rota and the CNMI.

The transfer of the Tatachug land title over to PSS and the review and approval of PSS on the structure design process have been the two main conditions needing settlement.

The Legislature has earmarked some $1.7 million for the A&E and construction of a vocational shop and JROTC classrooms including storage rooms for the Rota High School.

Another $2.2 million has also been appropriated for the A&E and construction and paving of village roads in Songsong.

“The new school site will have not only the PSS facilities but the NMC facilities as well. So it’s a joint campus. It’s quite an undertaking for the island of Rota but this is the first step towards this major project,” Rep. William S. Torres had said in an interview.

Mayor Manglona, in earlier reports, said Tatachug is the “ideal site” to erect the facilities. He said it is situated in the middle of the high schools and has ample space for future developments.

“We are also concerned about the population growth because this is an area where people can have access to the facilities. This would serve Songsong Village and the expanding village of Sinapalo,” Mr. Manglona had said.