Construction of new elementary school pushed

Foreseeing a sharp population growth in the northern part of Saipan within the next three years, Rep. Dino M. Jones has proposed that a new public elementary school be erected in the As Matuis area.

Mr. Jones, who has yet to present the proposal to the State Board of Education, cited that numerous homestead projects being developed in the Tanapag, San Roque, and Marpi areas are bound to increase the population up north.

He assessed that proposed and ongoing infrastructure projects could add up to over 1,300 lots within the succeeding years, excluding residential homes already in place within that section of the island.

Population is expected to reach its height as residents four to five times the number of homesteads are envisioned to reside in the area.

To date, the Department of Public Lands has issued some 273 homestead lots in least three villages within the area, according to Mr. Jones.

He added that an estimated 380 homesteads to comprise residential units at the Tanapag Heights are also targeted to reach completion by September 2001.

Furthermore, developers are laying the groundwork for the development of two more homesteads within the neighborhood, the legislator added.

Plans are underway to develop some 523 lots at Marpi’s Suicide Cliff and an additional 411 at I-Maddok or San Juan which are scheduled to break ground in 2004 after undetonated World War II bombs are eliminated within the vicinity.

“We are talking about approximately over 1,300 new homesteads in the Northern Saipan. When you add this to the number of already existing residences in these areas, we are talking about a housing population nearly the size of the newly developed Kagman I, II, and II areas,” said Mr. Jones.

He added that the aging San Roque Elementary School is now overcrowded while the Tanapag Elementary School has also reached its maximum student capacity.

“It’s time to begin planning for the future now. I will be asking the BOE to start planning for these new developments,” he said.

The Public School System recently unveiled construction plans to three new high schools on Saipan with hopes of eliminating overcrowding in public junior and senior high schools on the island.

A meeting with construction experts, PSS, and the Legislature was held recently to study the blueprints for the multi-million dollar facilities. (MM)