PSS notes significant accomplishments

Caught in apparently never-ending hurdles during the past year, the public education sector found the biggest challenge in keeping the powerhouse of the Public School System motivated towards achieving its goals.

Instituted to provide free and quality education in the Commonwealth, Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos admits the task was never an easy undertaking, especially for a system that was not spared from the pinch of the global economic crisis.

“I have to say that though 2000 has been a better year for PSS, it hasn’t been any easier. But we have definitely made significant movements. There are so many tremendous accomplishments worthy of merit. But the most challenging part was keeping the motivation up among the personnel and other individuals that have kept the system afloat,” says Dr. Inos.

As commissioner for over two years, Dr. Inos confesses she is now more capable to wrestle comfortably with the system and the bureaucracy.

Reflecting on the past 12 months of a series of learning experiences, one after another, Dr. Inos ushers in the new millennium with three supreme hopes in mind: to improve communication between PSS leaders and the community, to draw more public support, and to secure adequate funding for the system through the budget passage.

“These are three of my fervent wishes for 2001,” she says.

Backtracking on the year that was, PSS is proud to highlight the successful unveiling of the $6 million Kagman Elementary School as the most historical year 2000 event for PSS.

The campus is comprised of eight artistically designed buildings that now houses over 800 students, fully-air-conditioned and equipped with 27 classrooms.

Two new public schools are soon to rise on Saipan after the PSS signaled its contractors to begin construction to two additional campuses envisioned to ease overcrowding in existing schools.

PSS officials and legislators convened for two separate groundbreaking ceremonies at Kagman and Koblerville to kick-off actual construction activities to two of the school system’s major CIP undertaking.

This year, PSS was also able to formulate a master plan for the system-wide electronic linkup of public schools across the Northern Marianas.

“The linkage will allow us to access unlimited communications capability through the E-rate program under the Schools and Libraries Division. This is a drive that has been made possible through the collaboration of key partners, PSS, PREL, with their technical expertise and University of Hawaii Peacesat,” says Dr. Inos.

The school system also launched last October its annual report card on the state of CNMI’s public education, an eight-page statistical account that speaks of the PSS’ year-long accomplishments.

Some 8,000 copies of the report card is currently being distributed to the whole community containing PSS’ four strategic priorities to include high student performance, effective and efficient operations, safe and orderly schools, and quality teacher, administrators and staff.

The data showed at least three indicators that signify improvement within the school system: the school context that relates to conditions (demographic characteristics of students and the personnel profile) of the system, the process that reflects on school resources and school improvement priorities, and the outcome indicator, described as the most significant of all three, is reflected on the teaching and learning, student profile on attendance, performance on achievement tests and completion rates.

“These indicators have helped us in tracking whether there’s movement in what the students are learning, in the areas that we have identified as critical for the Commonwealth,” the commissioner explains.

Dr. Inos is also proud to note that the Western Association of Schools and Colleges granted this year full accreditation to Tinian public schools. Rota schools also gained a 6-year accreditation merit from the same accrediting institution.

Saipan schools likewise achieved high accreditation ratings, with newly-established DanDan Elementary School gaining a three-year accreditation.

PSS statistics reveal that student enrollment in public schools are on a steady increase by 2.57 percent this school year or equivalent to an additional 235 students in PSS classrooms, excluding head start and early childhood pupils.

According to Dr. Inos, figures indicate an improvement of public perception and the community’s rising confidence on public education, noting that students who have entered PSS schools last August are transferees from private institutions.