BOE unaware of Lab School talks

Board of Education chair Roman Benavente said the board is unaware of any talks regarding the proposed transfer of College Lab School to the Public School System.

“I would want to be briefed on this issue. This has not been raised to the board,” said Benavente, adding that he would ask Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos about it.

Acting Northern Marianas College president Antonio V. Deleon Guerrero earlier said that NMC and PSS are in “exploratory discussions” regarding the possible transfer of the Lab School to PSS.

He said that initial talks indicated Tanapag as possible venue for the Lab School.

“That’s the suggestion of PSS because Tanapag has available rooms and it has less students compared to other schools,” Guerrero had said.

The NMC official said that both NMC and PSS will form their respective task forces to assess the plan and come up with a recommendation next year.

“We don’t want to rush this,” he said.

Initial discussions showed that PSS could take over the administration of the Lab School while NMC would remain in control of the curriculum. PSS would provide a principal for the school, while NMC would share in providing teachers.

Initial plan requires NMC to provide four FTES for the Lab School.

Authorities said the partnership would both benefit the college and PSS: It would unburden NMC from having to pay the rental fee annually for housing units for the Lab School while it would allow free access to the Lab School for its teacher training program.

Further, he said that PSS would be getting NMC-paid teachers for the Lab School.

“The whole idea is to improve the quality of learning and to make sure it’s cost-effective,” Guerrero said.

Once PSS comes in, Lab School students’ tuition would reportedly be waived.