At least $389K for new laptops and LCDs

At least $389,000—and up to $511,000—will be given to the Public School System for the purchase of laptop computers and LCDs for schools, according to Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos.

Inos told elementary school principals last week that she had received a letter from Margaret Spellings of the U.S. Department of Education in Washington D.C. in July reminding PSS that the extension of the Quality Zone Academy Bonds for 2003 allocation will expire through the end of this year.

“QZABs are bonds that the federal government subsidizes by allowing bondholders to receive tax credits that are approximately equal to the interest that States and communities would pay holders of taxable bonds,” said Spellings in her letter to Inos.

Inos said that PSS purchased laptops and LCDs for the CNMI’s secondary school teachers last year, using the consolidated grant funds.

“This year we have a new source of funds to support this technology initiative,” she said.

She said this innovative instructional technology initiative is being implemented to enable elementary school teachers to conduct research, prepare innovative lessons and present them to their students using the latest technology.

Inos asked the elementary principals to convene their teachers and get input on the required software applications to be installed on the laptops. She said they should inform associate commissioner for administrative services David M. Borja about this requirement.

The deadline for submission of software and hardware recommendations would be on Sept. 30.

Spellings said the funds may be used to rehabilitate or repair school facilities, purchase equipment, develop curricula, and train school personnel. She said the funds could not be used for new construction of school facilities.

“QZAB’s can help schools save up to 50 percent of the cost of financing allowable activities,” Spellings said.

She said the extension of the 2003 allocation until the end of this year came about when the U.S. Congress adopted President Bush’s proposal to extend the QZAB authority through 2005 as part of the Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004, Public Law 108-311. The current legislation, she said, continues the QZAB program at its prior annual bond allocation level of $400 million a year.

Federal programs adviser Tim Thornburgh said the QZAB funds would be distributed among grades 3 to 6 elementary school teachers in the CNMI. The Board of Education still has to approve the proposal use of the funds in this Thursday’s board meeting.

After the board approves the proposal, Thornburgh said it will then be forwarded to the Legislature for a House Joint Resolution and all the way up to the Senate for final approval.

He said the school system is eyeing to acquire all the new laptops and LCDs before Christmas break this year.

“We’re hoping we get the necessary approvals next week,” he said.

The project is in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education and the Internal Revenue Service.