BOE: Classrooms, not gyms

The Board of Education supports the proposed $20 million general obligation bond to fund school construction efforts, but wants the power to decide how projects will be prioritized.

A legislative resolution sponsored by Rep. David Apatang proposes to allow public borrowing for the construction of gymnasiums at five high schools, classroom renovations, and other capital improvement projects.

In a letter to Rep. David Apatang, sponsor of the proposal, education officials said that while students want gymnasiums, there are urgent school repairs and additional classroom needs that could be funded with the bond money.

According to BOE chair Lucia L. Blanco-Maratita and Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan, there are $8 million worth of critically needed classroom and related school facility repairs currently waiting to be funded.

In addition, more classrooms are needed at the elementary schools in order for the Public School System to offer full day sessions of kindergarten, consistent with accreditation standards set by the Western Association of School and Colleges for several schools. Currently, PSS is only able to offer half-day sessions of kindergarten. About 200 to 250 children start first grade without having attended kindergarten.

The education officials also said that more school facilities will be required in the next few years, as the military buildup in Guam creates an increased need for vocational skill development and construction of vocational schools.

“It is for all of these reasons that we respectfully request that the Board be provided with the flexibility and the authority to decide the priority of projects from the PSS’ seven-year CIP plan that will be undertaken,” said Blanco-Maratita and Sablan.

To be adopted, Apatang’s resolution must be approved by two-thirds of the members in each house of the Legislature.

The proposed bond will fund the building of new gymnasiums at Saipan Southern High School, Kagman High School, Hopwood Junior High School, Rota High School, and Tinian Jr./Sr. High School, as well other unidentified school-related capital improvement projects.

The resolution limits the range of allowable interest rate to 4 percent to 5.5 percent each year, and the term of repayment to 15 years. The bond will be repaid by the central government.

The construction of new gymnasiums is part of PSS’ seven-year capital improvement plan. The CIP plan encompasses PSS’ high priority school facility needs from school year 2004-05 to school year 2011-12. It was drafted in anticipation of continued increase in student population.

In 1999, PSS floated a $16-million general obligation bond, also for capital improvement projects at the schools. PSS is expected to make the final payment to bondholders at the end of the current fiscal year.