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Fitial promises to reimburse GTC by June
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Posted on Feb 12 2009
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has promised to reimburse the Public School System within four months of all funds that will be used to renovate the Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School.
This was stated in a joint letter sent yesterday by Fitial and GTC principal Charlotte Camacho to Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan.
The reimbursement will come from the under-runs of other CIP funded projects, which have been or will be closed out within the next few months.
Fitial had asked PSS and the Education Board to reallocate the $1.2 million he had reprogrammed for schools last year to the GTC project, in light of the cancellation of the grant originally intended for the project.
“Gov. Fitial guaranteed that he would, within four months time [by June 2009], restore the full amount of reprogrammed funds for GTC from the $1.2 million back to PSS,” Camacho, in a letter concurred by Fitial, told the commissioner.
Camacho asked PSS for $536,500 for critical repairs and $175,000 for collateral equipment for the school. The Education Board approved yesterday only $300,000-plus for the rehabilitation of two buildings.
Camacho told Sablan that time is of the essence with regards to the GTC project.
“At this point, we cannot count on the [grant] funding in order to begin and complete work in time for the new school year,” she said.
The principal said that GTC, with the assistance of the PSS CIP, have taken measures and made preparations to begin work on the critical renovations.
“Our goal is to complete all work during the 2009 summer intercession, so as to minimize construction hazards and disruptions to the students during the school year,” she said.
She added that in order to meet this goal and begin the 2009-2010 school year on time, the procurement process and acquisition of necessary certifications must begin.
“Funding must be obligated and available for commitment on this project, within the next month,” the principal added.
