Around $4.8 million\u2014to provide for 18 to 24 new classrooms and teachers\u2014is needed to expand the Public School System\u2019s full-day kindergarten program across the islands, according to Education Commissioner Dr. Rita Sablan.<\/p>\n
A majority of schools with kindergarten programs do not offer full-time classes.<\/p>\n
Right now, San Vicente, Kagman, and Sinapalo elementary schools offer full-time sessions, according to Sablan, with Gregorio T. Camacho, Oleai, Tinian, William S. Reyes, Koblerville, and Garapan elementary schools offering double-sessions in a day.<\/p>\n
According to Sablan, the group of schools with double-sessions needs about 18 new classrooms to accommodate full-time kindergarten.<\/p>\n
Students for these schools attend two-hour classes in the morning, with a second session of different students in the afternoon, according to Sablan.<\/p>\n
But while SVES and SES offer full-time, this might need reassessment, according to the commissioner.<\/p>\n
\u201cSan Vicente has an enrollment of at least 22 kids to a classroom, and it should be 20. We want to bring it down. We need to bring it down to 20,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
The Board of Education promulgates a 20-to-1 student teacher ratio in the primary and elementary, and 25-to-1 ratio in the middle school and high schools.<\/p>\n
Sablan said 10 or 15 children per classroom is \u201cabout right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are a group of kids just developing their cognitive and emotional skills. You need to have that 1 on 1, or 5 to 1,\u201d she said, noting that even at home three kids may be a handful for one parent.<\/p>\n
The estimated cost to build a new classroom is $200,000, according to PSS federal programs officer Tim Thornburg.<\/p>\n
Originally set at 24 classrooms and teachers, the opening of new middle schools on island changed this total, according to the Sablan.<\/p>\n
Less teachers, growing schools<\/p>\n
The Marianas High School at one point had 50 classroom teachers for 900 to 1,000 students, according to Sablan.<\/p>\n
Now with about 1,500 students, the largest on island, they are down to 38 teachers, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need about a hundred more classroom teachers to bring down the student teacher ratio [in public schools],\u201d Sablan said.<\/p>\n
For MHS, the school would need about 30 more teachers, according to her.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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