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Five new buses arrive for public schools
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Posted on Feb 13 2009
The Public School System formally received five spanking new 2009 Blue Bird Vision school buses during a simple turnover ceremony Thursday at the Board of Education.
PSS bus team leader Steve Pangelinan confirmed yesterday that all five 66-seat passenger vehicles will be used by Saipan schools, which currently has only 16 operational buses at its disposal.
Pangelinan said three units are now in the shop either for factory defect or mechanical troubles.
Costing about $95,000 apiece, funding was sourced from a federal grant from the Federal Transport Administration for fiscal year 2007.
Pangelinan yesterday disclosed that the CNMI secured continuous funding support from the federal agency until 2011.
“PSS has secured funding [from the federal agency] until 2011 which may provide our schools 10-12 units,” Pangelinan said.
The bus team leader said Saipan schools will now have 21 buses to transport students to and from schools.
On a daily basis, Pangelinan said the 16 buses transported approximately 2,500-3,500 on Saipan.
Pangelinan said the next shipment of school buses will be awarded to Rota and Tinian schools.
At present, Rota has only one operational bus after two of its units broke down, while Tinian maintained all its three vehicles in operation.
Pangelinan admitted that in order to establish complete service in schools on Saipan, PSS needs approximately 25 to 30 buses.
Due to limited local funding though, the bus fleet was affected and could only employ six bus drivers.
He hopes to get five additional drivers soon—four for Saipan and one for Tinian.
Pangelinan said the riders’ policy was proven effective in maintaining the condition of PSS property like buses.
“We’re seeing a result…and the policy has been effective,” he said, adding that since the revision of the rule that students’ parents are also held accountable for the damage caused by their kids, only few minor violations have been noted.
