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Smooth opening for newly merged schools on Rota
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Posted on Sep 13 2011
The opening of classes at Dr. Rita H. Inos Junior and High School went smoothly, according to Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan.
Sablan, who personally visited Rota last week to witness the first day of classes at the newly merged school, said opening day went well because of a two-day orientation conducted for all students last Sept. 1 and 2 in preparation for their transfer to the new campus last Sept. 6.
“Students arrived on schedule, they knew where to go, they knew where the school cafeteria is, they knew where the classrooms are, and everybody was in class at exactly 8:30am. It went well and this is because of the orientations held before the school opened,” said Sablan.
As of Sept. 6, the commissioner said the school recorded 282 enrollees from 7th through 12th grade.
Last Aug. 25 the Board of Education approved the merger of Dr. Rita H. Inos Junior High School and Rota High School to realize savings for the Public School System.
The effort was part of the “budget balancing” of the commissioner, who anticipated a financially tight school year for all public schools.
Sharlene Manglona is the principal of newly merged school, while Annette Calvo serves as vice principal.
PSS federal programs officer Tim Thornburgh earlier estimated that savings from the merger will reach about $540,000, including savings on utility consumption as a result of the shutting down of some high school buildings. From 35 classroom teachers, the merger also brought down the number of teachers to 22.
Sablan pointed out that although students are now housed at the junior school campus, some facilities in the high school will remain open such as the gymnasium, baseball field, and JROTC building.
Those facilities, Sablan said, will be used for physical education sessions, JROTC classes, special school programs, and is open for community related activities and events.
For many years, the junior high school accommodated sixth to eighth graders, while Rota High School housed 9th to 12th graders.
On top of the merger, PSS also approved the moving out of sixth graders from Dr. Rita H. Inos Junior High School to Sinapalo Elementary School, where Sablan said she also observed a smooth start of classes last week.
