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PSS says 26 buses and 6 vans ready for school opening
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Posted on Sep 01 2011
By Moneth Deposa
Reporter
Reporter
Public school buses are now ready when classes open on Tuesday.
Bus pupil transportation program manager Eric Atalig disclosed yesterday that 26 buses and six special education vans will be used for all public schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
Atalig said that 22 buses with 66-seat capacity are assigned to Saipan schools while Rota and Tinian schools have two each.
On Saipan, 20 buses will be fully operational starting Tuesday while two will serve as reserve vehicles.
The buses, according to Atalig, are considered new as they were procured beginning 2005 except for two that were bought in 2000.
He said they have 17 school bus drivers on Saipan, all equipped with the necessary knowledge to ensure the safety of passengers. Bus department employees were among the Public School System personnel that went through extensive professional development sessions and trainings.
As of Aug. 24, PSS enrollment was at 10,737-5,288 in elementary, 4,987 in secondary; and 462 in Head Start.
Saipan Tribune learned that last school year, the bus pupil transportation department transported 3,335 students daily for its morning and afternoon routes on Saipan.
According to Atalig, PSS is working to acquire an additional fleet of buses due to the increasing population in public schools.
For this school year, he expects the most number of students to come from San Roque all the way to Beach Road and Middle Road-mostly students of big schools such as Garapan Elementary, Oleai Elementary, and Hopwood Junior High School.
Atalig said a significant number of students are also expected from Tanapag and Gregorio T. Camacho areas, who will attend classes at Kagman High School and Chacha Oceanview Junior High School.
Atalig said his department is in the process of completing the revised PSS riders’ rules and procedures as well as changes in the bus stations for students.
