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BOE, PSS has no jurisdiction on bus shelters
CNMI education officials said yesterday that the local State Board of Education and the Public School System does not own the bus shelters located in villages.
BOE chair Herman T. Guerrero said they are glad that community members are stepping up and taking charge in the repair and maintenance of more than 20 bus shelters scattered around the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
“We just want to clarify that they are not owned by the PSS, they are not PSS property. Our job is to pick up and drop off kids, that’s it,” said Guerrero after yesterday’s special board meeting at the PSS Emergency Operations Center in Capital Hill.
“We’re glad that there are businesses and organizations who are helping in the maintenance of these bus shelters. Companies maintain and repair a lot of these bus shelters. We don’t ask them to do it and neither do we issue permits for them to do it,” added Guerrero.
He said that businesses or organizations wrote to the PSS as courtesy and informing them that they would repair or adopt a bus shelter for them to maintain it. “If they say they are going to do it, we welcome their help.”
“Again, we are not the agency that oversees it. It is not on PSS land, bus shelters are built on public land. This is beyond the authority and jurisdiction of the board. We don’t own the property and did not build the facilities.”
Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan added that with the bus shelters built on public lands, it is the Department of Public Works’ duty to maintain it. She said that they don’t earmark any funds since DPW is responsible for right of way facilities and those built on public land.
“Bus shelters are an extension of the schools so we also make sure they are properly maintained. We just collaborate with DPW with this since they don’t have enough staff.”
She said that’s why they are encouraging community involvement when it comes to the repair and maintenance of the bus shelters. “Organizations like the Rotary, Lions, and others help in maintaining these shelters and we are truly grateful for all their help.”
