Pangelinan: Time for exploring, growing

Yvonne R. Pangelinan

Acting Education commissioner Yvonne R. Pangelinan is hoping the weather would cooperate so classes in all public schools would go smoothly as planned. Tropical Storm Chanthu, since yesterday, had been battering the islands with heavy rains and strong winds.

“[Today] marks a new year of exploring and growing for our kids. We are eager to see their smiling faces once more,” Pangelinan told Saipan Tribune. “We hope the weather subsides enough to have a smooth first day.”

As of 8pm last night, Chanthu is moving north-northeast packing maximum sustained winds of 40mph but is expected to move further away from the Marianas by Monday afternoon.

Pangelinan, who was appointed by the CNMI State Board of Education on an acting capacity, said the Public School System has been preparing for the resumption of classes for more than two weeks.

“We are excited to have our students back in school. Administrators and teachers have worked tirelessly to prepare their classrooms. Our vendors with the Food and Nutrition Program have been making sure all cafeterias are ready,” said Pangelinan.

“School teams are ready to work with the programs and facilitate learning support. Training [also] took place last week to ensure that teachers were updated on the curriculum and instruction. Most parent orientations have been held last week or will be held this week.”

She added that the Office of Pupil Transportation has also assessed all routes and bus stops last week. “Bus drivers are ready and have familiarized themselves with routes and assessing the roads.”

OPT director Kimo Rosario said they are all set to transport more than 3,000 students to their respective public schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The OPT is one of eight divisions in the PSS’ administrative services that is directly under the Commissioner of Education.

Rosario, in a telephone interview, said they have checked all the buses that will be used to pick up and drop off the students. “We’re all set and all fleets are ready. There are 17 active buses on Saipan that can carry 66 passengers each.”

“They have been serviced, checked, tested, and ready to go. The drivers and I have assessed all the road conditions, routes, and bus shelters. The highways and gravel roads are all in good shape,” said Rosario, who added that the same goes to the two buses each for Tinian and Rota.

There are also six vans ready to transport Special Education students here on Saipan with three having wheel chair lifters. Tinian and Rota had one each.

“We’re not anticipating any problems and weather permitting we won’t encounter any,” added Rosario.