PSS ready for new school year

Classes in CNMI public schools start tomorrow, Aug. 16, and the Public School System is ready as ever for the new school year, according to Education Commissioner Cynthia Deleon Guerrero

“All schools will be ready to welcome our students on Aug. 16, 2017. Many building renovations have been completed over the summer so that our schools would be ready. The Human Resources Office has also been actively recruiting teachers and staff the entire year. There is still the need of a few more teachers and we will continue to aggressively recruit to fill these positions,” said Deleon Guerrero.

She said thanks to the CNMI Legislature giving PSS a supplemental budget, they were able to complete a number of infrastructure projects before the start of the 2017-2018 school year.

“Several school improvement projects that had been on hold last year, due to the unavailability of funds have now been completed as a result of PSS receiving a supplemental budget.”

Deleon Guerrero said PSS continued to work on programs during the summer as part of its preparation for the new school year.

“Many activities have been implemented since the summer in our preparation for the new school year. Our priority areas include student safety, health, and wellbeing.”

Student safety is part of PSS’ priority list due to a couple of reported burglaries that happened in some schools during the summer.

“The PSS has an action plan that addresses increased security measures at all schools.” Deleon Guerrero said

The PSS adheres to the benefits of accreditation to attain requirements that meet educational program standards.

“We continue to be accredited by AdvancEd. PSS received a system-wide accreditation status two years ago that covers the Board of Educaiton, PSS Central Office, 19 public elementary, middle, and high schools and 10 Head Start centers.”

“AdvancEd has a globally recognized and research-based Standards for Quality School System that it applies and implements in district/system-wide accreditation process.” Deleon Guerrero said.

To date, PSS does not have the final list of enrollees until registrations are completed. As for the PSS Suggested School Supplies list, Deleon Guerrero said, “the final list of Suggested School Supplies will be organized by grade level and grade clusters, and will be distributed by Week 3 of instruction.”