‘Temporary Hopwood campus inappropriate’

Admiral Herbert G. Middle School Parent-Teacher Association president Rosalie Litulumar presents the PTSA’s letter to the CNMI State Board of Education’s Capital Improvement Projects & Public School System Property standing committee and Education Commissioner Glenn Muña yesterday during the committee meeting yesterday at the BOE office on Capital Hill. (Marc A. Venus)

Parents of students attending the Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood Middle School said its temporary campus beside the Koblerville Elementary School is unsuitable for their children.

The school’s Parent-Teacher Student Association raised their concerns yesterday in a letter read by PTSA president Rosalie Litulumar during a meeting of the Board of Education’s Capital Improvement Projects & Public School System Property Committee at the CNMI BOE office.

Reading the letter, Litulumar said the PTSA is concerned about the current status of the children attending the temporary campus in Koblerville. Hopwood’s campus in Chalan Piao was destroyed during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Yutu in October 2018.

“We appreciate the fact that a few months after Super Typhoon Yutu hit and caused damage to our old campus…a temporary campus was built for our children to have access to full-day instructions,” she said.

However, the PTSA deems the temporary campus “inappropriate for young children” since it lacks facilities that would create a safe environment for children that is conducive to learning.

They pointed out that the temporary campus lacks a stage, sports and recreational areas, restrooms, and other facilities. Another concern is the lack of covered walkways, on contrast to the old campus.

If necessary, the group is willing to work with the CIP committee and PSS to do several fundraising activities to assist with the renovations and rebuilding of the damaged campus.

“It is very alarming that, up to this date, we have not seen any improvement or development on the renovation and rebuilding of the old campus [in] Chalan Piao,” Litulumar said.

Hopwood principal Dr. Rizalina Liwag told the CIP committee that the Hopwood campus has a total of 35 classrooms, with 19 classrooms being functional. She suggested to the committee and to Education Commissioner Glenn Muña the possibility of conducting double session classes at Hopwood using these classrooms.

Liwag also told the committee that the school currently has 890 students registered to date; she expects the number to grow in the coming days. Classes will begin on Sept. 3.

PSS expects $24 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the repair and renovation of the Hopwood campus. The project is currently on hold as PSS is waiting for FEMA’s approval on the project worksheet for the campus.

Muña turned down the idea of having double sessions at the Hopwood campus, saying he wants to avoid having more schools undergoing double sessions. He would rather meet with the PTSA and Liwag to talk about their plans for the future of the campus and its renovations.

Five schools will be having double sessions this new school year: Oleai Elementary School, San Vicente Elementary School, Francisco M. Sablan Middle School, William S. Reyes School, and the Koblerville Elementary School.

The CIP committee consists of BOE board members Herman Atalig and MaryLou Ada, BOE chair Janice Tenorio, and BOE teacher representative Paul Miura.