Agricultural land eyed for Kagman High School

By Marian A. Maraya

Staff Reporter

House leaders have expedited moves to relocate the construction site of the proposed Kagman High School, requesting Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio to set aside another public land for the school project.

The House Committee on Education last week asked the governor to redesignate public land lot 018-G-03, an agricultural area, to the Public School System. The site is currently designated to the Division of Public Lands.

According to legislators, the proposed site for the high school adjacent to an archaeological site and surrounded by homesteads on three sides is “too small” for a senior high campus which is projected to accommodate some 600 students.

“It’s too small and there would be no room for expansion. And if you take a look at our population, it is increasing,” Rep. Tom Pangelinan pointed out during a meeting between Public School System officials and lawmakers recently.

The former BOE member also expressed fears the proposed facility which is projected to house 675 senior high school students may experience “overcrowding” the moment it is completed.

Leaders believe the site is on a steep slope which may result in a substantial expenditure for earth works and site stabilization.

They cited that conducting the project on a leveled site would save more funds for additional classrooms and instructional technology such as computers.

The proposed relocation site has a land area of 27.3 hectares, 10 times or more the size of the proposed campus site which covers only 2.5 hectares.

The redesignation of the public land lot 018-G-03 to PSS for the Kagman High School will provide sufficient space for future classroom expansions, playfields, and sports and educational facilities.

“The House recognizes that it is the public interest to provide adequate space for the new Kagman high school so that the design capacity is determined by the size of the growing community rather than space limitations,” according to committee members.

The leadership added that proper planning requires that Kagman High School be designed to meet the growing student population in the Kagman, Papago and Capitol Hill area which is the largest residential area in the Commonwealth.

The construction of a new high school in Kagman is being eyed to alleviate overcrowding at Marianas High School which currently houses more than the maximum student capacity set for CNMI’s lone public high school.