‘Deteriorating classrooms pose a hazard to students’

A Board of Education official said that the current state of disrepair and deterioration of classrooms on Saipan pose a hazard to students.

BOE secretary-treasurer Marja Lee Taitano said the use of Public School System facilities as evacuation centers during natural disasters have also wrought havoc on the school calendar.

In a board meeting held Monday, Taitano narrated to the board her recent inspection of school facilities around the island.

She said one school had its classroom doors infested by termites. Taitano said she could not hold the door up and it seemed it would fall on her any time because of the infestation—which makes it an absolute hazard for children using the classroom.

In a previous board meeting, Taitano also told the board that schools have also become indirect casualties when typhoons and other natural disasters strike the island.

She observed that once evacuees leave the schools after the passing of a typhoon, they leave them in complete disarray. She said classrooms are usually left in shambles, tables and chairs are disarranged, and the floors are dirty and soiled.

As a result, principals have to suspend school the following days until such time the classrooms are back to their pre-evacuation condition, Taitano said.

BOE deputy commissioner Dr. David Borja said the board would come out with a revised disaster plan to resolve the matter and prevent future disruption of schools days. He said copies of the said manual would be issued to members next week.

The board also suggested that to prevent future disruptions of the school calendar, disaster officials should also look into using more spacious facilities like the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium for evacuation purposes.

The BOE also said Gov. Juan N. Babauta’s decision to reroute $5.1 million of Compact Impact funding in the next four years to the PSS couldn’t have come at a better and more opportune time.

The BOE was especially relieved to find out that $3 million of the said funding would be earmarked specifically for the upkeep of school facilities.

Taitano also personally thanked the governor for the assistance during the board meeting and said the money “will be used for the revitalization of our schools.”

She also invited Babauta to inspect schools on Saipan and personally identify facilities that need repair.

She said the governor, who is set to leave for Beijing to sign the Approved Destination Status agreement with the Chinese government on Tuesday, has the next 20 days to accept BOE’s invitation to survey school facilities on Saipan.

In a related development, regular classes at all schools will resume on Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2005. The board said it would schedule its inspection of the schools with the governor and finalize the implementation of the repair projects to assure children of not only quality education but also safe and sound facilities as well.