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OIA concerned about ‘untouched’ $1.3M for Tinian school project
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Posted on Apr 23 2009
Visiting officials from the U.S. Office of Insular Affairs have expressed concern about some $1.3 million in untouched federal funds that were originally earmarked to build classrooms at Tinian High School.
The money has been available since 2003 and the deadline to use the funds is on Sept. 30, 2009.
“OIA has set timeline to make sure the project is completed within that timeframe. Since we have yet to start this school project, we know that Sept. 30 is not a feasible date to complete it. So our plan is to immediately go ahead with the process and maybe we can ask OIA for a possible extension, which we hope would be considered because the project is ongoing by that time,” said Sen. Joseph Mendiola, Tinian Legislative Delegation chair.
He said the project’s delay was a result of changes in the original plan due to an “overlooked” electrical situation in the campus.
Mendiola said the $1.3 million, intended for a 10-classroom building at Tinian High, was a balance from some $5 million in OIA funding for Tinian schools’ improvements in 2003.
“The problem arose when they built the THS and they never identified the electrical upgrade. They expanded the school with the existing transformer but when they opened it, this overloaded the system, prompting the delegation to plan anew for the needed transformer,” Mendiola explained.
He said the current plan is to build a five-classroom building to accommodate the electrical upgrade. The delegation is working with the Public School System and the Department of Public Works on the project.
The $1.3 million, however, may not be enough for the project, but Mendiola said they have to work with what can be accommodated under the available amount.
“We may need additional funding for the completion of this project…because the construction cost may increase since it was planned years ago. But what we’re prioritizing now is to immediately begin the works,” he said.
PSS officials reported to the Board of Education Wednesday that the request for proposal for the Tinian project will be out next week.
