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Result of PSS probe on Alpino’s case out today
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Posted on Sep 20 2011
The result of the investigation conducted by the Public School System in the case of Katelyn Alpino, the Rota High School valedictorian who was denied an honors scholarship due to a low grade point average, will be out today.
Acting education commissioner Tim Thornburgh told Saipan Tribune yesterday that the student’s parents are expected to receive today a letter from his office disclosing the findings of its probe.
Thornburgh refused to disclose the investigation’s results but said that PSS had “zero findings” about possible errors in sending Katelyn Alpino’s data to the CNMI Scholarship Office. He refused to elaborate, saying the information will be shared first with Alpino’s father who filed a grievance with the Commissioner’s Office last week.
Alpino’s scholarship application with the CNMI Scholarship Office was denied due to non-compliance with the GPA requirement. This came as a big shock to Alpino and her family as she had graduated class valedictorian in June. They were also informed by the Scholarship Office that Alpino’s two other classmates—the class salutatorian and the third honor student—were chosen for the scholarships as both had higher GPAs than Alpino.
Yesterday, Rota legislative delegation chair Sen. Juan Ayuyu wrote Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan, asking her to shed light on the issue.
The senator described as “unnerving” the revelation that the valedictorian, who is the highest academic awardee in the school system, can get a GPA that is lower than other students, such as in Alpino’s case.
“Please enlighten me as to how Ms. Alpino was awarded class valedictorian for Rota High School this past June, but yet scored the lowest GPA according to the CNMI Scholarship Office that eliminated her from being one of the two possible recipients. I hope your office can shed light on this unnerving issue within a week from today,” the senator told Sablan in his letter yesterday.
Thornburgh said that he has yet to see Ayuyu’s letter but assured that the matter will be resolved soon.
