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McPhetres wants NMTI to reopen in phases
Agnes McPhetres, chief executive officer of the Northern Marianas Technical Institute, wants to reopen the school in three phases.
Of particular urgency for McPhetres are the NMTI classes that were suspended in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She wants those classes o resume at once so students can complete the modules.
During the NMTI regular board meeting on Wednesday, McPhetres told the board of directors that they can open the trade school in three phases, with Phase 1 focusing on classes that are deemed essential and can start immediately, while phases 2 and 3 can start at a later time. She did not specify what phases 2 and 3 will entail, merely saying she will discuss this in more detail at their next meeting. It was not immediately known when the next meeting will take place.
“We have a commitment that we have to do immediately. For example, we have a contract with the PSS for electrical and maintenance courses. We have not fulfilled that obligation. They are under Phase 1 and I would like as much as possible that they could continue,” she said.
McPhetres pointed out that they have some leftover CNMI-Only Transitional Worker funds, which will allow them to reopen as soon as possible. Using an educational tax credit donation, NMTI was able to contract a programmer that will enhance the school’s database, including their online registration, McPhetres said.
While the online registration is still in the works, McPhetres asked NMTI instructors to contact their students in order to give NMTI an idea of how many students are willing to register for the new term, which she suggested in January.
