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New school year opening on Sept. 2
The Board of Education has approved a new school year calendar for the Public School System that sets the opening of regular classes on Sept. 2.
The beginning of the school year 2014-2015 covers the kindergarten program, Head Start program, as well as elementary and secondary schools.
It is expected that the school system will accommodate about the same enrollment of more than 10,000 on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota in the new school year.
Also in September, three middle schools will be created: Tanapag Middle School, San Antonio Middle School, and Dandan Middle School. The board approved last year the “Middle School Concept” endorsed by Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan.
These middle schools will begin accommodating sixth to eight grades while their former primary grade students will be accommodated in cluster schools that include Koblerville, San Vicente, and Gregorio T. Camacho elementary schools.
According to Sablan, PSS has already identified all the staffing needs for these new middle schools, including administrators who will run them.
In fact, she said, the system just recently completed the statewide professional development for all employees while other necessary workshops and trainings for middle schools are being conducted.
Other preparations for the middle schools’ transformation, such as the construction of a campus fence for GTC, are also in the works, including the transfer of collateral equipment and furniture.
“All this transition will happen during the summer. But basically, we have already identified the staffing pattern for all these schools including administrators,” said Sablan.
In terms of enrollment, Sablan said schools are currently conducting early registration to determine the volume of students for the new school year.
The Parents Teachers Advisory Council has also been consulted on the middle school plan, she said.
