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‘We’re taking all precautions to ensure everyone’s safety’
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Posted on Nov 18 2021
Between now and Nov. 29, when the CNMI Public School System plans to resume in-person classes in all public schools in the CNMI, PSS leaders are using that window to educate and communicate with PSS’ stakeholders and to ensure all things are in place for schools to resume in-person classes safely, according to acting Education commissioner Eric Magofna on Monday.
This comes soon after the CNMI Board of Education voted unanimously during a virtual board meeting on Nov. 12 to schedule the resumption of in-person classes on Nov. 29.
Commenting on the board’s decision, Magofna said that the BOE had a difficult decision to make, and that “they had to take into consideration all aspects.”
When asked about the effects on student attendance that online learning has had since closing in-person classes on Oct. 29, Magofna said that, in his recent conversations with several school principals, it varies. In some schools, there is no spike in absences, while in others “they are noticing more absences than they would like.”
Currently, Magofna said, PSS leaders are putting together all relevant data and information ahead of schools reopening on Nov. 29, and added that PSS is eyeing a collaboration with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. to create and publish educational material for PSS’ stakeholders on the current COVID-19 situation in the CNMI.
“Right now with the school closures [and online classes only], we’re taking all this data [and compiling] everything to prepare for when we do open schools. We’re also taking advantage of these two weeks to really educate our stakeholders,” said Magofna.
“We’re hoping to work in collaboration with CHCC and the doctors there to put out educational information to all our stakeholders to inform them of what’s going on in the CNMI with regards to [COVID-19] and that we are taking the necessary precautionary measures to ensure the safety of all our stakeholders, most especially our students and our staff, when we do reopen schools on the 29th,” he added.
PSS, in accordance with an Oct. 29 directive from Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, closed all schools for in-person classes following the discovery of community cases of COVID-19.
