The Public School System last Wednesday, July 9, mobilized nearly 100 care packages, 60 cleaning kits and 50 cases of water for its employees on Rota as the island continues recovering from the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Bavi.
Acting Education Commissioner Jacqueline Che said the assistance was organized after PSS reached out to school leaders on Rota to identify their most urgent needs.
"Post-landfall, we reached out to our principals in Rota... and we had asked them how they were doing, what the needs are, and they did share that there were some needs that they had," Che said.
She said the agency partnered with the American Red Cross to assemble "close to 100 care packages... along with 60 cleaning kits and 50 water bottles," adding that the supplies were transported to the airport for delivery to Rota today, July 10.
Associate Commissioner for Administrative Services Eric Magofna said the relief items are intended specifically for PSS employees on Rota.
"The care packets that we put together... are specifically for the PSS staff, the team members of PSS at Rota," Magofna said.
He said the shipment includes canned food, laundry detergent, personal hygiene supplies, and 50 cases of water to help school employees recover from the storm.
Magofna also shared preliminary reports from Rota's campuses, saying both the elementary and high school have significant debris, while downed utility poles and transformers have been reported on the high school campus. A PSS team is scheduled to travel to Rota next week to conduct comprehensive structural assessments and determine repair needs.
Che said PSS remains committed to supporting its students, educators, and families on the island as recovery continues.
"We want to share a message of hope and solidarity with our people in Rota... we are here for you, we hear you, and we're going to do everything that we can to make sure that you're supported throughout this period," she said.
She added that while summer school is underway elsewhere, programs on Rota may have to be delayed so the agency can focus on immediate recovery efforts and supporting affected schools.
Che also thanked the American Red Cross, CNMI Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, and other government and community partners for helping make the relief effort possible, while Magofna emphasized that the Commonwealth would recover together.
"We're one Marianas and we're here to support each other. So we will get through this together," Magofna said.
In a phone interview, American Red Cross government liaison Julienne Correa said the organization's donation complemented an effort that had already been initiated by PSS employees themselves.
"The public school system has been working very hard since the storm and even through Sinlaku, and when they heard about that their colleagues in Rota were really, really struggling, even though they've been very busy and taking care of their own community, they started to collect some things for their colleagues, and so the Red Cross can see that and wants to help," Correa said.
She said the Red Cross coordinated with PSS to determine what would be most useful for school employees on Rota.
"We asked PSS what they thought were their needs for their colleagues in Rota and decided to just help them and plug them in and to help with that donation so that when everything comes to Rota, it comes in a very big package," she said.
Correa said the Red Cross provided cleaning kits and additional food items for the shipment.
"We gave PSS the cleaning kits, so that's a bucket with a lot of cleaning supplies, and then some non-perishable items that were of the liking of the community," she said.
Share this article:
