To All Public School System Employees:
On behalf of the Board of Education and the Public School System management, it is my pleasure to
welcome all faculties and staff back for School Year 2015-2016.
The recent storm may have devastated the island of Saipan but we prevailed at the end as we move
forward rebuilding our lives, our homes, and our schools to welcome everyone back to PSS.
First, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to many of our PSS employees who sacrificed their time
away from their families to serve our community pre-Typhoon Soudelor, during the typhoon and post-
Typhoon Soudelor. We were at the call of over 600 families who sought shelter and transportation at PSS
and you all did an outstanding job.
Secondly, our school calendar for Saipan has changed due to the storm, and therefore, we appreciate your
understanding during this school year. The school calendar for Tinian and Rota schools remain the same.
Please refer to our website for the modified school calendar for School Year 2015-2016.
As we enter into the new school year, you will find that several initiatives and implementation of program
activities will change. One of this is our Distance Education Program. Due to the power situation on
Saipan, the PSS online program will not begin in September but until the 2nd semester of the school year.
Some of our professional development plans will be pushed back as well, and the statewide PDs on
Saipan have all been cancelled to allow for instructional make-up time.
Finally, we are returning back to school on Saipan with many different circumstances that are beyond our
control. These things include no power, no water, and unknown effects of Typhoon Soudelor on children
and their families. We ask for you to be more patient, more understanding and to collaborate as much as
you can with children and their families.
We are here to support you, so please make sure that you call on my office and other staff to your aid.
Please be prepared, stay positive and set up a routine that will work for you, our students and their
families during this time of recovery and during this school year.
Best wishes,
Rita A. Sablan, Ed.D.
Commissioner of Education
