The Northern Marianas' Governor has rescinded the decision of the CNMI's Housing Corporation to approve funding for the renovation of a dilapidated school building.
The housing corporation had approved more than US$500,000 dollars for Gregorio Camacho Elementary.
But Governor Benigno Fitial has re-appropriated the money for a soccer field.
The Saipan Tribune reports the Education Board, has written to Governor Fitial, saying that while a soccer field does have certain benefits, it cannot see how a soccer field is more important than the safety of children sitting in termite-infested classrooms.
The Board's chair, Lucy Blanco-Maratita, says it's not fair to continue to expose children to such risks when there is an immediate solution readily available.
She added that the termite-infested classrooms continue to deteriorate, putting children's health and safety in peril.
The governor informed the board earlier that 1.2 million dollars was made available for school repair projects .
However the Board of Education says only 66,000 dollars was dedicated to fix the elementary school and yet the repairs cost 379,000 dollars.
