To address urgent health and safety deficiencies in its educational facilities

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Public School System received a $343,175 Project Grant from the Department of the Interior's Office of Insular Affairs under the Economic, Social, and Political Development of the Territories program (CFDA 15.875), awarded on November 6, 2025, with a completion deadline of September 30, 2029. The grant funds three primary facility infrastructure initiatives: replacement of the failing septic tank system at San Vicente Elementary School (SVES), replacement of deteriorated and nonfunctional windows at Chacha Ocean View Middle School (COVMS), and continuation of a districtwide emergency repair contract serving all 20 public school campuses across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

These investments address urgent health and safety deficiencies across the CNMI's K-12 educational infrastructure. The Office of Insular Affairs, which administers federal assistance to U.S. territories and freely associated states, designed this award to support the immediate facility needs of the island territory's school system. The grant reflects the program's purposeful flexibility in responding to urgent, immediate infrastructure requirements in insular areas while supporting the educational mission of serving students throughout the Northern Mariana Islands.

The proposal covers three priorities: (1) replacing the failing septic tank system at SAN vicente elementary school (sves), (2) replacing deteriorated and nonfunctional windows at chacha ocean view middle school (covms), and (3) continuing a districtwide emergency repair contract that serves all 20 public school campuses across saipan, tinian, and rota.