With only 15 operating school buses, Education Department director Vaitinasa Dr. Salu Hunkin-Finau has said that high school sporting events requiring transportation must be completed within the next two weeks, and has cancelled until further notice extra curricular activities, according to a ASDOE memo issued last Friday morning.

The government’s cost-containment measures are also cited as another reason to reduce DOE staff overtime, travel and other non-essential activities.

In the memo, Vaitinasa said that due to the “critical situation” with only 15 buses currently in operation for public and private schools, all school administrators and parents of all school aged children are advised that as of today, Monday, all class field trips and elementary extra-curricular activities planned for the rest of the semester will be postponed until further notice.

The DOE director also noted that all ASG departments have been instructed to re-emphasize ASG's cost containment measures.

“Further, all high school sports events scheduled for the remainder of the school year requiring transportation must be completed by Saturday, 11 April,” Vaitinasa said.

Additionally, all DOE divisions are to reduce staff overtime, travel and other non- essential activities, particularly at Transportation and the School Lunch Program divisions.

“We appreciate everyone's cooperation and support during this critical time,” Vaitinasa said. For more information, call Russ Aab, Faaui Vaitautolu, or Philo Jennings at the DOE Main Office at 633-5237.

As word of the memo spread last Friday afternoon and into the weekend, some parents voiced to Samoa News their disappointment over the cancelation of field trips and elementary extra-curricular activities. The parents say it's neither the fault of the children or their parents that there are only 15 DOE buses working and that this is something that the government should have taken care of before the start of the school year.

A DOE official said over the weekend that the American Samoa High School Athletic Association has already been informed of the deadline of April 11 to finish high school games that require transportation.

Samoa News notes that the Girls Varsity Basketball tournament championship is scheduled for Apr. 11, which is also the same day for the Boys Varsity championship game.

BACKGROUND

It was revealed during a Senate Education Committee hearing on Mar. 17 that there are only 15 school buses in operation and Vaitinasa told senators that nine buses are contracted to local private companies for major repairs while ten new buses will be ordered once the bid process is completed.

She hopes that the new school buses arrive on island before the end of the current school year. Vaitinasa reminded senators that the ASDOE buses provide transportation for all public and private schools.