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BOE approves developing policy to protect whistleblowers
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Posted on Mar 02 2012
Public School System whistleblowers will soon be protected following the decision of the Board of Education to approve the development of a policy that would ensure the safety of employees who will come forward with complaints and/or allegations about inappropriate practices within the school system.
By 5-0 vote, board chair Marylou S. Ada directed the board’s fiscal and personnel affairs committee on Thursday to create such a policy for the board’s action at its next meeting. A two-week timeframe was given to the board’s legal counsel, Kelly Butcher, to submit a draft policy or legal analysis on the issue to the panel.
Board member Galvin Deleon Guerrero, who recommended the motion during Thursday’s meeting, earlier urged his colleagues to put a policy in place that will ensure protection of whistleblowers after concerns were raised about the ability of PSS employees to come forward with complaints of improper practices within the system.
Creating such policy, he believes, will prevent the creation of a climate of fear within PSS or retaliation against employees.
“I believe that the PSS needs policies and procedures that can protect such employees. Policies and procedures that protect employees will help hold the school system accountable and prevent any climate of fear from emerging within the system,” Deleon Guerrero earlier told Saipan Tribune.
Earlier this year, the education board discovered that some non-certified PSS personnel improperly cashed out their annual leave. This came to light after former Saipan Southern High School principal Craig Garrison informed the board of the existence of this improper practice.
