BOE provides ‘starting points’ for selection of teachers’ rep

A list of starting points on how to select the next public school teachers’ representative to the Board of Education is now with the Legislature so it could begin drafting a bill that will finally fill the post, now vacant for three years.

The board’s committee on legislative initiatives and appointments, chaired by Herman T. Guerrero, wrote Senate President Paul A. Manglona (Ind-Rota) and Speaker Eli D. Cabrera (R-Saipan), urging both chambers to address the important vacancy by crafting a measure that will identify the process of selecting a teachers’ representative.

Since the expiration of Ambrose Bennett’s term in January 2008, no one has succeeded him due to constitutionality issues raised in the selection process.

Guerrero said the board has made numerous attempts in the last three years to engage lawmakers in the active role of formulating policy so that a teacher can be placed on the position, to no avail.

In a three-page letter to the Legislature, Guerrero outlined recommendations that may help the lawmakers set the policy for selecting a candidate. Among them is the teacher organization election, the automatic appointment of the president of the teacher organization, and a general election among all teachers.

Guerrero, however, highlighted the importance for any bill to identify the authorized groups or individuals that will be involved in the election as well as its authorized coordinators.

The appointee to the position could also be the CNMI Teacher of the Year winner, said Guerrero, as the winner has already gone through a rigorous selection process not only within PSS but also among community members.

Guerrero said all TOY candidates fill out the national Teacher of the Year application, listing their accomplishments, educational backgrounds, and other information. A panel consisting of community members chooses the CNMI TOY.

Another option, according to the committee, is for the selection to come from the 20 Teachers of the Year of PSS.

Guerrero said the Legislature could also use the council of teachers, or PTSAs, to select the teachers’ representative to BOE.

He said the legislation must also clarify the length of the appointment, rotation of representative, and alternate representative.

“Although the board is precluded from making a definitive recommendation I hope that the ideas presented will give you that starting point for your discussion and we look forward to a speedy resolution to the task before you,” Guerrero said.

The process for establishing a selection process for the teachers’ representative became the Legislature’s responsibility since the amendment of Article XV Section 1 of the Constitution in 2009.