‘Vote ‘yes’ to reduce overcrowding, restoring classroom teacher FTEs’

The under-allocation of resources for classroom teachers has persistently challenged the Public School System’s capacity to bring the student-teacher ratio (class size) to manageable levels.

The growing number of student enrollment, the lack full-time equivalent positions and additional classrooms are linked to budget cuts—the result of plummeting local resources that have impacted funding for public education in the last decade.

Marianas High School knows first-hand that smaller class sizes benefits each student because there is more time for one-on-one learning. By the opening of school year 2014-2015, student-teacher ratio for the largest public high school in the CNMI has shot up to 37:1 (students to teachers). This is the largest ratio in recent years. Last school year, the number hovered around 30:1 to 35:1.

What MHS is facing now is indicative of a burgeoning disproportion in student-teacher allocation for NMI public schools. Local appropriation to PSS began going down about 10 years ago, yet the cost of providing educational services to over 10,000 students continue to climb.

Achieving and providing for conducive learning environment by having smaller class sizes through hiring of additional classroom teachers and building more classrooms, among others, are all aimed at reducing overcrowding in public schools. This is the intent of House Legislative Initiative 18-12.

PSS and the Board of Education is encouraging the community to vote “yes” on H.L.I. 18-12, which will increase the guaranteed funding level that public education must receive from government revenue sources for its annual appropriation. If passed by voters come Nov. 4, this will primarily allow the PSS to build and hire a pool of highly qualified teachers needed to reduce the class size in every public school classroom throughout the CNMI.

Difficult challenge

Class-size reduction is a long-term issue and bringing the size to “manageable level” remains a hurdle, according to a timeline of enrollment that reflects the average student-teacher classroom ratio of all public elementary and secondary schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

At the close of school year 2013-2014, PSS student-teacher ratio was at 27:1 with a total student population of 10,638 and 399 classroom teachers.

A year earlier (2012-2013) and with student population of 10,646 and teaching staff of 374, public schools’ student-teacher ratio was the same at 27:1.

It was at 24:1 in 2011-2012 when student population was at 11,011 and with total of 464 classroom teachers.

In 2010-2011, PSS had a total of 11,105-student enrollment and 574 teaching staff. The student-teacher ratio was pegged at 19:3. This was during the second year of the federal stimulus (ARRA grant) funding was released and supplemented the absence of local funding within the PSS.

A year earlier, in 2009-2010, the ratio dropped to 20:1. This was the first year implementation of ARRA funding. Enrollment totaled 10,961 and the number of classroom teachers was at 549.

During school year 2008-2009, PSS’ student-teacher ratio was at 21:1. The enrollment was 10,913 and had a total teaching pool of 510.

In 2007-2008, PSS enrolled 11,299 students and had 514 classroom teachers. The average student-teacher ratio was 22:1

In 2006-2007, the ratio was at 22:1. This was at a student enrollment of 11,693 and an overall teaching pool of 541.

In 2005-2005, PSS had 11,718-student enrollment and 601 teachers. The ratio was at 19:1.

During 2004-2005, the ratio was at 21:1. This ratio was similar to the prior year (2003) with student enrollment at 11,244 and teaching staff of 539.

These numbers have breached the BOE policy that sets the student-teacher ratio to 25:1. In order to achieve this desired numbers, PSS needs to hire between 200 and 250 more teachers.

This development comes on the heels of a possible impasse in the passage of the fiscal 2015 government budget.

“I and our BOE leaders continue to plead with the CNMI Legislature and the Executive Branch to respond to the need of restoring classroom teacher FTE positions so we can reduce the class size,” Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan appealed. “In order for us to achieve our BOE regulation relating to the student-teacher ratio, we beg our elected leaders to respond to the need of our public schools.” (PSS)