Demapan: PSS is in better shape

The Public School System was described yesterday to be “in a better position” compared to the previous fiscal year by a lawmaker during the FY 2018 budget hearing for PSS.

While problems such as recruitment and retention of teachers persists, Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan) still considers that PSS was in better shape than it was last fiscal year, factoring $10.2 million in supplemental appropriations last year on the signing of Public Law 19-75.

PSS currently has 482 teachers.

“Some of the teachers we recruit off-island stay for two contract periods before deciding to go back home. We always have that need and on top of that, when you see an increase in student enrollment, you want to make sure that the student teacher ratio does not go higher,” said PSS commissioner Cynthia Deleon Guerrero, making clear that recruitment and retention of teachers remain a priority.

Currently, PSS struggles to recruit and retain teachers in the CNMI. A major factor that plays into this is the low compensation package—compared to other states—PSS can currently offer.

“[PSS] has definitely been doing a whole lot better. We closed the school year with fewer vacancies than we did the previous year, so the human resources office has been very aggressive to fill in these positions and establishing our substitute teacher pool as well,” said Deleon Guerrero.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres’ proposed budget for PSS is at about $36 million. PSS proposed a budget of about $54.4 million. According to federal mandates, PSS should receive not less than 25 percent of the total proposed budget. Torres has proposed a FY 2018 budget of $145.2 million, meaning PSS should receive no less than $36.2 million.

“It is significantly different from the governor’s proposal. If we are to depart from that, it would have to mean making significant cuts in other departments and agencies. We informed PSS today that we would seriously take into consideration their request based on the levels of priority and we would be able to give them as much resources possible without jeopardizing critical services in the government,” said Demapan, commenting on the proposed budget.

Demapan commended PSS for seeking the input of the principals involved with each school to address the needs per school and incorporating it into their budget request.

“A lot of the needs of the schools and facilities were needs communicated directly from the school principals and management team and not single-handedly decided by the central office,” said Demapan, adding that he was happy to learn that the budget strategy also took into account the feedback from the various principals of the schools.

“At the end of the day, our principals and vice principals know best the needs of their own schools,” he added.

According to Demapan, there needs to be a balance to make sure that although the government “seriously [invests] in the education of our children, we also need to have safeguards in our community and critical services that [the community] can avail of when the need arises.”