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Non-contract teachers seeking job assurance
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Posted on Dec 08 1998
Marianas High School teachers are putting pressure on the Public School System to finalize their job contracts in fear that the school system’s dire financial state might eventually lead to an uncertain future for them.
“One of our concerns is how do we get ourselves in the same playing field with teachers who have contracts,” Eric Hillstrom told Saipan Tribune. Hillstrom has been into his third year with the PSS, the whole time serving without a job contract.
Hillstrom said teachers with contracts may accept or reject the proposed salary cuts, and that could throw non-contract teachers into uncertainty.
Already, non-contract teachers have been issued 90-day notices in what could serve as a gesture of notifying them of release if funds fell short.
The affected teachers, in a letter to Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos, demanded that PSS finalize their contracts by Dec. 15.
A budget squeeze, however, cast doubt on the contracts.
MHS Vice Principal David Borja, who represented the teachers, had questioned the delay in the processing of the contracts, but his efforts toward a speedy processing went nowhere.
Bill Matson, the PSS acting budget officer, told Saipan Trbiune last week that he decided against signing the contracts until the fiscal 1999 general budget will have cleared the Legislature.
Inos is said to meet with the Legislature to seek assistance in meeting the payroll of non-contract teachers.
The commissioner, in an open letter to PSS staff, also assured of continued pay during the 90-day notice and the renewal of teaching staff as funds become available.
