Focus on Education Expectations of Education vs. Reality

(Continued)

As the budget of the PSS shrinks and as the responsibilities and operation costs increase, the community must become aware of several uncontrollable consequences. It is better to discuss them now so that no one later claims he wasn’t forewarned of the actions that PSS may be required to take.

Please understand these are not intended to be threats or a take-it-or-leave attitude. It is simply forewarning and planning of possible inevitable courses of action. The PSS intends to maximize its meager resources and give students the best education it can under distress financial circumstances. The PSS is your school system and needs your support and understanding.

If the requested new resources for personnel are not made available, the PSS will be unable to open the new schools with all of the teachers and support staff required to fully operate the 20 schools spread across three islands. Should the teaching vacancies not be provided, then the average class size will approach FORTY (40) students. This means one teacher to forty students!

In additional to increasing the students per teacher ratio, the PSS will be forced to adopt other selected austerity measures to avoid an educational catastrophe. Teachers will be shifted from non-required classes such as kindergarten and secondary elective classes to basic required classes. Such basic classes as math, science, history, language and grammar will be the only classes taught in the schools. Classes such as physical education, computer science, vocational education, music, art, and all others will either be discontinued or sharply curtailed until funds are available.

Teachers will be shifted first to elementary schools. Remaining available teachers will be assigned to teach “basic” subject courses at secondary schools. If the situation calls for it, the PSS may be forced to run double shifts at the schools. For example, 7 a.m. to 12 noon and 12 noon to 5 p.m. is one possibility.

Currently there are about 26 unfilled positions in the Special Education program because of insufficient funds. Without the resources for the special education program, the legal requirements to address the needs of the disabled students will go unmet. This exposes the PSS to litigation with the parents of the disabled students and with NMPASI, the CNMI’s advocacy organization. They are the PSS’s watchdog and will be eager to enforce their standards regardless of the PSS’s funds availability.

Increased litigation results in increased costs and more criticism of the PSS as well as conflict with Federal government regulations. This adds up to needless exposure to compensatory damages, payment of prevailing parties’ legal fees and negative press exposure.

The PSS must continue with teacher substitution budget, funding for 30% retirement bonuses and separation lump sums for teachers. Without additional funds for personnel, the PSS will be forced to continue utilizing all of these funds to maintain the existing level of teachers and staff in our schools and support units.

New busses are required to handle the increase of students and additional schools. Many of the present busses are old and need replacement. The PSS needs at least four new busses at a cost of $110,000 each, two new special education busses at a cost of $85,000 each. In addition, new bus drivers will have to be hired.

Text books and basic school supplies will be accommodated by reducing the quantity being ordered. Purchase of new library books and other student learning aids will be drastically reduced. No new computers or shop equipment will be purchased. Teacher enrichment programs will not be available. Each item on the budget will be scrutinized carefully and reduced or eliminated. (continued)

Strictly a personal view. Anthony Pellegrino writes every Monday and Tuesday. Mr. Pellegrino can be reached at tonypell@saipan.com