Consolidation of schools, work-hour cuts eyed for PSS

The Board of Education is now carefully evaluating all possible ways on how public schools will survive next school year, when it expects to face greater challenges due to budget constraints, according to board chair Marylou S. Ada.

Ada told Saipan Tribune that Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan and her management team will present this week at the board’s fiscal and personnel affairs committee meeting the worst-case scenarios for the Public School System.

Among the items for discussion are the possible consolidation of small schools, work-hour reductions, and other streamlining measures that may be implemented across the board.

“We have to start thinking outside of the box on how we can survive next fiscal year. Without the needed budget for our schools, we have to evaluate and carefully look at all possible ways to continue to deliver educational services to our kids,” she said.

Ada described as a big possibility the merger of small schools due to an expected decrease in enrollment number in some campuses due to the possible exodus of nonresident workers or those who may have lost their jobs due to the bad economy, as well as the relocation of many who want to seek work elsewhere.

If and when the board decides to implement a work-hour cut, Ada assured that she will make sure it’s for everybody in the system-certified and non-certified.

She hinted that shutting some schools may also be enforced if the situation worsens. Among the programs that will also be affected by the lack of resources are competitions where CNMI delegates are sent to the national events.

Ada considers fiscal year 2013 as the toughest year for PSS in terms of its financial capabilities. Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has asked the Legislature for a $30 million budget for public schools in fiscal year 2013. This amount is similar to what was approved for the current fiscal year, which is lesser than the $36 million the Board of Education asked for.

Ada revealed that the board and PSS are negotiating with federal grantor agencies to increase their annual federal assistance to public schools. PSS receives about $30 million a year in total federal assistance from regular grants.

Ada said this was the reason why Commissioner Sablan has been traveling to the United States lately-to get supplemental funding for public schools. So far, Ada said that Sablan has not obtained any assurances from these federal agencies of any increase in grant funds and that the board is counting on the will of President Barrack Obama to exempt education from further cuts.

Sablan confirmed with Saipan Tribune that she will be making a presentation to the board on the possible scenarios for PSS next school year. She declined to elaborate, citing the need to have it heard first by the board.

“Consolidation of small schools is always a possibility for PSS. However, I am not ready to discuss it yet. We have to be realistic and we have to make decisions,” she said.

Last school year, PSS merged the Rota Junior and Senior High School and renamed the institution Dr. Rita Hocog-Inos Jr../Sr. High School.

According to Sablan, PSS always expects 5-percent growth in enrollment each year but due to several factors this time, she has no idea what the enrollment record next school year will be. PSS has over 10,000 students on three islands.