7 PSS employees agree to return alleged improper payments

Board of Education chair Marylou S. Ada disclosed yesterday that all investigations on the alleged improper cash out of annual leaves by some employees have been terminated and the case is now considered closed.

Ada said that based on the board-initiated probe, seven certified and non-certified employees who were found to have received improper payments from the Public School System have agreed to pay back the money.

She declined to elaborate about the involved personnel, citing confidentiality of records. However, Ada pointed out that the seven personnel did not actually cash out their annual leaves as alleged in the complaint letter to the board that prompted the investigation.

“For the record, these seven personnel didn’t cash out their vacation leave and they just took one payroll advance, which is enough if anything happens as their leave [credits] is still there,” Ada told Saipan Tribune.

When asked about the estimated amount that will be paid back to the system, she declined to comment but hinted that the figure is minimal.

Former Marianas High School principal Craig Garrison wrote to board members in November last year to ask for an investigation into the alleged improper annual leave cash out of some personnel, including Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan. In his letter, he alleged that some personnel cashed out up to 400 hours of annual leave.

The board initiated an investigation and made a decision on the non-certified personnel involved in January this year. At that time, the probe on certified employees was pending.

Ada came out yesterday that the board has already completed both investigations and the case has already been closed.

“Yes, it’s done and the case is now closed. They all paid back. And for the record, there’s nobody [among the seven personnel] who received single check of $30,000 and they didn’t cash out their leaves. What they did was they just took one payroll advance,” said Ada, adding that most of the involved personnel just took about only $2,000.

Ada described the matter as a minimal problem that was easily resolved. She maintained that board policy stands on cashing out of annual leaves, which is only permitted when employees are separated from the system.

Sensitive issue

Meantime, Ada described as “sensitive” the issue about the sick-leave donation policy being proposed to the board. If passed, PSS employees can receive accrued sick leave donations from co-workers if they needed them in seeking off-island treatment for life-threatening illnesses.

This matter is pending for further review, according to Ada.

She said the proposal will have a financial impact on the system and needs careful analysis.

“It’s a sensitive issue but we are aware that we have to give some sick leave to those who really need them. The board has yet to make a decision because we have to make sure that if this will be passed, it will treat everybody the same,” added Ada.