‘PSS panic uncalled for’

“What school shutdown?” asked the Babauta administration yesterday, even as it commented that the Public School System “overreacted and unnecessarily created panic” when it publicized the possible shutdown of schools due to the government’s failure to provide them funds.

Governor press secretary Peter A. Callaghan said PSS officials knew that funds would be funneled in before the weekend, providing for payroll and operational needs.

“Yet they created a panic. It’s unfortunate that they [did that]; it was uncalled for. They knew full well that money was coming. Even the Secretary of Finance has been talking to their chief finance to assure them that funds were being transferred,” said Callaghan.

Education commissioner Rita H. Inos and Board of Education chair Roman C. Benavente, who both did not show up for another meeting with Gov. Juan N. Babauta yesterday, had announced that schools would have to be shut down if public funds would not come as expected.

Inos herself met with school principals at the Marianas High School early morning yesterday to personally warn them on the need to close classrooms.

Inos, who ran against the governor’s team in the 2001 general election, explained to the school administrators that the Executive Branch had been failing to give PSS funds since last month.

Callaghan said yesterday that Babauta, whose platform is focused on education, could never allow schools to be closed.

Babauta, who is seeking re-election this year, reportedly made it clear during his meeting with education officials that he would close down other departments first than allow PSS to shut down.

“Even in the darkest days [in the] financial condition of the government, we have never had a payless payday. They [PSS officials] know that. And the last people that the governor would choose not to pay would be teachers. They know that. The governor even told the board today that before he sees the school shutdown, he would close departments within the government,” said the press secretary.

Callaghan said that as discussed earlier, PSS received $1.9 million to cover for the payroll and operations of the system. He said this is out of the business gross revenue taxes.

By Friday next week, the PSS would receive $2 million in additional funds out of the 2004 Compact Impact funds, he said.

“Sometimes, people would rather sit around to curse the darkness than lift a finger to light a candle. That’s my feeling on closing the public schools,” said Callaghan.