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PSS weighing bus, book fees
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Posted on Feb 24 1999
A proposal to introduce certain revisions for Public Law 6-10 which created the Public School System was discussed yesterday by members of the Board of Education.
According to officials, the law which was enacted in 1985 is outdated and is no longer reflective of the realities for today’s public education.
Following the advise from the government to stay within the $37.7 million budget for fiscal year 1999 to 2000, PSS will need to introduce cost-cutting measures that are not in accordance with its educational mandate.
The opening of DanDan, Kagman and Sinapalo schools this year will leave PSS with $10 million deficit for personnel cost alone, said acting Fiscal and Budget Officer William Matson. “Ten million maybe too much to ask for,” he added.
In order to survive, PSS is inclined to introduce fees on bus rides and books to sustain operational costs.
Both fees were proposed by members Anthony Pellegrino and Marja Lee Taitano.
Taitano asked Commissioner of Education Rita H. Inos to pursue the previous plan on privatizing the PSS school bus. Although, currently bus drivers are on hourly-wage pay schedule and do not enjoy over time pay, the maintenance service for the 16 running buses is expensive.
Listing more employees in the hourly-wages and to introduce pay-cuts are two other serious proposals that will be explored before drawing up the next employment contracts in May and June.
“Stop thinking as government employees but for survival,” Pellegrino said.
The amendment of P.L. 6-10 will also be pursued to allow the closing down of kindergarten classes and instead expand the Head Start program which is partly funded by the federal government.
Currently, PSS has 18 teachers assigned for kindergarten and this number would help schools identify replacements for vacant teaching positions.
With the local election scheduled in November, Chairman Esther Fleming believes that the timing is right to introduce the revisions through popular initiative.
