PSS asks $40 million for FY 2001

Citing the need to fill up vacancies needed to efficiently run learning institutions in the CNMI, the Public School System is asking $40 million in budget allocation for the fiscal year 2001.

Members of the Seventh CNMI State Board of Education approved the budget proposal in its second meeting yesterday. The proposal will be submitted to the Office of the Governor.

PSS was originally planning to ask for $44 million for the next fiscal year but decided not to seek funding for 114 full-time employees positions that may have cost the System close to $4 million, according to Education Commissioner Dr. Rita H. Inos.

The System is in turn asking that the government fund at least 97 positions of the 1,030 FTEs approved by the legislature for public schools. At present, 890 of the total approved FTEs are on board the PSS.

PSS is hoping to open the Sinapalo and Kagman elementary schools next school year but education officials are worried that the plan may not push through due to budget constraints.

The System has, however, assured that it can deal with the current budget level without disruptions in its operation.

The agency’s only concern is the teacher hiring requirement for the new schools, and its request for construction of additional classrooms in Dandan Elementary School, which faces an overcrowding problem.

Last school year, PSS was able to hire at least 100 teachers, which are funded positions based on the current appropriations made by the government.

Despite limited funding, Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio dropped strong indications that the education sector will be the first among public offices to receive supplemental funding when government revenues start picking up.

The governor supported the System’s efforts to deal with its limited budget while continuing to deliver essential education-related programs aimed at upgrading the quality of learning in the Northern Marianas.

Despite a significant reduction in its annual allocation, the PSS managed to construct 40 new classrooms in several grade schools which helped minimize over-crowding.

Prompt completion of the Dandan Elementary School was a welcome development, while officials are optimistic that construction of the Kagman school will open next school year.