BOE wants discretionary power over PSS CIP funds

Education officials yesterday scorched actions taken by some members of the Legislature regarding measures that were introduced and passed despite the absence of consultation meetings with the Board.

At the same time, members of the Board of Education stressed that the Public School System be given discretionary authority in expending funds for school-related capital infrastructure projects in order to arrest snags in its prompt completion.

During its regular monthly meeting yesterday, members of the education board noted a series of legislative measures introduced by the House committee on education that were not consulted with them.

The Board called on the House of Representatives leadership, as well as its committee on education, to give its trust on the capabilities of the BOE members in exercising their authority to improve the quality of education in the CNMI, including school facilities.

BOE has been protesting what it claimed was a micro-management approach adopted by the Legislature toward the education sector’s policy-making body.

Board member Marja Lee Taitano even went further into asking for a legal opinion that would draw the line on the authority of the education commissioner in expending CIP money for PSS-related projects.

Anthony Pellegrino, chairman of the CIP committee of the Board, aired his frustrations over existing hindrances in BOE’s ability to fast-tracking the badly-needed completion of several capital infrastructure projects for the Public School System.

Education officials are particularly concerned over legislative obstructions in BOE’s easy access to tapping some portions of the CIP money earmarked for school-related construction projects.

They pressed for a comprehensive amendment in Public Law 11-81 in order to give BOE the access to available federal funds which were intended for the exclusive use of the Public School System.

Problems relating to expenditure authorities have been identified as among the major factors that contributed to the delay in the completion of the Kagman Elementary School last year. The project had two expenditure authorities — the Department of Public Works and the PSS.

Last year, the Tenorio Administration signed into law a House-sponsored bill which certified nearly $30 million worth of capital infrastructure projects for the Public School System.

Section Six of the Public Law 11-89 gives the expenditure authority to the public works secretary, in consultation with the chairperson of the board of education, with the concurrence of the CIP administrator.

Officials pointed out that this provision runs in conflict with the official statement presented to the investors, which states that the commissioner of education is granted expenditure authority over the fund.

Under Public Law 11-89, or the PSS CIP Appropriations Act of 1999, proceeds from the bonds recently floated by PSS amounting to some $15 million will be allocated to several education-based infrastructure projects.
An equivalent of the amount will receive matching federal funds under the Section 702 of the Covenant.

Infrastructure projects for Rota public schools will receive some $3.75 million, while the legislation earmarks the same amount to several school construction projects on Tinian.

The Third Senatorial District, which includes Saipan, is getting the biggest slice totaling $22.5 million. Of this amount, some $10.5 million will go to the construction of the new Saipan High School and $8.3 million had been earmarked for the new Kagman Junior High School.

The balance will go to several school infrastructure projects that include the construction of new classrooms, science and computer laboratories, library expansion, and the completion of the long-delayed Marianas High School gymnasium.

A total of $260,000 have been allocated for the construction of new Northern Islands school.