PSS cooks up 2002 budget package

Less than four months under Fiscal Year 2001, the Public School System has began drawing up preparations to compile 2002 budget package in efforts to orderly prioritize its education agenda in the year ahead.

Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos yesterday sought guidance of members of the State Board of Education on what should be the top priorities that are to be factored into the brand new budget proposal.

New BOE Vice Chair Marja Lee Taitano aired preference over a lump sum budgeting scheme for the public education sector, pointing out that this would help the institution deal accordingly with its policy-making and instructional decisions, among others.

The board plans to meet on Jan. 19 to dwell deeper on the issue.

Dr. Inos has proposed a series of changes to the current PSS baseline budget.

In a draft report submitted to the board, the PSS Fiscal and Budget Office noted that every full time equivalent in the system is under funded by 28 percent versus its actual salary in order to afford PSS the ability to pay all its staff at the level and step designated under the FY-1999 budget.

The commissioner said the PSS budget request for 2002 would be altered to reflect the actual operating expenses for the current fiscal year and the full amount needed to fund all the current employees and staff.

Based on the report, the administration has requested funding appropriations to operate Dandan, Sinapalo, and Kagman elementary schools, personnel funds for the actual number of staff positions in schools, and operations allotment to support the opening of new schools targeted on August.

PSS is also eyeing funding augmentations for student activities such as JROTC and non-academic general student functions, for math and writing standards and for the CNMI-wide Stanford Achievement Tests.

In addition, the commissioner also proposed that additional allotments be made available for the hiring of more technology and Capital Improvement Projects staff.

The budget proposal also addresses the PSS administration’s desire to procure four more school buses and Special Education vehicles.

The school system has also inserted a request for funds to fully implement a comprehensive maintenance program for all school facilities and equipment, to pay PSS’ $285,000 local share in the Education Rate program, and monies to be earmarked for the one or two years worth of Within Grade Increases that are due qualified PSS personnel.