Bennett asked to apologize, comply with conditions

Board of Education chairman Roman C. Benavente has asked public school teacher representative Ambrose Bennett to apologize over an “insulting act” or face a possible removal from his position.

In a May 10, 2004 letter to Bennett, Benavente cited that the teacher representative’s actions go against certain board rules, including an issuance of a letter “maligning” another board member, Herman T. Guerrero.

Benavente said that on March 11, Bennett distributed a letter that “publicly insulted Guerrero.”

The board chair noted that in that letter, Bennett attached a picture of himself allegedly showing his middle finger at the portrait of an “anti-black” U.S. chief justice, Roger B. Taney.

Benavente quoted Bennett as saying in the letter, “The attached picture should also let you know what I think about ‘unfounded and biased’ opinions of the Constitution by people like Mr. Guerrero. His opinion suffers from the same disease of ‘inequality’ as former Chief Justice Roger B. Taney.”

The board chair said that, although the letter was labeled “confidential,” copies of it were also furnished to all board members, education commissioner Rita H. Inos, the Public School System’s legal counsel, as well as the Lt. Governor and the Governor.

“In the photo, there is an arrow pointing to you giving the middle finger… Your statement regarding Mr. Guerrero and the photo is unprofessional, disrespectful, childish and just plain nasty,” said Benavente.

The chair said Bennett’s conduct was in violation of the BOE regulation 340, which provides that members shall respect the rights of others and work with other board members in a harmonious and cooperative manner despite any differences of opinion.

In his letter, the board chair asked Bennett to apologize to Guerrero and provide a copy of his apology letter to all individuals to whom he furnished copies of his March 11 letter.

“If you fail to abide by the conditions in this letter, the board will take action against you, including publicly censuring you pursuant to board by-laws and recommending to the governor that you be removed from the teacher representative position,” said Benavente.

For his part, Bennett, who was appointed by Gov. Juan N. Babauta on the board after winning in a PSS-wide election last January, said that Guerrero “insulted” him first during board meetings.

“Mr. Guerrero made his degrading remarks about teachers rights and me. He publicly embarrassed me in two separate BOE meetings and even challenged teachers’ constitutional rights when it comes to representation on the board but I didn’t say a word. I took it like a man,” he said.

Bennett said he will apologize to Guerrero “when he apologizes to me for his bashing of teachers and myself.”

As for his “unauthorized” use of BOE letterhead, Bennett said there is no BOE regulation that says that he cannot use a BOE letterhead for official communications without the approval of the board chair.

“It’s clear that I’m not speaking on behalf of the board. I am communicating with teachers and other people as BOE teacher representative,” he said.

Bennett said the board “is trying to do a real travesty of the law and it truly saddens me to see BOE stooping so low.”

Bennett said he would continue to speak up for truth and the empowerment of teachers.

“I have the right to freedom of expression, although some BOE members may not like it but this is America,” said Bennett.

Benavente, in his letter, said that Bennett’s apparent use of PSS computer, fax machine, and other equipment to communicate with teachers, is “unacceptable and must stop at once.”

“Let me make this clear. You have no authority to write to the governor, the attorney general, senators, congressman, principals, teachers or anyone else using PSS letterhead, equipment, or time unless the BOE specifically requests that you do so on its behalf,” said Benavente.

The board chair also said that Bennett has “every right” to push for his collective bargaining agenda, “after working hours, using your equipment and materials” and to specify in his communications that “it’s my personal views and not the views of the board.”

Meantime, Bennett said that he attends BOE meeting during working hours—since it is held during school time—and uses his computer for BOE purposes.

As BOE teacher representative, he said the only time he has to communicate with teachers is during working hours, noting that the CNMI constitution allows this “within” PSS.

“I have used my computer, my homeroom time, break time, my lunchtime to perform my duties for free. Now, BOE has the audacity to complain about me using my own time when I am performing my fiduciary duties,” he said.