Governor has no plans to replace Bennett

Gov. Juan N. Babauta has no plans to remove public school teacher representative Ambrose Bennett from the Board of Education despite his recent conflict with its members.

Public information officer Peter Callaghan said the governor made this clear before he flew to the U.S. over the weekend.

“The governor is not going to remove him [Bennett] from BOE. The governor supports him in his position [on the board],” said Callaghan yesterday, noting that Bennett was elected by teachers and was properly appointed by the governor to BOE.

“It’s a process that the governor followed. And it’s the governor’s discretion, as the law says, to keep him there or not,” he said.

Based on Babauta’s appointment, Bennett’s term on the board ends after four years.

BOE chair Roman C. Benavente recently demanded that Bennett apologize to elected member Herman T. Guerrero over an “insulting act” or face a possible removal from the board.

Benavente said that Bennett went against certain board rules when he distributed a letter that “publicly insulted Guerrero.”

Bennett reportedly sent Guerrero a letter to which he attached a picture of himself giving the finger at the portrait of U.S. chief justice, Roger B. Taney. In the letter, Bennett reportedly wrote: “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 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 Bennett fails to do this, Benavente said the board will take action against him, including publicly censuring him and recommending to the governor that he be removed from the teacher representative position.

The board chair had also advised Bennett from using the BOE letterhead when communicating with fellow teachers and other individuals without consent of the board.

Benavente 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 can do his campaign “after working hours, using your equipment and material” and to specify in his communications that “it’s my personal views and not the view of the board.”

Bennett maintained that the only time he has to communicate with teachers is during working hours, noting that the CNMI Constitution allows this “within” PSS.

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

“[As BOE teacher representative] 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.

On the issue with Guerrero, Bennett said it was the former who “insulted” him first during previous board meetings.

He alleged that Guerrero made degrading remarks about teachers’ rights and him.

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

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. “ Some BOE members may not like it but this is America.”