‘FY 2006 Compact aid will repair PSS schools’

Following through on his promise to give Compact assistance grants to the Public School System for school repairs, renovations, and refurbishments, Gov. Juan N. Babauta has submitted the plan of use for the Fiscal Year 2006 grant to the U.S. Department of Interior. The grant is expected to be for $5.2 million.

Interior grants manager Jonathan Dunn was in the Commonwealth last week. According to the Governor’s Office, Babauta used the opportunity to have Dunn hand-carry the repair plan back to Washington.

Some 20 schools on Rota, Saipan and Tinian are expected to benefit from the repairs, which will range from air conditioner replacements to termite control to major reconstruction of buildings that have been neglected for years.

“Nothing gives me greater personal satisfaction, nothing has more benefit for the future of the Commonwealth people and our economy than investment in education,” said Babauta.

Per-student funding has been going down in the Commonwealth every year since 1997.

“That is a trend that will take the Commonwealth out of the running in the world economy,” said Babauta. “Every year I’ve submitted a budget to increase PSS funding, but every year the Legislature turns it down.”

In the budget for FY 2006, which begins on Oct. 1, the governor proposed a $13 million increase for PSS to $50 million. The increase was to be paid for with poker machine license fees.

So far, the House has not begun debate on the budget. The House did approve using poker machine fees to subsidize CUC customers, however.

FY06 marks the third time that Babauta has directed Compact assistance grants into education. The FY 2002 grant of $2 million is being used to complete the Tinian High School. The contract for additional classrooms, science labs, and library at Tinian High School was signed this month after a lengthy process of public review by the people of Tinian.

The FY 2003 grant of $840,000 was swapped with other unrestricted federal grant money in order to pay for the Governor’s Education Initiative. The Initiative provided laptops for the Class of 2006 at Saipan Southern High School, helped refurbish and maintain a teen health facility at Marianas High School, and demonstrated the effectiveness of having a development director on staff to raise money at Saipan Southern High.

In addition, 62 teachers benefited from the award of Performance Improvement Grants in the amount of $2,500 each for classroom improvements. The Initiative is also reimbursing teachers for out-of-pocket expenses up to $250 and providing cash awards for the teachers of the year.

FY 2004 and 2005 compact grants were used for public health and public safety, two other areas that the CNMI budget does not provide enough funding for. (PR)