Putting our money where our mouth is

On Nov. 27, the following story appeared in the Saipan Tribune: Gov. Juan N. Babauta will provide monetary rewards to this year’s Public School System teacher of the year awardees under his Education Initiative program, according to his senior policy advisor Bob Schwalbach. “There’s money available. The governor has done that for two years in a row. I’m sure he wants to do it again. It’s part of his education initiative. It’s something that’s important to him.”

I asked the teacher of the year runner-up today, a colleague of mine, if this money was ever provided to him. His answer was no. The teacher of the year winner gave me the same response last month.

I know the runner-up has spent money out of pocket trying to build a first rate music program at my school, and it would certainly reflect well on the CNMI if all the teachers of the year were given the awards they were promised—even if they were promised by the previous administration. I do not know the overall winner as well as the runner-up, but I’m sure, like many teachers, she has spent money out-of-pocket. I also know she is now leading a first class school as principal at GTC.

The new governor seems to be trying to solve the CNMI’s serious financial woes with several new ideas, and I applaud him for dealing in financial reality, as that will make things better for everyone. However, it would be very appropriate for him to find the money somewhere for the award these people were promised. It also would be encouraging for some new ideas to come out to assist school funding, and possibly propose some type of new tax in this minimally taxed Commonwealth that will go directly to the schools—possibly via referendum in November, which would provide the political cover politicians crave. It was also depressing to see such mass protest at the original canceling of the Micro Games, but minimal protest for the meager funding to schools, which has far more impact on the future.

On Nov. 25, Governor Fitial was quoted as saying, “I am for education. My administration will support education by providing PSS its funding requirements so that it can effectively operate.”

While it is still early in the new administration, the silence on improved school funding so far is deafening, and I hope that changes quickly.

Jeffrey C. Turbitt
As Lito