CNMI education officials appeal to Obama

Officials of the CNMI Public School System have appealed to President Barack Obama to disapprove any request that would permit the Interior Secretary to hand out the stabilization funds provided under the stimulus law.

In a two-page letter to the U.S. president, Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan and acting Board of Education chair Herman T. Guerrero said the request of Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and the governors of other insular areas to have the Interior chief disburse the funds violates the provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, particularly sections A and D of 14001.

Sablan and Guerrero said that in the CNMI, the state education board and not the governor are responsible for public education, which is clearly indicated in the Commonwealth Constitution.

The governors’ request was sent to Obama last March 4. In that letter, Fitial joined the governors of Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to ask that Obama give the authority to spend the stabilization funds on infrastructure projects rather than education.

“The CNMI PSS was disappointed to receive the March 4 letter from the governors of the U.S. territories requesting authority to spend the state fiscal stabilization fund on island infrastructure rather than on education. The CNMI PSS respectfully requests that the SFSF be used on education as the law intends,” the PSS officials’ joint letter to Obama states.

Sablan disclosed that the chief state school officers for the four outlying areas met with U.S. Department of Education officials last March 11.

The discussion focused on how each of the outlying areas will use the stabilization funds and other ARRA funding in accordance with the intention of the law.

The plans include hiring of additional teachers, making schools more energy efficient, expanding the use of technology in classrooms, making repairs and renovations at schools, and providing extended day school program, Saturday school, and special summer activities.

“The CNMI-PSS needs the stabilization funds that will be made available as we are challenged by declining local support for public education. The system has worked with our stakeholders on how to prioritize the funds,” the local officials said.

They added that part of the stabilization funds will be used to hire 109 teachers that were laid off due to budget cuts in the last three years.

A portion will also be used to renovate schools, technology upgrades, and expansion of the career and technical education programs.

There are 10,913 students currently enrolled in 20 public schools in the Commonwealth and only $34 million has been appropriated by the local government for its annual operations this fiscal year. The amount is lower than what it received in 1999, which was $37.2 million, when there were fewer students and schools.

Sablan and Guerrero reported to Obama that despite the funding issues, these 20 public schools have a nine-year record of improving student achievement and are continuing to make progress in their effort to make certain that students are taught by highly qualified teachers and highly effective teachers as measured by student academic achievement.

“We can only continue to go forward with the proper spending of the SFSF on education,” they appealed.

The education officials asked that the U.S. Secretary of Education retain the administration and oversight of the stabilization fund.