COE allegedly cashes out annual leave

Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan, along with some members of her leadership team, have reportedly cashed out their annual leaves—a move that has dismayed many Public School System employees and teachers who believe that this is against the system’s policy, which only allows the cashing out of unused annual leaves if they are separated from the system.

Saipan Tribune learned from sources that Sablan and some members of her leadership team cashed out their annual leaves a few months ago. The same sources disclosed that the five employees who were allowed to cash out their leave benefits all work at the PSS central office.

It was reported that majority of the six PSS officials received the full hours of their unused annual leave, which translates to thousands of dollars.

Saipan Tribune tried to contact Sablan but was told that she was in a meeting Friday. The commissioner did not return this reporter’s call.

PSS finance director Richard Waldo refused to comment on the issue but expressed belief that the “cashing out of unused annual leave or a portion of it is not against PSS policy.” He did not elaborate.

Employees and teachers interviewed in different schools told Saipan Tribune that they knew about the matter and were disappointed. However, they all refused to be named in this story, saying they don’t want to “get in trouble.”

Last Nov. 30, former Marianas High School principal Craig Garrison wrote members of the Education Board, raising the same issue and seeking the board’s investigation on the matter.

Garrison, who has been a vocal critic of Sablan, told the board that he was asked by many school personnel to air this concern to the board because they are afraid of retaliation.

“I am writing at this time as a former principal, as these concerns are fueled by the many comments I have received from PSS staff that they feel cheated as the information was leaked. They share with me as they believe I can be the voice to the board and in that way they don’t lose their jobs in retaliation, as was stated to me,” Garrison’s letter to the board said.

Of particular concern to Garrison was the lack of transparency: “Why it is that it was kept quiet that the COE was able to cash out her 400 hours of annual leave along with five others in her central office leadership, all within the same period of time? This is something that usually can only occur at the time of separation from PSS.”

Garrison alleged that those who cashed out simply submitted a letter indicating they needed money for “medical reasons.”

“If this is true, there seems to be cause for alarm as having six people all cash out in the same period because they are sick would send up a flag at Public Health. Although I can understand that some of these people may be genuinely ill, there is already a process of advanced payroll that can help,” said Garrison.

For Garrison, having the commissioner cash out her annual leave and the appearance of “playing favorites and hiding it sets a very bad precedent” during these difficult times.

Garrison asked the board not only to look at the proper documentations on the matter but to curtail what he labeled as “poor decision making” and ensure that PSS money is better spent on the children of the CNMI.

Of the five voting members of the Education Board, only Galvin Deleon Guerrero admitted that he received Garrison’s letter. He declined to comment but assured that the matter will be discussed in the board’s next meeting this month.

Rota board member Tanya King told Saipan Tribune Friday that she has yet to receive or see Garrison’s letter. However, she said the board will look into the matter and see if there is evidence that will substantiate the allegations and check the validity of the concerns.

Board chair Marylou S. Ada also refused to comment, saying she has yet to receive the letter but will issue a response once she gets it.

Board member Herman T. Guerrero, who is off-island, said he has not received Garrison’s letter and referred this reporter to Ada as the board’s spokesperson.

Tinian member Lucy Blanco-Maratita, in the absence of any document relating to the allegations, also declined to comment on Friday.