FLASHBACK – Feb. 2, 2012

PSS extends term for non-certified personnel[/B]

The Public School System is extending until May the employment term for its close to 300 non-certified personnel whose contracts are scheduled to expire next month. According to acting Fiscal and Budget Officer William Matson, the extension guarantees their employment with PSS from to date until May. “It doesn’t mean that they won’t be employed (with PSS) after that but that’s all we can guarantee,” he said. Earlier, PSS officials have entertained options on hourly wages and reduced salary rate to prolong their employment. Schools will also have the option to retain them using operational money.

The dollar-contract of the Public School System designed to spell commitment for volunteer work from the community is off to a slow start. Since its launching in December, only two community members have come forward to lend PSS their support with a dollar-contract. “Many have mentioned their interest but this office has received at least two requests to process the dollar contract,” according to Human Resource Officer Charlie Kenty. Former educators Paz Younis and Margaret dela Cruz are the first two volunteers who have finalized their commitment through the dollar-contract.

CPA to install automated parking meter[/B]

The Commonwealth Ports Authority Board of Directors on Friday approved the installation of an automated parking meter at the Saipan International Airport in efforts to improve efficiency. The contract for the $177,000 automated parking meter project has been awarded to Sablan Enterprises, according to CPA Executive Director Carlos H. Salas. Mr. Salas said the Ports Authority is expecting that the automated parking meters are already installed, and should be ready for full implementation in May. Imposition of charges at the airport’s public parking area was decided to increase current level of CPA revenues while repressing adverse effects on the airline industry by delaying the implementation of new aviation rate schedule.

In a series of filings made with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in December 1999 and January 2000, the Office of the Governor urged the FCC to increase its support for health care-related telecommunications and for high speed internet access services in the CNMI. The FCC had sought comment from the public on possible reforms to its Universal Service program, intended to support telecommunications to high cost, low income and insular areas (such as the CNMI). According to Lt. Governor Jesus R. Sablan, “We are pleased that the FCC has initiated this proceeding to consider how to more meaningfully extend funding to insular areas such as the CNMI. We hope that the FCC will closely and carefully consider the CNMI’s proposal for increased telemedicine and Internet access funding.”

NMC earns WASC commendation[/B]

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is expected to transmit any day now the result of the accrediting team’s campus-wide comprehensive evaluation that will determine the credibility of the Northern Marianas College as an effective educational entity. NMC officials are confident the accreditation panel will reaffirm the college’s six-year-accreditation after receiving a WASC report that spoke teemingly high of the college’s offered programs and services. A summary of the WASC evaluation report cited 13 general commendations versus eight general recommendations for improvement. NMC initially scored high points on its internally-developed Self Study which the visiting team described as “well written, organized and candid.”

Local leaders and residents and Northern Marianas College Regents, administrators, and staff celebrated the official opening of the Tinian’s brand new postsecondary educational facility, the NMC Tinian campus, highlighted by a special ribbon-cutting ceremony. With $440,000 in funding from the Municipality of Tinian, the two new, state-of-the-art buildings were designed and built by the Telesource Corporation for maximum security, energy conservation and safety. The 6,000 square-foot of space provides administrative offices and seven classrooms, including computer and science laboratories, a library and distance education classroom.