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Way sought to allow rehiring of retired teachers for up to 6 years
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Posted on Feb 21 2012
Sen. Jovita Taimanao (Ind-Rota) has pre-filed a legislative initiative that would allow retired classroom teachers to be re-employed for up to six years, instead of only up to two years, as allowed under the current law.
Senate Legislative Initiative 17-17, which will be formally introduced on Thursday, seeks to amend Article III Section (b) of the CNMI Constitution.
Taimanao, in her initiative, said that, while the Constitution only allows re-employment of classroom teachers not exceeding two years, the Public School System continues to have a shortage of teachers, especially in the field of special education.
She said the PSS Special Education Program accommodates all special education students from public and private schools.
“Although funds may be available to hire new teachers, hardly anyone applies for special education teacher positions. But there are retired special education teachers in the CNMI that are willing to teach again if not for the double dipping restriction of the Constitution that limits double dipping for classroom teachers to two years,” Taimanao said in her bill.
She said that, by allowing retired teachers to teach again for up to six years, they would fill vacant positions and give PSS more time to hire and/or train special education teachers.
A legislative initiative requires the affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members of each house present and voting. It will then be presented to voters for ratification at the next general or special election.
