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Over 140 PSS stakeholders grace parents’ summit
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Posted on Apr 13 2012
A total of 141 participants took part in the legislative summit for parents held yesterday at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.
Among the VIPs that attended the Public School System event were Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan, members of the Legislature, Board of Education and PSS leadership team, and officers and members of parents and teachers’ associations of public schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan and Board of Education chair Marylou S. Ada told Saipan Tribune that they were elated to see the active involvement of education stakeholders, who took up several issues and conditions of public schools.
With the theme “Funding for Public Education in the CNMI,” Ada said the board decided to conduct the assembly to inform the parents about the true fiscal state of education in the Commonwealth. She said many parents are confused about the “maintenance-of-effort” requirement that is always being cited in news reports about PSS.
To shed light on the true financial state of PSS, Commissioner Sablan, financial consultant Ed Tenorio, federal programs officer Tim Thornburgh, and finance director Richard Waldo opened the panel discussion, centering on the PSS budget, its challenges, and the goals that need to be accomplished.
Delegate Sablan joined House Ways and Means Committee chair Rep. Ramon Basa (Cov-Saipan), Senate Committee on Fiscal Affairs chair Sen. Jovita Taimanao (Ind-Rota), and PSS fiscal, personnel and administrative chair Tanya King in presenting the fiscal condition of the CNMI and to answer questions and concerns of the crowd.
Galvin Deleon Guerrero, chairman of the BOE instructional services and assessment committee, gave a presentation on “21st Century Education Expectations” where he pointed out that parents should stop thinking that “schools should shoulder all responsibilities for their children.” With the advent of computers and other modern technologies, learning can also be customized and personalized, he said.
An informal discussion on a myriad of issues and topics with PSS officials in small table groups followed the presentations.
