Jobs Act seen to give PSS $36M

If U.S. President Barrack Obama’s American Jobs Act passes Congress, the CNMI Public School System stands to receive up to $36 million in federal assistance that will help the islands’ public schools and offset the shortfall it expects to incur this fiscal year due to meager allocation from the local government.

PSS federal programs officer Tim Thornburgh told the Board of Education Friday that the $36 million will retain about 200 teaching positions and sustain PSS’ modernization efforts. These figures, he said, are based on congressional analysis.

PSS currently has 464 classroom teachers, a reduction from last year’s count of 560 teachers, many of whom were let go due to budget cuts.

PSS, which was appropriated just $30 million this fiscal year, said the funding shortfall will continue to impact the employment of classroom teachers.

Obama’s Jobs Act is a mix of tax credits and targeted spending increases for school renovation and job training amounting to about $300 billion that is intended to boost the ailing U.S. economy.

Although the U.S. Senate did not act on the original legislation, Thornburgh said that a similar measure will soon be endorsed on a piecemeal basis. He is optimistic that this will be acted within the year due to the election campaign next year.

Thornburgh told Saipan Tribune that two sections in the Jobs Act will benefit CNMI schools: the section for teachers’ retention and hiring, which may provide $24 million for the CNMI; and the section for school repair and modernization, which may bring in another $12 million. Thornburgh said that PSS is closely tracking any updates on the proposed act.

According to financial consultant Ed Tenorio, the enactment into law of the Jobs Act will save PSS from any shortfall in the coming years. He also identified “rollover” funds from the central government, amounting to $3 million, that could help fill the budget gap this fiscal year. The rollover funds represents the unremitted allotments for PSS last fiscal year, which was supposed to pay for personnel salaries.

PSS was appropriated $32 million in fiscal year 2011 but this was later cut to $28 million. Of the amount, only $25 million was received by PSS for its personnel and operational expenses.