PSS furloughs start this week

The Public School System administration has officially notified all locally funded staff that they would be furloughed starting this week.

According to a letter that PSS sent out yesterday to all its locally funded teachers and staff, starting April 15, they would all be furloughed because PSS is unable pay their salaries.

“Due to the economic impact of COVID-19, the CNMI Public School System is implementing measures to ensure the financial stability of the organization. The current pandemic has impacted PSS’ services significantly, and as a result, we find that we must make some difficult personnel decisions. Effective April 15, 2020, PSS is implementing a temporary furlough for certain locally funded positions,” the letter stated.

The furlough is set to last 12 months, meaning it would last until the end of the current school year and until the beginning of school year 2020-2021.

“The furlough is expected to last for the next 12 months. It is important to note that your employment continues but you are not required to report to work. Pursuant to PSS Regulations § 60-30.1-362 Furlough and Separation, (a) The Commissioner of Education may use furloughs for more than 30 days if there is reasonable assurance that the employees’ furlough will be returned to duty within the next 12 months,” the letter added.

Saipan Tribune reached out to Education Commissioner Dr. Alfred Ada to obtain more comments but he failed to respond as of press time.

However, according to a number of locally funded teachers, they all received the same letter yesterday afternoon.

According to a Marianas High School teacher who requested anonymity, he supports the furlough since it guarantees him and his colleagues financial aid through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance that was recently announced by the CNMI government.

“It’s the only hope we have to cling to since our government can no longer sustain the Public School System, and other departments, due to the economic impact of COVID-19,” he said.

On top of the furlough, teachers and staff have yet to be paid for the last payroll and PSS still owes them 30% of the payroll before that.

The PSS administration itself will be spared from the furlough, according to Saipan Tribune archives.