PSS Is Model Agency

There isn’t an iota of doubt in mind that the Public School System is one of three major agencies in government who deals with the education of our children. Despite the 15 percent constitutional guarantee of funds for its annual operations, the final amount is also the victim of the economic contraction that has ravaged the local economy since two years ago.

However the steady derailing effect of this contraction, PSS has kept apace with what needs to be done to live within the reality of lesser financial resources to work with. And it has done a superb job meeting its needs within what’s available, complimented by fund-raisers various schools have sponsored to make up their needs in their own little ways. This effort is really heartwarming where students, teachers, parents and school administrators join hands for a good cause. It is a sterling case of a vital government agency who’s elected to be proactive in the middle of a crisis to be able to muddle through these difficult times.

While other agencies may have trimmed fat in their budgetary allocations, no one comes close to matching the efforts of PSS in this matter. It dwarfs the legislature in words and actions. For instance, while some lawmakers speak of the lack of funds for scholarships, as recently as last Saturday the presiding officers took off for a well-paid junket trip to Washington even without a purposeful agenda. In other words, they say one thing and do the exact opposite in the midst of a deepening financial crisis. Is this what you call leadership where they say one thing and do the exact opposite?

The difference in leadership between PSS and the Legislature is the ability of the former to set a plan with well reasoned thoughts. If one can plan for a day’s activity versus ad hoc decisions in midstream, the former has greater chances of success than the latter. Perhaps our educational estate ought to offer lawmakers how to plan so they don’t constantly engage in foot in mouth syndrome. A simple planning process is what lawmakers need to learn the essence of, well, planning so that they too learn how to live and protect the fast contracting financial resources of the NMI. In other words, it’s everybody’s job and not just PSS or the Department of Public Health and Environmental Services.

Our hats off to the board of education, commissioner, teachers, dedicated parents and students for an outstanding job of living within your means. With the exception of a few, we can’t say the same of other government agencies. Biba PSS!