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BOE exceeds travel budget
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Posted on Jun 22 2000
Members of the State Board of Education yesterday agreed to expedite efforts at reviewing its current travel plan policies after it was ascertained that the board exceeded its $8,000 travel budget travel budget.
The board roughly overspent over $14,000 for official off-island meetings and conferences, it was disclosed.
But the amount, which came BOE’s own accounts, has not affected Public School System allotments, according to PSS.
As a result of budget cutbacks implemented following the onset of economic slowdown that has pulled down government resources, the commissioner of education and the BOE chair have been given due discretion to juggle funds from within its sub-accounts as the officials deemed necessary.
They were allowed to rechannel funds for other purposes as they saw it necessary, PSS added.
To counteract any more overspending in the next fiscal year, the board has agreed to set aside funds specifically for travel expenses in its PSS FY 2001 budget.
The board is aiming to allocate certain amount of funds for a number of official trips to cover only those that the allocated resources can accommodate.
An ad hoc committee has been created by the BOE chair to discuss deal with the issue.
Meanwhile, members who go on off-island trips to attend self-improvement seminars under BOE funds are urged to share to their fellow board members what they have learned out of the experience.
During a recent BOE meeting, member Anthony Pellegrino underscored on the need to enlighten members with new ideas and knowledge that some members acquire as a result of exposure to off-island conferences or seminars.
He brought up the necessity of assessing travels which could prove to be helpful to the whole board. (MM)
