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BOE approves $38.7M for PSS
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Posted on Mar 04 1999
In a special meeting convened yesterday, the Board of Education approved the $38.7 million budget of the Public School System for the next fiscal year.
The approved budget registers a million dollar increase from its previous $37.7 million and will enable PSS to fix the anticipated deficit next year, according to acting Fiscal and Budget Officer William Matson during his presentation.
However, it will not allow PSS to hire teachers, he said.
This money figure for next year also records some $5.8 million deficit from the ideal budget which the BOE asked Matson to prepare.
Although it will be forwarded to the Office of Budget and Management for presentation purposes, the second proposal is asking for additional $4.1 million in order for PSS to fill its 93 teaching vacancies.
The BOE is also requesting funding for books and operational cost for DanDan, Sinapalo and Kagman schools scheduled to open next school year.
In her covering letter addressed to Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, Commissioner of Education Rita H. Inos stated that with a $38.7 million budget PSS expects to have 40 students in each class and may opt not to offer any electives.
According to a BOE policy, only 21 students should be assigned to a teacher. However, this was suspended late last year.
Six credits are left open for high school students to decide on what electives to take in order to fulfill their graduation requirements. This particular policy faces suspension next school year.
“Yes, there are some radical changes that are going on,” Inos told the board.
BOE Chairman Esther Fleming asked the Commissioner to convene a forum inviting certified and non-certified personnel in an effort to secure a popular decision in identifying its priorities for next year.
PSS personnel will face the difficult decision on whether to take a pay cut or to layoff some people, she said.
