PSS gears for system clean up

The Public School System has until the end of the school year to rid itself of the much frowned-on practice of assigning non-certified personnel to take on the tasks of regular classroom teachers.

Pressure from the State Board of Education is targeted to fast-track the internal cleaning process that BOE chair Anthony Pellegrino insists is a necessity long overdue.

Parents and community members have persistently raised concerns on PSS’ tolerance over leaving students under the instruction of teacher aides or assistants in the absence of certified teachers.

Complaints of what some BOE members call an illegitimate practice have besieged PSS over the years.

“Some of these reported complaints are true, some of them are not true. However, I am saying, this is enough. When we start another school year in September, the board wants to know exactly which teachers are certified to teach certain subjects in the classroom,” said Mr. Pellegrino, in an interview.

The newly-elected board chair disclosed BOE is intent on running a “clean shop” come next academic year.

“Let’s clean it up. If someone doesn’t have the credentials, he does not get the job,” he suggested during a BOE meeting last week.

Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos has been assigned by the board to clearly delineate the schedule of PSS personnel positions ranging from teachers to teacher assistants, in a bid to shed light on the pending issue.

The board is expected to iron out the details and make a final decision on its March regular meeting.

“We don’t want a secondary teacher teaching second grade, a third grade teacher teaching senior high math, or a gym teacher teaching physics unless he has a degree in physics,” said Mr. Pellegrino.

Beginning September 2001, PSS is expected to place only certified teachers inside the classrooms.

But amid a shortage in public school teachers, PSS is dead set on increasing lobbying efforts to obtain the maximum level of budget for Fiscal Year 2002.

PSS earlier reported that should budget handicaps persist, it may result in an inevitable trim down of PSS’ key staff: its teachers.

Without additional funding reinforcement from the government, PSS disclosed it may have to defer from re-hiring teachers and other personnel in school year 2001-2002.

Threats of staff downsizing are probable amid a projected reduction in PSS’ Fiscal Year 2001 fourth quarter personnel expenses in the absence of funds to operate the newly-constructed Kagman Elementary School.

But a proposed legislation that will set aside $1.5 million in lump sum form to support the operations of the new Kagman campus is earmarked to rescue the school system from making use of resources specifically allotted for payroll.

House Committee on Education member Rep. Thomas B. Pangelinan said he is prepared to introduce a $1.5 million appropriation bill to finance Kagman school for the current fiscal year.