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BOE chair: Bennett stays but…
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Posted on Jul 18 2005
Teacher representative Ambrose Bennett would remain a public school teacher representative and serve out the remaining two years of his four-year term in the Board of Education, unless Gov. Juan N. Babauta and the teachers that he represents decide otherwise.
This, in a nutshell, was the opinion articulated by BOE chair Roman C. Benavente when he refuted reports that the Public School System is preparing to hold a special election in September to replace Bennett on the board.
He also clarified that the board does not have the power to remove Bennett because the governor and the teachers are the only ones who could make Bennett vacate his position.
Benavente, however, conceded he has heard rumors that a petition demanding Bennett’s termination from the board has been circulating.
“If the teachers decide that way, that’s their choice, he said. “Bennett would be in the board until such time he is removed by the teachers.”
Governor’s press secretary Pete A. Callaghan explained that the special election mentioned in reports last week was only an option considered by the governor and was never approved in finality.
Callaghan said the special election probably was considered in September because that was the month teachers return for classes and they themselves may decide that an election is “really necessary.”
Benavente said he never had the chance to talk with the governor nor with the teachers about the matter. He said there is no official communication between PSS and the Governor’s Office with regards to Bennett’s fate on the board.
He said that, in case a special election is held in September, the board would not interfere with it.
For his part, Bennett said he has not heard of any special election that would be held in September.
“If there’s any I would be the first one to know about it,” he said.
He said he has heard that there would be a petition for his removal from the board, but so far the teachers have not said anything to him about the drive.
