PSS: Show me the money

It’s five days to go before the new school year starts but the cash-strapped Public School System is still waiting for the additional funds it needs to repair some schools, especially those that have fallen victim to a spate of burglaries a couple of months ago.

In fact, Board of Education chair Roman C. Benavente said that this year is the one where they are having the most difficulty in obtaining funds from the central government.

During a special board meeting yesterday at the PSS office on Capitol Hill, Benavente said the “light at the end of the dark tunnel” remains dim for them.

As early as April this year, PSS had filed a request with the local government for an additional $700,000. The government had said it would add another $400,000 to this amount to address all the requirements of PSS for the new school year. This would have bumped up the total amount to $1.1 million—an amount that associate commissioner for administrative services David M. Borja said would provide PSS enough funds to cover its operational expenses until September this year. The money, however, has yet to show up.

Benavente said he spoke with Finance Secretary Fermin Atalig last Tuesday and Atalig told him that his office could only promise PSS a maximum of $130,000, which Atalig said would be provided to PSS today for its maintenance and repair requirements.

“That is not enough,” said Benavente.

Upon learning that the government could not provide the requested funding, Borja said they informed the administration that PSS needs at least $430,000 for the maintenance and repairs of schools.

Last week, Atalig said the government could only come up with $100,000 for PSS’ repairs and maintenance requirements.

Borja said that even if Finance remits the $130,000 today, the amount is still insufficient to repair the burned classroom at Kagman High School. He said the school needs at least $160,000 just to repair that specific room.

In yesterday’s meeting, the board also cited other schools, such as the Marianas High School, where classrooms need to be renovated due to termite infestation.

Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos and Benavente had told the government in April that PSS needs at least $700,000 by the end of FY 2005 for the following items:

* $200,000 for payment of annual leaves;

* $100,000 for payment of school security guards ;

* $100,000 for bus repair and maintenance;

* $50,000 for fuel of school buses;

* $40,000 for trash collection; and

* $210,000 for minor repairs and maintenance in schools that must be completed prior to the opening of schools in August.

Benavente said money is also needed to buy fuel for the school buses.

Board member Herman T. Guerrero also raised the question of how children would be transported to their respective schools and back to their homes if the funds are not given to PSS.

Benavente said they would have to redirect some allocations just to make sure the children would not be affected in the first weeks of the new school year.

Benavente said he understands the central government’s fiscal situation but added that it should make education its top priority. “We understand that the government is not getting enough revenue to accommodate us,” he said.

The PSS is set to welcome 11,300 students this school year—a 3 percent increase from last year.

Despite the lack of facilities and continued budget shortfall, Borja said that schools around Saipan are now preparing to welcome both old and new students, with the 2005-2006 school year set to start on Aug. 2.