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Bennett, Sablan interview for commissioner post
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Posted on Aug 06 2008
The two candidates for the Public Schools System commissioner position told the Board of Education Wednesday the CNMI school district must work hard to overcome a lack of resources.
During a specially-scheduled meeting, Ambrose M. Bennett, former CNMI Board of Education teacher representative, and Rita Sablan, PPS associate commissioner for instruction, interviewed for the position of commissioner, a position left vacant after BOE in June asked PSS Commissioner Dr. David Borja to step down.
Applicant Debra Ellen withdrew her name before the interview process.
During a series of questions, Bennett said PSS must find ways to overcome funding obstacles.
“For quite some time, the CNMI has been suffering from a lack of resources,” he said.
Bennett said he created an economics workbook for junior high school students, and would like to see more teachers create materials.
“I’m not talking textbooks, but supplemental resources,” he said.
The materials could be shared between schools, he added.
Sablan said PSS must look outside of schools for resources in order to provide support for curriculum assessment.
During various questions, Bennett referred to a lack of funding. “I think this is an underlying thread that keeps coming up,” he said.
Bennett said the district must pursue flexibility with funding. “Our situation is unlike on the mainland, therefore we do have to be creative,” he said.
PSS must understand what it is getting into when the district applies for various funds, Sablan said. “We don’t want to tie our hands,” she said.
The board is meeting this weekend to deliberate and will hopefully name a candidate by the start of the school year next month.
