BOE firm on stand, won’t act on teacher rep issue

The appointment of a teacher representative is far from being resolved after Board of Education chair Lucy Blanco-Maratita admitted yesterday that they won’t take any action on the issue until the governor responds to their numerous letters discussing the long-delayed appointment of a qualified candidate.

“Until we get something official in writing from the governor, the board’s position stands and the board likely won’t take up the matter again,” Blanco-Maratita told Saipan Tribune. “We’ve written several letters to governor on this issue but have not received any response yet….”

The position formerly occupied by Ambrose Bennett has been vacant since his term expired in January 2007.

Naming Bennett’s successor was delayed due to different interpretations of the statute that requires a “collective bargaining agent” from the public school teachers.

The administration earlier said the law mandates the board and the PSS teachers to select a nominee from the collective bargaining agent of public school teachers.

However, it is the board’s interpretation not to “meddle” in the appointment as the authority lies with the governor.

According to Association of Commonwealth Teachers president Betty Miller, the group is fully informed and aware of both the governor and board’s positions regarding the appointment of a teacher rep.

“We have tried repeatedly in the past to work with both entities to understand the role teachers should play or the process required to garner an appointment of a teacher rep. Sadly, it appears the Governor’s Office and the Board of Education are not in agreement on this matter,” Miller told Saipan Tribune, adding that both entities are firmly entrenched in their views of the CNMI Constitution.

The ACT president admitted that they are not expecting a resolution soon.

“[With the situation] we do not anticipate an agreement will be reached between the two—BOE and governor—in the near future,” she admitted.

Miller was being groomed by her association as its official candidate for the position. To select more candidates, it invited other possible nominees but no one came forward.

She said they are counting on lawmakers to draft a bill that would address the issue and have it placed on the ballot in the next election.

“We are hopeful such an amendment will make it clear to teachers and each entity involved exactly what their role should be in the process of determining a teacher rep to the BOE,” Miller said.

In the meantime, she said, ACT encourages teachers to remain informed and involved and will continue to send a representative to each BOE meeting to advocate on behalf of teachers or raise any concerns that come to their attention. She vows to continue to share information gathered at each meeting with ACT members and the public.