ACT president election delayed

The incumbent leader of the Association of Commonwealth Teachers, Betty Miller, will have to remain at her post for a few more months following the postponement of the group’s election of new officers.

Saipan Tribune learned that the election of new ACT officers was postponed to a later date due to the absence of the election officer.

“We had to postpone that, as our election chair is going off island for medical purposes,” Miller told Saipan Tribune.

According to the association’s bylaws, the election of new officers must be completed by April 28 each year.

Miller said the April 28 deadline was put in place to ensure an election before the school year ends, which used to be in May.

Since the current school year has been extended to mid-June, she said the group does not anticipate any major difficulties in delaying the election for a brief period.

However, Miller said they will be holding an election for president and treasurer, and are still accepting candidate nominations.

So far, no candidate has yet to come forward and signify an interest to run for the position.

Miller was retained in the position after no one came forward to run against her last year. ACT called for an election thrice to encourage participation of other school teachers and educators on island.

Miller’s appointment as the CNMI teachers’ representative to the Board of Education has been delayed for more than a year due to some constitutional issues.

After the term of former teachers’ representative Ambrose Bennett expired in January 2007, no one has been sitting on the board to represent public school teachers.

The appointment of a teacher representative to the Education Board is far from being resolved after the BOE admitted that that it won’t take any action on the issue until the governor formally respond to its numerous letters discussing the long-delayed appointment of a qualified candidate.

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

The Fitial 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, the board decided not to “meddle” in the appointment as the appointing authority is the governor.

ACT earlier said that resolution of the issue may be reached through new legislation.