FY08 posts lowest spending per student in last 15 years

The CNMI government spent a measly $3,182 per student in Fiscal Year 2008, the lowest ever spending per public school student in the last 15 years, from 1994 to 2008.

The annual report, released yesterday by the Public School System, showed that the CNMI government allocated the highest amount in 1997, at $4,629 per student.

In FY 1994, the government, using local funds, allocated just $3,681 per child; climbing to $3,774 in 1995; and then down to $3,667 the year after.

PSS per child cost hit its peak in 1997 and 1998, at $4,629 and $4,553 respectively.

In FY 1999, PSS was appropriated a budget ceiling of $37.2 million for all its schools. That was when per child allocation started to experience a dramatic decline, showing only a meager $3,972 per child allocation that year; $3,752 in 2000; $3,723 in 2001; and down to a measly $3,309 in fiscal year 2002.

PSS’ per child spending remained stagnant in the last six years—$3,311 in 2003; $3,378 in 2004; $3,210 in 2005; $3,196 in 2006; $3,250 in 2007; and $3,182 in 2008.

Even with federal grants, only a slight variance was noted in every given fiscal year.

Based on federal laws and policies, federal grants could only be used to assist—not supplant—local appropriation for PSS.

In the past 14 years, CNMI revenue witnessed a dramatic decline, resulting in the per pupil allocation to drop.

Last fiscal year (2008), the federal government—through U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Agriculture grants—spent $2,639 on every CNMI student, a slight increase in the $2,534 that every public school student got in 2007.

Prior year numbers showed that the federal government’s allocation per child in the CNMI amounted to $2,422 in 2006; $2,425 in 2005; $2,378 in 2004; $2,046 in 2003; $1,600 in 2002; $1,700 in 2001; and $1,758 in 2000.

In fiscal year 1999, PSS per child allocation through federal grants amounted to $1,685; $1,406 in 1998; $1,330 in 1997; $1,248 in 1996; $1,284 in 1995; and $1,340 in 1994.

Records show that the lowest federal per pupil allocation to students in the CNMI was in 1996 at $1,248.

Combining the per child allocation from both local and federal monies, CNMI students had a total per pupil allocation of just $5,821 last year. This is substantially lower than the $9,580 being spent on each student in the U.S. mainland—a gap of $4,029 per child.

Besides local funding from the CNMI government, PSS is also a recipient of federal funds made available through consolidated grants, school breakfast and lunch program, Head Start, and special education.

Records show that 97 percent of the local budget of PSS in FY 2008 went to personnel costs, while only 3 percent was used for operations. PSS had 278 teachers and 198 support staffers last year.

The 3 percent was reportedly used for schools’ basic needs such as drinking water and toiletries, repairs and maintenance, fuel, and bus repairs.

Local funds approved for PSS last fiscal year was $36 million: $34.9 million for personnel and $1 million for all others.

PSS’ annual report recorded $33.1 million in federal assistance in fiscal years 2007-2008, with $9.3 million used for personnel and $23.8 million for all others.

The federal funds received by CNMI PSS accounted for 28 percent of personnel and 72 percent for all others.