FLASHBACK – July 21, 2011

Deep cost-cutting for Saipan mayor’s office[/B]

Currently beset with huge budget deficit, the Office of the Mayor of Saipan would be forced to further pare down its operations and move out of its present office in a bid to avoid overspending beyond its proposed appropriations for Fiscal Year 2000, according to officials. These drastic measures would enable them to live with the $2.04 million budget set aside by the Tenorio administration, nearly 92 percent of which have been allotted for personnel costs. But legislators grilled the mayor during the budget hearing by the House Ways and Means Committee yesterday, questioning his decision to raise the salary of one employee by almost $10,000 while slashing an average of five percent from the wages of 65 others.

The Saipan Mayor’s office needs to redefine its functions and institute reforms to avoid duplication of services provided to the community by the central government, according to House Majority Floor Leader Ana S. Teregeyo. Mayor Jose C. Sablan expressed frustration over the current set-up, which has diminished the role of his office in the delivery of basic services as well as in handling events and functions on the island. He said he’s been trying not to sidestep the governor in performing his duties although at time he feels “out of place” during official functions held on Saipan where the Commonwealth leader is accorded protocol.

NMC adds $1.1 million to 2001 budget[/B]

The Northern Marianas College Board of Regents has moved to revise its proposed Fiscal Year 2001 budget request to $9.2 million to include projected expenses for additional personnel and repair of existing school facilities. This, as the college continues to lobby for more general appropriation funds in light of a Legislature appeal to reduce the current tuition rate. Under the present setup, the school’s share in the local appropriation only covers the college’s personnel expenditure. The college sources funds for other expenditures from its tuition collection. To cover anticipated losses due to the proposed tuition reduction, BOR is appealing for an increase in the yearly appropriation.

Nursing students from the Northern Marianas College are now conducting on-the-job training at the Commonwealth Health Center to complete an intensive one-semester course of eight credits in preparation to their becoming Certified Nursing Assistants. The course introduces the students to the basic nursing procedures, concepts and basic medical technologies. The experience take them to all the clinical areas CHC including the Emergency Room, physical therapy, radiology, hemodialysis, as well as the wards and other clinics. Completion of the course makes the students qualified to work as nursing assistants at either the government-run hospital or other private clinics throughout the island, although some choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

‘Dandan accreditation a concern'[/B]

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges has expressed serious concerns about Dandan Elementary School, according to the Board of Education. BOE chairman Herman T. Guerrero said that, while WASC was diplomatic in its letter, it was “very concerned” about the school’s compliance with accreditation requirements, particularly in the areas of management and leadership. “WASC tries to be diplomatic and it’s being diplomatic but they are very concerned.I’m concerned about Dandan,” said the chairman. Dandan, together with Koblerville and San Antonio, recently went through a self-study review.

About a month after the release of its funding, the Northern Marianas College has yet to reach a final agreement with a private firm for the purchase of a facility for its Pacific Gateway project. NMC Board of Regents chairman Vince Seman said Friday that negotiation on the purchase offer still continues. “It’s not signed yet. Nothing is final at this time. We don’t want to rush it,” he said. The board was set to hold a special meeting Friday on the progress of the project but decided to postpone it for this week.