PSS request $39M for fiscal year 2016

The CNMI Public School System has requested a budget of $39.5 million, a $3-million increase from their approved local budget last year, $1 million of which will go to salary increases if approved, according to their FY 2017 budget submitted to the Legislature.

In a budget proposal to the House of Representatives, PSS breaks down this increase of $3 million over its FY 2016 appropriation as follows: $1 million for salary adjustments for certified teachers, counselors, pupil transportation, and administrative staff; $300,000 for procurement of insurance required by Federal Emergency Management Agency for receiving public assistance from Typhoon Soudelor; $350,000 for full-day kindergarten; $490,000 for operational funding for schools; $600,000 for an anticipated increase in employer’s share of the health insurance premium; and $500,000 for schools and central office repairs.

Education Commissioner Dr. Rita Sablan said yesterday this “variance of $3 million” is going to address “critical needs” of the school district such as schools and central office repairs, full-time kindergarten, and ensuring that these are 100 percent in place.”

She added that also because of Typhoon Soudelor, they need to make buildings repaired by funding from FEMA are covered as well as “additional needs here and there”

Last year, PSS requested a local budget of $42 million, some millions higher than for this year.

Asked for “what changed,” Sablan said they “still have a lot of needs” but just looked at their funding from last year and looked at where they “can enhance their programs.”

PSS is also guaranteed 25 percent of the local appropriations, which Sablan called the “guaranteed minimum.”

“We hope that the Legislature will not think only of the minimum, which is the floor, but really think about how they can really provide the education to our children who deserve it,” she said.

Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, though, has yet to submit revenue projections and budget to the Legislature, from which this 25 percent would be calculated.

“We need to know what is the budget. The budget call itself thus far is $112 million,” Sablan said.

“If there is an increase in the budget in the fiscal year,” she said, then PSS would “certainly we would” revise its budget “if there is an absolute increase.”

For the salary adjustments, the CNMI Board of Education and PSS plan across-the-board salary adjustments for its staff.

“From bus drivers to office clerks, salaries have remained frozen for far too long,” said board chair Herman Guerrero and Sablan in a joint letter to the House.

The board will apply a 5-percent increase to the salaries of all support staff, with a fiscal impact of about $1 million, they said.

For property insurance costs, the education leaders said schools, which were extensively damaged and repaired with funding from the federal government need to be insured.

These affected schools include San Vicente Elementary School, Garapan Elementary School, Marianas High School, Tanapag Middle School, and Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School.

For full-day kindergarten, the board proposes to hire 10 new positions.

Guerrero and Sablan also requested close to $2 million for the funds to match federal program funding for SPED, Head Start, and Early Head State programs.