A proposal to introduce certain revisions for Public Law 6-10 which created the Public School System was discussed yesterday by members of the Board of Education.<\/p>\n
According to officials, the law which was enacted in 1985 is outdated and is no longer reflective of the realities for today’s public education.<\/p>\n
Following the advise from the government to stay within the $37.7 million budget for fiscal year 1999 to 2000, PSS will need to introduce cost-cutting measures that are not in accordance with its educational mandate.<\/p>\n
The opening of DanDan, Kagman and Sinapalo schools this year will leave PSS with $10 million deficit for personnel cost alone, said acting Fiscal and Budget Officer William Matson. “Ten million maybe too much to ask for,” he added.<\/p>\n
In order to survive, PSS is inclined to introduce fees on bus rides and books to sustain operational costs.<\/p>\n
Both fees were proposed by members Anthony Pellegrino and Marja Lee Taitano.<\/p>\n
Taitano asked Commissioner of Education Rita H. Inos to pursue the previous plan on privatizing the PSS school bus. Although, currently bus drivers are on hourly-wage pay schedule and do not enjoy over time pay, the maintenance service for the 16 running buses is expensive.<\/p>\n
Listing more employees in the hourly-wages and to introduce pay-cuts are two other serious proposals that will be explored before drawing up the next employment contracts in May and June.<\/p>\n
“Stop thinking as government employees but for survival,” Pellegrino said.<\/p>\n
The amendment of P.L. 6-10 will also be pursued to allow the closing down of kindergarten classes and instead expand the Head Start program which is partly funded by the federal government.<\/p>\n
Currently, PSS has 18 teachers assigned for kindergarten and this number would help schools identify replacements for vacant teaching positions.<\/p>\n
With the local election scheduled in November, Chairman Esther Fleming believes that the timing is right to introduce the revisions through popular initiative.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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