By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE House Committee on Education chaired by Rep. Jesus SN. Lizama yesterday approved a legislative initiative limiting the term of office for Board of Education members.
House Legislative Initiative 15-3 was introduced by Vice Speaker Justo S. Quitugua, D-Saipan.
“The committee made its final recommendation on H.L.I. 15-3 and we proposed very few changes so we hope to see the passage (of the initiative) in our next session,” Lizama, Covenant-Saipan, told Variety yesterday.
A legislative initiative is a proposal to amend the Constitution and is still subject to the approval of CNMI voters.
Under the Constitution, the five elected BOE member serve for four years and can run for re-election.
To encourage “new blood and new ideas,” Quitugua proposes a limit of two terms, equivalent to eight years.
“After the two terms, we want to see new blood in the system. This will give an opportunity to others in the community to become part of the education policy- making body…it’s disappointing to see that some board members have been on it for almost 16 years,” Quitugua said.
BOE has three non-voting members — a student representative, a nonpublic school representative and a public school representative.
Quitugua wants the selection process of a public school teacher representative established by law. “A majority of the public school teachers should vote for their representative to the board.”
The legislative initiative also proposes that the public elementary and secondary education system “be guaranteed an annual budget of not less than 15 percent of the general revenues of the commonwealth through an annual appropriation which may not be reprogrammed for other purposes and any unencumbered fund balance at the end of the fiscal year shall be available for re-appropriation.”