By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE Board of Education says if its members do not receive adequate compensation for committee hearings, their meetings will probably be ‘limited to a certain degree.”
BOE Chairman Roman C. Benavente on Friday said the law that limits the rate of compensation for members of government boards and commissions to no more than $60 for a full day and $30 for half a day should not be applicable to BOE.
He said the bulk of their work is done in their committees.
Public Law 15-32 sets a maximum of no more than $60,000 in yearly compensation for board members or commissioners.
“This board is really not compensated well,” Benavente said. “If you could imagine all the time members spend in committee meetings where the majority of the work of the board is done, you would understand why we want members to be compensated,” he added.
It is during BOE’s regular meetings that the work done by committees is finalized, ratified or voted on.
“That’s the only thing we do during the regular meeting. We vote and decide on a certain issue that has already been discussed and tackled in the committee meetings which our board members conduct themselves,” Benavente said.
He added that their request to set their own compensation guidelines is also in consideration of added costs incurred by the board’s two members from Tinian and Rota.
“They have to understand that we have members from Rota and Tinian that need to be present here on Saipan to conduct those meetings, and it’s an added cost to them and we think that it’s proper that they also be compensated for this committee work,” Benavente said.
He added that they are seeking the same amount of compensation as set forth in the law.
“We are not asking for more…we are the only board that’s elected and our fiduciary duties are sometimes a lot more than those of the other autonomous boards,” Benavente said.
He said they are still hoping that a Legislature will “act positively on our request.”
“Disapproval of our request means no compensation for board committee members. If that happens we will probably limit the committee meetings so our members won’t incur additional costs especially in this time of economic crisis,” Benavente said.
Although limited committee meetings and hearings will affect the board’s performance, “I think it’s the fair thing to do,” he said.
Benavente said the board understands that Public Law 15-32 was enacted to stop the abuses with respect to public funds.
“We understand the (lawmakers’) sentiments, but I hope they will be fair. We’re not abusers and abuses were done by other boards and not by BOE because we follow the standard procedures of our policy,” he said.
The board wants compensation for its members guided by BOE’s own policies.
According to BOE, the application of a uniform rate for all boards and commissions will hamper its ability to conduct business and serve the Public School System’s more than 11,600 students.
BOE members want “their time and effort…acknowledged through the minimal honorarium established by law.”
The board’s request is now being reviewed by the Legislature.