By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THERE will be no hiring to fill two top positions in the Public School System until funding becomes available, according to Education Commissioner David Borja.
The position of the associate commissioner for administrative services has been vacant since June last year following Borja’s appointment as the new education commissioner.
The position of finance director, vacated by Richard Waldo, has been vacant since November.
Both posts offer a salary ranging from $50,000 to $65,000 depending on the applicant’s qualifications.
Borja said the enforcement of the 15.6 percent cut on all government agencies will affect the school system’s ability to hire for these positions.
PSS, he added, is using its $38.6 million budget “for our schools — we have retiring teachers and we also need to pay for their annual leave. Let’s say someone has 180 days of accrued leave, this translates to six months.”
Borja said it will take some time before they fill the two positions.
“Hopefully before June 10 we can name persons to those positions because if we look at our current appropriation and the anticipated budget reduction, we will have to wait until funds are available in order to go ahead with the hiring of these two,” Borja said.
“Our biggest concern right now, if the 15.6 percent reduction in our budget takes effect, is that it will greatly affect us in our ability to certify the funds for these two positions…which the system needs,” Borja said.
PSS, in a recent communication with the Legislature, stated that it will be forced to lay off over 500 employees in June if a 15.6 percent reduction is imposed on the system.
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial has vowed to restore the cuts made in the budgets of essential services like PSS.
According to Borja, PSS will still interview qualified applicants for the two positions.
For the position of the associate commissioner for administrative services, or ACAS, Borja said six have applied and five are considered by the interview committee to be qualified.
Three have applied for the finance director’s post.
PSS wants ACAS applicants to have a master’s degree in educational administration or related areas, and at least five years of progressively responsible teaching or educational administration experience.
For the finance director’s position, PSS prefers candidates who are certified public accountants.