EDUCATION Commissioner Rita H. Inos has signed her new four-year contract with the Public School System, Board of Education Chairman Herman T. Guerrero said yesterday.
The contract, according to him, carries the same provisions embodied in the old contract, but with an addition of “a political understanding exception” which requires her to resign from her post at once when she decides to seek an elective post.
“That’s very clear to her. We can’t really prohibit her from running but not while she is with PSS. She needs to resign first from her post. Besides, she could always reapply for the position if she wants to in the future,” he said.
This limitation also applies to all BOE members and key PSS officials based on the resolution adopted by the board recently.
Despite criticism from key lawmakers and educators, and despite a request from the administration to consider other applicants for the position, the board renewed the commissioner’s four-year contract, saying it would be “for the best interest” of the schools and students.
Inos was the Covenant Party’s candidate for lt. governor in the November elections.
“After much thought, we saw it fit to retain her to allow continuity of existing programs and projects. Improvement is already at hand so it needs to be sustained. It’s better done by the one already familiar with it,” Guerrero said.
BOE said school principals approved of Inos’s performance. BOE also created an evaluation panel composed of board members Marja Lee Taitano and Esther Fleming. It was chaired by non-voting member Scott Norman.
A source close to the commissioner said Inos “was ready to resign but some BOE members persuaded her to hang on.” Inos’s old contract expires on May 31.
