For fiscal year 2009, which started on Oct. 1, the pending House budget bill will allot $38.2 million for PSS, its 20 public schools and more than 10,000 students.
In 1999, the PSS budget was $37.2 million. Last year, although it was supposed to get $38.6 million, only $35 million was made available to school system after the governor implemented across-the-board budget cuts.
Board of Education Vice Chairman Herman T. Guerrero, in an interview, said they are anticipating the “same scenarios” experienced by public schools in the previous school years — overcrowded classrooms and unsafe buildings.
“This new fiscal year will be more challenging for the system because we’re going to operate under a budget ceiling that was almost the same as the amount PSS received some years ago,” he told Variety.
Almost 90 percent of the school system’s budget goes to personnel while the remaining 10 percent funds operations, maintenance, supplies and utilities.
PSS has 22 pay periods and needs $1.1 million for every pay period.
It also projects a $3 million utility consumption in this fiscal year.
Guerrero said schools will have to conduct more fundraising activities to support its immediate needs.
“Whatever’s left from personnel cost, that’s the amount we divide among the schools based on student population…and we’re concerned on how our small schools will survive with maybe only a little over $1,000 for school operations,” Guerrero said.
He commended the PTAs and community members for providing assistance to the schools.
BOE and PSS will have to prioritize the hiring of the classroom teachers needed by schools, Guerrero said.
“We have to ensure that we fill the needed teacher positions because that remains our priority this fiscal year,” he added.
BOE also expects the postponement of major renovations and repairs of school facilities and buildings without the $8.2 million the board requested the governor to reprogram.
The board, during its recent meeting, encouraged schools to explore possible federal grants for the major renovation and construction projects they need.
BOE at the same time lauded the resourcefulness of Marianas High School and Gregorio T. Camacho which recently got funding support from the federal community development block grant administered by the Northern Marianas Housing Corp.
