PSS recently hired of Richard Waldo as its director of finance.
Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan said the BOE-approved financial consultant’s position has separate functions.
Ed Tenorio, the financial consultant, has a two-year contract.
Waldo was selected by a committee spearheaded by the PSS human resource office to fill a post that was vacant for more than three years.
PSS announced a vacancy in 2007 but it was only this year when its former finance director, Waldo, and former Northern Marianas College President Carmen Fernandez applied for it.
The selection committee picked Waldo, citing his vast experience. He is a U.S. certified public accountant which is one of the requirements of the position. He also has an MBA from UCLA.
Tenorio, for his part, was hired through a professional service contract. He is a former director of the Office of Management and Budget.
His consultancy job is solely to work on short-term and long-term financial plans for PSS, including the development of a five-year financial management plan.
“These are very critical positions that needed to be filled. These are BOE-approved positions.” Sablan said. “Waldo and Tenorio’s credentials are above board and they met the criteria.”
PSS human resources director Charley Kentey said Waldo’s credentials made him the right choice.
“Waldo has been our former director of finance for five years, plus he is a U.S. certified accountant and has an MBA,” Kentey said.
BOE and PSS said Waldo and Tenorio’s hiring will help the school system improve the delivery of services to the community.
Waldo and Tenorio, along with PSS federal programs officer Tim Thornburgh, are tasked to implement the multi-million-dollar American Recovery and Reinvestment Act/Statewide Fiscal Stabilization Fund projects.
It is the largest single-year grant ever awarded to the CNMI.
“In the light of our depleting resources, we rely on these individuals in meeting our goals in realizing our plans as articulated by the commissioner of education,” Kentey said.
