AS predicted by their critics, the members of the Board of Education yesterday voted to renew the contract of Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos for another four years.
Four of the five BOE members decided to retain Inos, while one abstained.
Those who voted “yes” were BOE Chairman Herman T. Guerrero, board members Esther S. Fleming, Frances Diaz and Marja Lee C. Taitano.
BOE Vice Chairman Roman C. Benavente abstained. He said it was better to declare the position vacant and allow Inos to apply for the post.
“Without necessarily taking the governor’s objection (in consideration)…I’d like to…open the vacancy and let Dr. Inos apply. We have gone through a lot of public scrutiny in the past and I would like to see that we can show people that we are a board with equity, integrity and fairness,” Benavente said.
Guerrero said the outcome of the commissioner’s evaluation was taken into consideration when they decided in favor of her renewal. Inos’s term would have ended on May 31.
Guerrero said they received 20 evaluation surveys from principals and key management staff of various schools. But Guerrero refused to discuss the result of the evaluation.
“The evaluation had weight in our decision to renew her contract. Generally, the board’s evaluation and the surveys were complimentary,” Taitano said.
The board also presented a draft resolution that would disallow education officials to get involved in politics. Inos ran for lt. governor in the Nov. 3 general elections.
The resolution states that BOE and Public School System officials will “disavow any intent, purpose or design to seek elected executive or legislative elective office by campaigning for said office while taking a leave of absence or otherwise.”
There was also a portion in the resolution in which the commissioner will pledge “to serve out my time under my current contract and any renewals thereof while not seeking elected office…even if I have the opportunity to do so while taking leave.”
When adopted, Guerrero said this will serve as a “moral obligation” to all officials of the education system to not get involved in politics while they are in office.
Inos’s original contract, however, did not allow her to get involved in politics. BOE later amended her contract.
Rep. Stanley T. Torres, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he will continue “watching and reviewing” Inos’s performance.
“I was not surprised that they voted that way. Three of those who favored for her renewal were very close to the commissioner. But I’d like to see how Dr. Inos would solve the problems of PSS especially its special education program,” he said.
