During the virtual Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Thornburg reported that PSS received $23,163,734 in Education Stabilization Fund or ESF from the federal government.
Of this amount, he said $16.16 million filled the “big hole” in local funding.
Thornburgh said the ESF also paid $20,400 for WAND thermometers; $1.33 million for teacher training; $300,000 for EMTs (healthcare at schools); $350,000 for school buses; $450,000 for school sanitation (Covid-19 prevention supplies); and $37,943 for administrative cost.
Net of expenditures totaling $18,622,734, the ESF balance from FY 2020 stands at $4,541,000, which will be set aside for FY 2021, according to Thornburg.
As for local funds, as of Sept. 28, 2020, PSS comptroller George Palican said the PSS budget of $37.7 million as originally appropriated by Public Law 21-8, was reduced by 48.16% or $18.16 million leaving PSS with $19.55 million.
The BOE budget of $322,837 was cut to $167,347.
The budget cuts were part of the across-the-board reduction of the CNMI government spending levels following the collapse of the local economy caused by the global Covid-19 pandemic.
But PSS also received $745,000 from Saipan Local Law 21-10; $65,000 from the Tobacco Settlement Funds; and $204,905 from Compact-Impact funds.
Of these funds, Palican said $18.76 million was transferred to PSS, including the $523,232 that PSS received on Sept. 28, 2020.
BOE already received its $167,347.
Of the $745,000 provided in S.L.L. 21-10, PSS received $535,000. The balance of $210,000 has yet to be remitted to PSS by the central government.
Palican also said the $65,000 from the Tobacco Settlement Funds was transferred, but PSS is still waiting for the $204,905 in Compact-Impact funds.
