THE administration yesterday unveiled its plan to reform the CNMI education system by revising the schooling requirements and providing more benefits to teachers.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta and Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente jointly presented the five legislative proposals collectively known as the Governor’s Educational Excellence Initiative before a crowd of 100 educators and other government officials at Northern Marianas College.
The governor said he would “find ways” to get the funding needed for the proposals’ implementation.
His proposed FY 2003 Budget Act appropriates $6.57 million for the education initiative.
The package, which was sent yesterday to the Legislature in the form of draft legislation, also includes proposals for a pilot program against suicide and other concerns involving the youth; a requirement for universal kindergarten; and the establishment of a charter school system that would allow existing public schools to be independent of the Public School System.
“These (proposals) are really just a down payment—part 1 of a continuing series of educational reforms and enhancements I look forward to bringing to life over the next four years,” the governor said.
Under the proposed Teacher Resources and Respect Act, all certified teachers working at the grade level trained for the subjects they are teaching will be entitled to a one-step salary increase.
Teachers will also be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses up to $1,000.
“(Our proposal) also acknowledges the out-of-pocket expenses that teachers pay—for books, paper, you name it—all the supplies that teachers need but often cannot get through regular channels. To compensate, we are proposing a $1,000 tax credit for teachers, so they can be in effect reimbursed for the money they spend for their classrooms,” Babauta said.
The governor also wants PSS teachers who will pass the initial four-year trial period to be eligible for additional four-year contracts.
“This provides job security for the teachers we decide are worth retaining and it provides stability within our schools,” he said.
He is also proposing an Educational Creativity and Reform Act, which will provide grants to teachers or students with ideas that could improve academic performance of public school students.
The Healthy Students Pilot Program, for its part, deals with health issues confronting adolescents such as eating disorders, substance abuse, sexuality and tobacco use.
Under the proposed Public Charter Schools Act, existing public schools could obtain a charter from the Board of Education to operate according to an agreed program of education and achieve independence from PSS.
This concept is now gaining popularity in the United States and the governor said the CNMI should make that option available here.
The proposed Universal Kindergarten Act will ensure that every five-year-old child in the CNMI gets the opportunity to become kindergarten students beginning school year 2002-2003.
The Northern Marianas College Endowment Tax Credit proposal will allow NMC to become an ever-increasing source of revenue for the college, allowing it to become more self-supporting, the governor said.
“This builds on the Education Tax Credit Act authored by Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente when he was in the Legislature,” Babauta said. “About $1.2 million has so far been contributed to schools as a result of that credit,” Babauta said.
Under this tax credit program, individuals and companies can make donations to NMC and other schools and have it deducted from their taxable incomes.
“The limit on the credit is $5,000 per year. We’re going to raise it to $50,000 for contributions to the Northern Marianas College Endowment, in an effort to build up the endowment. Most colleges depend on a trust fund of this kind for operational expenses, scholarships and to fund academic chairs. We want to help NMC move in the direction of greater financial independence, and this tax credit may help,” he added.
“Education remains our highest priority,” he said. “We want a standard of living that we all can enjoy. We will increase the level of education in the CNMI in order for us to make those changes. We have to make these investments now,” he said.
The governor’s presentation was originally announced for Tuesday but was rescheduled.
