BOARD of Education Chairman Herman T. Guerrero says he is disappointed that the administration did not solicit BOE’s participation when the Babauta-Benavente Educational Excellence Initiative was presented to the public recently.
“I am very disappointed,” Guerrero said. “When (it is about) the Public School System, I think it’s a matter of courtesy to extend an invitation to the board to attend (the) initiative presentation and I think it is also incumbent on the governor’s part to provide the board with a draft copy of his proposals,” Guerrero said.
“We need to look at those initiatives. I know they have consulted us, but we also need to look at (the proposals) to determine whether they would infringe on the powers of the board,” he said.
BOE will soon meet to discuss the administration’s proposals.
The governor recently submitted to the Legislature a package of five legislative proposals aimed at reforming the CNMI education system.
One of the bills would grant a one-step salary increase to all certified teachers working at the grade level trained for the subjects they are teaching.
It would also allow teachers to be reimbursed up to $1,000 for additional classroom materials they purchase for their students.
Guerrero said this is the only bill supported by BOE “at this moment.”
