In an interview, Ada said during his recent conversation with the board members-elect, they discussed the new policies that aim to protect the students and the entire PSS community from the spread of Covid-19.
He said he knew that even prior to their election, the incoming board members had been watching PSS from the sidelines.
Ada said they all agree that teaching and learning have to continue despite the pandemic, adding that he is eager work with them.
The current board members, for their part, “completely understand all that have taken place, from the shutting down of schools in the last quarter of the last school year to the shifts in methods in the opening of the new school year,” he said.
Board of Education members-elect Maisie B. Tenorio and Gregory Pat Borja attend the recent awarding ceremony for the outstanding employees of the Public School System in the Marianas High School cafeteria. Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano
The board, he added, also understands the impact of the budget cuts due to the economic downturn as a result of the pandemic.
“Our audit report stated that our budget was compromised when we went from $36 million to $19 million halfway through the school year resulting in the shutdown of schools, payless Fridays and then, furloughs,” he said.
The commissioner reiterated that “our mission is to provide quality education so we are doing our best to provide quality education, with highly qualified personnel.”
Although the Covid-19 pandemic is a major challenge, he said, PSS managers, administrators, educators and other personnel “are using their creative minds in trying to make it happen,” Ada said.
“From maintenance workers to teachers, from teacher aides to principals — they are still here to serve the students. And we all share the same aspirations,” he added.
In a separate interview, BOE member-elect Gregory Pat Borja said that as former educator, he is very thankful for the PSS leadership’s confidence in him.
“I am just humbled by this experience,” he said, referring to the recent elections. “I am very thankful to all the voters out there who have voted for me. I am looking forward to help our community and our students. I look forward to working with my fellow board members, looking at policies, at how we can best keep the school system moving forward.”
Borja said he has been meeting with the current board members and the other incoming board member, Maisie Tenorio, and is looking forward to “working together and doing what is best for the school system.”
Variety was unable to get a comment from Tenorio.
