The principals’ representative for elementary schools, Ignacia Demapan, told Variety in an interview that they will submit their recommendation to the Board of Education.
The Public School System enforced the September opening this school year primarily to realize savings in its utilities which are projected to cost $6 million if conservation measures will not be implemented.
Demapan said by 2010, PSS schools will already be used to the conservation efforts.
PSS officials earlier admitted that the September opening affected their recruitment efforts in the states.
“September is already late…not only for our students but for the hiring of teachers,” Demapan said, adding that the contracts of teachers usually end in July.
PSS continues to lack classroom teachers, particularly in content areas like English, mathematics and language arts.
“We believe that with all the energy conservation measures established for all our schools, we will see a continuous progress in our billings because we keep track of our records,” Demapan said. “Principals will continue to use this as benchmark. It is our belief that we have already educated our staff and kids on this matter.”
At Kagman Elementary School, where she is the principal, Demapan said they have made “tremendous savings” in utilities paying $9,000 for power and water a month.
They used to pay $36,000 a month.
“Now everybody on campus is getting educated in conserving energy and it shows that it is really making an impact for us,” Demapan said.
