During the public hearing on Tuesday night at the Kagman Community Center, Public School System teachers and other personnel rallied behind Board of Education Chairwoman Lucia Blanco-Maratita who urged a six-member Senate panel to exempt PSS from House Bill 17-45 or the Pay Reduction Act of 2010.
PSS said it stands to lose $16 million under the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund Program if the work hours of its personnel are reduced.
The administration said the government will save more than $4 million if the austerity bill is enacted into law.
A teacher described the administration’s logic as: “It’s like giving up a dollar to save a dime.”
Angie Wheat, a fourth grade teacher from Kagman Elementary School, described the inclusion of PSS in the work reduction measure as “ridiculous.”
A teacher for 31 years, Wheat said PSS has already cut back expenses but the education of children should not be taken for granted.
“We are trying to educate all of the potential leaders of the CNMI. We want them to feel like there’s something to come back for,” she said.
Another teacher said her salary was already reduced because she failed to pass one of the two required Praxis tests. If her salary is further reduced, she said it will be very difficult for her because she still supports her jobless and diabetic husband and their children.
Blanco-Maratita said the issue is about investing in the future of the CNMI.
“It goes beyond wages and money. This issue is about PSS’ commitment to provide quality education,” she said.
Quality teaching comes from qualified personnel and if the CNMI government cuts the wages of teachers, it is also depriving students from getting quality education.
Leila F. Clark, a teacher from Tinian, came to Saipan to testify against the bill.
She said their job as educators doesn’t end in the classroom yet they don’t ask for anything in return except for their basic pay.
“We have given so much of our time. Do not let PSS be part of this austerity,” she added.
Another teacher said: “Think about the children.”
Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan said the U.S. Department of Education will take back the stimulus grants provided to PSS if the CNMI government fails to maintain the school system’s budget, which is one of the conditions for the release of the federal funds.
She noted that Hawaii lost $15 million in federal grants because it furloughed teachers.
“PSS will lose $34 million if austerity is applied here. Please exempt us. We don’t want to lose our money,” she said.
The Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee chaired by Sen. Jovita Taimanao, Ind.-Rota, conducted the public hearing.
With her were Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota; Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian; Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, R-Saipan; Sen. Ralph DLG. Torres, R-Saipan; and Sen. Francisco Q. Cruz, R-Tinian.
Reyes said he supports PSS and expressed concern that some elected leaders are protected by the Constitution from pay cuts.
“We hide behind the power of the Constitution. Let the people choose if they want to provide protection to these people,” said Reyes referring to three legislative initiatives seeking to reduce the salaries of the governor, lt. governor, lawmakers, justices and judges.
Cruz, for his part, said he is strongly opposed to the bill because he knows it’s going to negatively impact so many families.
“I am strongly opposing this bill,” he said.
Torres, whose grandmother, mother and wife are all teachers, said he will fight against the passage of the austerity bill.
Hofschneider vowed to bring before the public any future austerity measures before the Senate acts on them.
“Rest assured that this won’t be the last time you would be seeing us regarding a bill that would affect the pockets and the livelihood of the people,” he said.
Manglona said “it’s not as simple as saying yes or no” to the austerity bill but he, too, took the side of the government employees, particularly PSS.
The Senate is scheduled to hold a session on Friday morning with the austerity bill as the top agenda item.
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