THE Commonwealth government’s fiscal year 2023 budget will allot $25 million for Public School System, which also expects to receive $67 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The FY 2022 budget also appropriated $25 million for PSS.
The governor’s proposed budget for FY 2023, which starts on Oct. 1, 2022, amounts to $103 million, which includes $4.4 million for the Department of Public Lands. It does not include the over $45 million set aside for bond and other debt payments.
The government’s FY 2022 budget also amounts to $103 million.
In their joint budget request to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Education Commissioner Alfred B. Ada, EdD and Board of Education Chairman Gregory P. Borja said $14 million of the $25 million for PSS will be allocated for personnel; $2.5 million for utilities; $8.57 million for “all others” to be broken down as follows: $1.96 million for school discretionary budget to cover expenses for material and supplies, and to support school improvement plans; $2.59 million for special programs covering local match requirements including Head Start/Early Head Start, Special Education, Pupil Transportation and instructional materials; $1.47 million for repairs and maintenance as school facilities; $620,000 for PSS programs and administration; and $1.9 million for fixed costs including debt service, property insurance and contracts.
The education officials said their budget request “is data-driven based on the PSS budget development process, staffing pattern, projected enrollment, school allocations, student services, and program assessments.”
They said it also takes into account, the Commonwealth’s current economic condition, public health measures including expanded remote learning, testing and social-distancing requirements, as all these are “essential services necessary to support our school system.”
Ada and Borja said PSS continues to work with other government agencies in collaborating and coordinating services and programs for the students.
Although the school system’s FY 2023 proposed budget is funded substantially by ARPA and regular federal grants, PSS’s share of the general fund comprises an important part of its operations, Ada and Borja said.
“As the pandemic enters its third year, PSS will continue to coordinate and collaborate with our stakeholders to ensure that we provide necessary curriculum and instructional programs and improve public health measures at our schools and facilities. Our priority remains with our students to provide them with a safe and healthful learning environment,” Ada and Borja said.
ARPA funds
They also informed the governor that of the $67 million in ARPA monies that PSS will receive, $32 million has been allocated for personnel costs and $35 million for “all others.”
They said PSS will hire additional teachers, school nurses, school health monitors, and English learning language teachers.
PSS will also use ARPA funds for tutors, laptops and internet connectivity for the students at home, and replacement of classroom furniture, the education officials said.
Because of the pandemic, they said several programs will be funded for mental health counseling for students. PSS will also invest in the repair and retrofitting of school facilities for the installment of ventilation systems in compliance with the pandemic recovery plan, Ada and Borja said.
They said the hiring of school nurses is a significant milestone as it will be the first time in 30 years that PSS has employed nurses at its schools.
ARPA funding has enabled PSS to backfill a huge funding gap in local budget for personnel, they added.
The annual cost for PSS personnel is $40 million. For the past three years, however, the CNMI government could only provide $19 million, $24 million and $25 million, respectively.
