This is my Goddaughter Mykee. She's here to tell you that's it is time to de-lurk. That's right CNMI, stop snooping. You know who you are, sitting behind that computer screen pretending to be writing your memo. If you're checking the blogs nai, the courteous thing to do is say hello.
Senator Pangelinan said that PSS has to suffer budget cuts, along with the collective government and other essential agencies. This is not one of those "you go, girl" moments for me. Since when did we not suffer due to an already insufficient budget and consistently lower appropriations each year? Did I miss something?“It doesn’t matter whether you are a critical service — you still have to be accountable for taxpayers’ money,” she said. “It’s not because in the name of education and health, you will continue to seek the same or more money. Everybody has to share the difficulties and challenges that we’re facing now.”Okay, so here's my conundrum. Our budget as it is can only purchase three crucial items. Hmmm...shall we go without
1. Security?
2. Toilet paper?
3. Water?
The choices are so hard. What do we do? Oh, but wait. Let's clarify the issue a little more. She says:
“When your budget is comprised mainly of salaries…basically it just means that you have to let go of some of your people,”
I feel like a kid in a candy store, only the candy is expired and made of spit. Three years ago we made an 11% cut in personnel and two months after that heart-wrenching experience, our staff was cut to almost 23%. We lost a Kindergarten teacher and had to downsize the 6th, 5th and 4th grades. Lemme see, this time shall we go without a
1. 1st, 2nd or 3rd grade teacher? Oh, no that would mean crowded classrooms and fewer materials. Plus I think they need to learn how to read that young. Bad idea.
2. A counselor? Yes, our kids don't need emotional support. Let the bullies run the schools like they do elsewhere.
3. A nurse? We only have 800 students, what's the chance of anyone getting hurt and needing care?
4. A librarian? A custodian? A secretary? An administrator?
Gee, I'm almost giddy with the options.
13 comments:
You know Boni, I feel the same way you do!
Many Govt agencies are already suffering from budget cuts and yet are practicing cost-cutting measures and yet we all have to cut more from the pie???
I'm not going to say that which government agencies are the most important or which ones are the least important ones, but our elected leaders need to understand that (believe it or not), there are some agencies that are already working with bare bones with regard to personnel and if they cut anything else, you might as well just cut off their power already and send everyone home.
I hope a budget gets passed soon. *crossing my fingers*
Boni....great post. Tough decisions need to be made and I education is last place you want to cut.
By the way, joining the de-lurk movement.
DavidA
Hoi! I'm de-lurking. Although, I de-lurk here all the time. Ha ha!
What are you drinking? I'm drinking a Diet Mountain Dew.
Hi boni, it's true, I'm a reader and don't post comments very often. I have to agree with you on today's post - education must be an exception, the future of the island hangs in the balance.
That baby is adorable! Mikki is my mom's nickname since her given name is Michelle but she doesn't like that so much!
The delurk starts today?
The cuts would be easier to take if they started at the top. How about if the gov and the lt gov turned in their free cars and their free CUC electricity?
You told me about these already...lol, but in the swing of de-lurking I write my comment.. Express yourself freely!
Do I reaaaally have to de-lurk? Hold my hand cos it is my first time... ;)
With regard to budget woes, what must be done is eliminating essential and non-essential budgetary items and, as we've said a million times, trimming the fat in the right places.
The fact is, PSS's local budget continues to go down, while the federal government continues to give more and more to PSS.
Hmmmmm, perhaps this is one of the reasons I oppose suing the federal government?
Niao called for another karaoke night...let me know when!
One more day Angelo, de-lurk. Thanks to my three blogfriends who put the banner on. I almost am so ma'mahlao. Yes Polly, we've had to make so many sacrifices it feels demotivating to be told we aren't prudent with our resources. Kelly, Education should not be spared the responsibility to conserve and reduce, but we should also be given the adequate funding needed to provide quality services to our students and families. Deece, I'm drinking water right now, maybe some merlot later. Love the profile pic! Honey, thanks for the support you know me, hard to keep my trap shut sometimes. Miki's name is Mihkaela, Cali, she is so plump and adorable. Dave, thanks for joining the few de-lurkers and for supporting Education. Happy new year. Ed, yes you have to - don't ask questions. Karaoke? Sure, only if you sing "Beat it" again:)
Plumeria Girl has it right. Some agencies still have more fluff in their budgets that would do a lot less damage if they had cuts than if PSS has to cut more.
Which agencies? Sounds like a good subject for a public-comment poll.
I agree wholeheartedly and would add that there may be duplication in certain agencies that we can eliminate and positions or programs that we could do without. Everyone must share the responsibility equally.
Boni what banner are you talking about? Do I have to post a banner also? We should post a banner to "Save the Education of CNMI Children".
IBS: Don't worry about it. The banner is the de-lurk poster, you could have just copied it off my page and pasted it on yours. No worries though. You're right, we should post a banner for education, Lord knows we need all the support we can get. Thanks for de-lurking!
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