MARYLAND SCHOOLS BOW TO PINOY TEACHERS DEMAND

Filipino teachers in Prince George’s public schools scored a major victory after school authorities decided to scrap an earlier directive classifying essential and non-critical teaching positions and promised to renew work visas for deserving mentors.

The new order is contained in a letter dated May 5 and signed by lawyer Synthia J. Shilling, chief human resources officer of the Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) that was obtained by the Manila Mail.

The Manila Mail has been reporting on the plight of Filipino teachers in PG county since this issue surfaced two months ago.

“Effective immediately, PGCPS will make decisions regarding H-1B renewal without regard to teaching assignment in critical and non-critical areas. As a result, PGCPS is rescinding any decision based on non-critical area assignment.

“Further, PGCPS will process renewal petitions on behalf of all tenured H-1B teachers who meet the other requirements outlined in AP 4117 notwithstanding prior notice issued to the contrary,” Shilling announced.




The Pilipino Educators Network (PEN) which represents about 800 Filipino teachers in Maryland had protested provisions of Administrative Procedure 4117 that was foisted on the county’s foreign teachers without warning or consultation. The school directive created for the first time the distinction between “critical” and “non-critical” teaching positions that Filipino teachers’ group labeled as “discriminatory”.

Dr. Carlo Parapara, PEN president, said that if PGCPS has to lay-off teachers due to the $155 million cut in the school system’s budget this year, it has to be based on seniority, performance and tenure of individual teachers, not on their nationality.

“If it is a reduction in force, it has to cover everyone,” he said.

Many of the Filipino teachers are assigned to subjects that were classified as “non-critical”. The fact that even some listed in “critical” positions were given pink slips merely added to the initial confusion in the weeks after AP 4117 was implemented by the PGCPS.

“We dread this kind of uncertainty,” Parapara wrote the Prince George’s County policy-making Board of Education.

Filipino teachers are present in nearly all 197 public schools in PG County. Many are months away from obtaining their “green card” or about to begin the process of acquiring one. More than the pain of losing their jobs, the Filipino mentors see the loss of this opportunity to gain legal permanent status as more disheartening.

Shilling’s letter added that “Until further notice, those small number of employees who recently received a denial of continued sponsorship based on not teaching in a critical area will have those notices rescinded and will be approved for continued sponsorship, assuming all other requirements of AP 4117 have been met.”

“Those who are awaiting determinations for continued sponsorship based on upcoming (2011) visa expirations will receive approval, if they meet all other requirements of AP 4117,” she declared.

PEN officials had stressed that they were ready to work with the PGCPS from the outset to resolve this problem and had sought dialogues with county and state education authorities.

“Our biggest concern has always been the school children whom we’ve grown to love, and how we can do our job better for their benefit,” Parapara said.