In closing, it has not been my intention to be unduly critical of Admiral Flanagan, the current commander of the U.S. Naval Forces Caribbean and who is our School Board, or the School's Council. The Admiral did not write the legislation which ultimately allowed one man to be designated as School Board and I have no reason to believe that he takes any pleasure in operating such a mission. The problems of the School's Council may be avoidable, given the rules under which it is appointed, and it is those rules which should be changed. Thank you. Mr. CORRADA. Thank you, Mr. Wallace. We have on the panel Dr. David Smith, Assistant for Graduate Education/Dependents Education and Youth Programs, Office of the Director of Naval Education and Training, Department of the Navy. Dr. Smith's statement will be made a part of the record. [The prepared statement of Dr. Smith follows:] STATEMENT OF DR DAVID L. SMITH ASSISTANT FOR GRADUATE EDUCATION/ DEPENDENTS EDUCATION, AND YOUTH PROGRAMS BEFORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR SUBCOMMITTEE ON ELEMENTARY, SECONDARY AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION ON THE DECISION MAKING AND BUDGETING PROCESSES CONCERNING THE ANTILLES CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL SYSTEM, PUERTO RICO ON 23 JUNE 1977 DR. DAVID LEE SMITH ASSISTANT FOR GRADUATE EDUCATION, DEPENDENTS EDUCATION AND YOUTH PROGRAMS Dr. Smith graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1966 with an A.B. and M.A. in Psychology. He then served two years on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps. In 1968 Dr. Smith was appointed as the School Dr. Smith assumed his current position in March 1976. A native of New Mexico, he is married to the former Karen Rosseisin of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They reside in Lake Ridge, Virginia and have two children: Stephen Scott and Laura Elizabeth. In conformity with the provisions of the U.S. Office of Education (USOE) School Assistance in Federally Affected Areas (SAFA) Bulletin No. 12 of January 1, 1964 (Rev.), it is the policy of the U.S. Commissioner of Education that children residing on Federal property be educated, wherever possible, in schools operated and controlled by local public school systems in accordance with state and territory laws and standards. It has been determined that no local educational agency in Puerto Rico is able to provide free suitable public education using English as the language of instruction for children residing on Federal property and other children who are eligible to attend school under Section 6 of Public Law 81-874 as amended. The only legal authority for expending Federal funds for the operation and maintenance of elementary and secondary schools on Federal property in Puerto Rico is contained in Public Law 81-874, which is administered by the U.S. Commissioner of Education. In order to provide elementary and secondary education for eligible children in Puerto Rico, the Secretary of the Navy and the U.S. Commissioner of Education, Department of Health, Education and Welfare agreed that the Navy will operate the Antilles Consolidated School System (ACSS) in ་ Puerto Rico in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 of Public Law 86-874. This agreement can be canceled only by mutual consent of the Secretary and the Commissioner. Public Law 81-874 requires that, to the maximum extent practicable, these schools must provide a level of education comparable to that provided children attending the public schools in the District of Columbia. As the Department of the Navy is the Federal agency responsible for operating the ACSS, the Commander, U.S. Naval Base, Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, the Area Coordinator, has been designated as the official responsible at the local level for the operation of the school system. The USOF provides operation and maintenance funds and financial policy guidance and determines eligiblity stan dards for attendance. In its capacity the USOE: 1. Provides financial policy guidance and procedures in accordance with Public Law 81-874. 2. Provides the assistance of a Regional SAFA Program Officer who insures that Section 6 schools are operated in accordance with USOE policy. 3. Reviews the annual ACSS Letter of Proposal (LOP) and gives final approval in accordance with paragraph VII of USOE SAFA Bulletin 12 (the LOP is the annual budget submission of a Section 6 school.) 4. Reimburses the Navy on a quarterly basis for the cost of operations and maintenance of the ACSS in accordance with an annual funding document, which establishes (1) the total dollar amount of the operations and maintenance budget, (2) estimated average daily attendance (ADA), and (3) per pupil cost. The Regional SAFA Program Officer determines eligibility for attendance by approving or disapproving on an annual basis, all applications for admission; and by providing the Superintendent of the ACSS with guidance concerning USOE eligibility criteria. Also the Regional SAFA Program Officer analyzes the annual LOP and recommends its approval or disapproval to the USOE. In addition, advice is provided to the Superintendent on matters relative to USOE policies and procedures of operation. The Chief of Naval Education and Training (CNET) provides general supervision over the educational program, including the development and revision of philosophy, goals, and priorities. In addition CNET: 1. Monitors support provided by the Area Coordinator as it affects the educational program. 2. Reviews the annual LOP and supplementals thereto and establishes, with USOE approval, the official fiscal year operating budget for the ACSS. |