BSSD teacher visa payment voted down again
This week the board of the Bering Straits School District is meeting in Anchorage. One of the issues discussed was an agenda item to approve payment of $175,000 visa processing fees for seven Filipino teachers. The measure failed by a tied vote of five affirmative votes and five board members voting no.
BSSD Superintendent Susan Nedza first proposed paying the visa processing fee at a special board meeting November 6. The fee would be a disbursement, not an expenditure, she said. The $25,000 for each of the teachers would be paid back to the district through their payrolls once they were employed with the district.
In the latest meeting Nedza reiterated that the risk of the teachers not following through on the process and coming to the U.S. is minimal.
“Unless there’s some illness or catastrophic life event, them just choosing to not come wouldn’t happen,” Nedza said, “This is a huge opportunity for them and they would be contracted with a written agreement saying they’re coming to us and paying us back.”
The teachers have previously been employed with BSSD and returned to the Philippines after their J1 visas expired. They are intending to pursue H1-B visas, in collaboration with BSSD, which would allow them to be employed in the U.S. for up to six years and once that period is up, they would be eligible for a green card.
After the action was proposed board member Milton Cheemuk commented he has heard many kids don’t understand what the Filipino teachers are saying and said, “a lot of them don’t speak good English.”
Following an executive session to discuss the action item the board voted and the motion failed.
The meeting began with the swearing in of four newly elected board members: Richard Elachik Sr., Edward Jackson, Sam Mokiyuk and Stan Tocktoo.
Elections for positions were held with Willow Olson voted Board Chair, Annie Weyiouanna First Chair, Silas Paniptchuk Second Chair, Irene Navarro Treasurer and Edward Jackson Secretary.