TRANSPARENT LEADER, PRODUCTIVE WORKERS

 

                  Transparency and accountability are the cogs to the wheels of improved school governance. When stakeholders are aware of policies, decisions, and accurate details about finances, the partnership is strengthened since information is made readily available to all concerned. Cooperation and trust are vital for any organization to work effectively. 

                  David Niu, Founder and CEO of TINYpulse,  said that there’s a correlation between worker happiness and workplace transparency. He believed that leaders and managers who offer transparency will earn the respect and devotion of their team. Mr. Richard T. Santos, Principal IV, is the epitome of transparency and accountability as reflected in how he utilizes the MOOE or the Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses. 

                The MOOE is the allocated funds for public elementary and secondary schools that can be spent on activities and necessities (i.e. electricity and water) that support learning programs and help maintain a safe and healthy environment in schools.

                Every school has a unique way of administering its budget. Mr. Santos starts by mobilizing all resources available to ensure that Lucian learners get the best possible education. This means ensuring that all school facilities, equipment, supplies, and materials are complete and are in place. This also means enlisting and maximizing stakeholder support so that resources could be used judiciously. Through collaboration and consultation to address concerns, teachers and students have been enjoying the supplies and facilities being provided.  

                 One of the uses of the MOOE is the procurement of school supplies and other consumables for teachers and students deemed necessary in the conduct of classes. Portable printers, bond papers, and other supplies are necessary for carrying out clerical work. Thus, 175 teachers had received Epson printers. Aside from that, each teacher receives disposable face masks, face shields, alcohol, vitamins, ballpen, and reams of bond paper every quarter or when supplies are available. All in all, the school had allocated P954,455.00 for the printers and P272,316.88 for the school and COVID-19 related supplies. 

                 A clean and safe school environment is important for a conducive learning environment. Students need to practice oral hygiene and proper handwashing to keep a healthy body. All stakeholders will benefit from a safe and adequate water supply. Thus, portable lavatories were purchased and an additional handwashing and drinking facility was built in front of the BCE-2 Building with a budget of P325,314.35 to support the WINs Program of the Department of Education.

                Research has also shown that productive individuals enjoy personal workspaces and a sense of uniqueness. This is why 172 units of cubicles for 8 faculty rooms have been installed to give teachers privacy and to minimize noise. The school had allotted P465,946.00 for this project. 

                In Sta. Lucia High School, no resource is ever wasted nor duplicated. This means that everything is well accounted for because the leader of the school believes in transparent, ethical, and accountable governance. Through a continuous improvement mindset, students are more safe and secure, teachers are more motivated and productive, and education has become more accessible./Jo Kristina Olladas  & Ella Joy Libongcogon