Establishment of Sta. Rosa Science and Technology HS

Purpose and policy objectives

Section 2 requires the school’s purpose to be to offer a free scholarship basis for secondary education.
Section 2 mandates special emphasis on subjects pertaining to the sciences and technology.
Section 2 aims to prepare students for scientific and technological careers.
Section 2 directs that the training should enable students to contribute to the social development and economic well-being of the community, business, and industries.
Section 2 focuses the school’s contribution especially on the First District of Laguna (particularly the Municipality of Sta. Rosa), the whole Province of Laguna, and the CALABARZON sub-region.

School organization and leadership

Section 1 creates the Sta. Rosa Science and Technology High School as a public high school unit.
Section 3 provides that the school shall be headed by a director.
Section 3 requires the director’s appointment to follow prescribed civil service law, rules, and regulations.
Section 3 provides that the director’s compensation is fixed by the Board of Trustees in accordance with the Revised Compensation and Position Classification System.
Section 3 states that the director shall not be removed except for cause.
Section 3 provides that the director’s functions, powers, and duties include those usually pertaining to the office of the principal of a public high school, plus any additional functions provided in the Act.

Board of Trustees powers and composition

Section 4 establishes a Sta. Rosa Science and Technology High School Board of Trustees.
Section 4 sets the board’s ex officio members as:
- the regional director, Department of Education, Culture and Sports, Region IV (as ex officio chairperson);
- the director of the high school (as ex officio vice chairperson);
- the regional director, Department of Science and Technology, Region IV;
- the regional director, National Economic and Development Authority, Region IV;
- the regional director, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Region IV.
Section 4 requires two additional members:
- one (1) member representing business and industry; and
- one (1) member representing the scientific and technological association.
Section 4 provides per diem rules for non-governmentally compensated board members: each receives a per diem per session at rates under existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
Section 4 requires that the two nongovernment members be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon the recommendation of the chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Section 4 sets term lengths for the appointed members: one (1) serves for six (6) years and one (1) serves for four (4) years.
Section 5 provides that the Board of Trustees exercises all powers and prerogatives of a board of directors of a corporation.
Section 5 empowers the Board of Trustees to:
- fix the site of the high school;
- receive and appropriate sums provided by law for the school’s support;
- approve appointments made by contracts entered into by the director for hiring faculty members, lecturers, and other employees, subject to Section 12;
- determine academic ranks;
- fix compensation and other conditions of employment; and
- remove personnel for cause with due process;
- approve curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline drawn up by the executive council;
- provide fellowships for faculty and approve scholarships, stipends, and allowances to deserving students;
- approve issuance of certificates or diplomas to successful graduation candidates;
- adopt rules of procedure and prescribe general administration rules not contrary to law and consistent with Section 2;
- receive in trust legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal property and administer them according to donor directions; if none exist, administer at the Board’s discretion for the school’s benefit and aid to students; and
- establish criteria for selection and admission of students, including competitive examinations.
Section 6 provides that board quorum is a majority of all members holding office at the time the meeting is called.
Section 6 provides that all processes against the Board of Trustees are served on the director or secretary of the board.
Section 7 authorizes the Board of Trustees to fix per diems, allowances, and honoraria for board members per meeting, subject to usual government accounting and auditing rules.

Executive council, registrar, treasurer

Section 9 establishes an executive council consisting of the director, the heads of departments, and other ranking faculty members or officials as determined by the director.
Section 9 gives the executive council the power to screen and select students for admission to the school.
Section 9 requires the executive council to select scholarship, stipend, and allowance recipients.
Section 9 requires the executive council to develop curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline subject to Board approval.
Section 9 grants the executive council the exclusive power to recommend students eligible for graduation.
Section 9 grants the executive council disciplinary authority over students through the director.
Section 9 requires the executive council to implement and execute Board policies and perform other functions, powers, and duties the Board prescribes.
Section 10 creates a registrar who acts as secretary of the Board.
Section 10 requires the registrar’s appointment by the director with Board of Trustees approval.
Section 10 requires the registrar to keep records as prescribed by the Board.
Section 11 creates a treasurer.
Section 11 requires the treasurer’s appointment by the director with Board of Trustees approval.
Section 11 provides that all accounts and expenses are subject to usual government auditing.

Student selection, faculty appointment criteria

Section 8 requires the Board of Trustees to file with the Department of Education, Culture and Sports a detailed report on the high school’s progress, condition, and needs on or before the beginning of each school year.
Section 12 requires faculty members and others holding academic positions to be selected under criteria established by the Board of Trustees consistent with law.
Section 12 requires the faculty selection criteria to include, if necessary and practicable, screening and competitive examination.
Section 9 requires student screening and selection through the executive council, subject to Board-established policies and approvals under the Act’s structure.

Admissions, discipline, and scholarships

Section 5 requires the Board of Trustees to establish student selection and admission criteria that include competitive examinations.
Section 9 grants the executive council the power to screen and select students for admission.
Section 5 empowers the Board of Trustees to provide fellowships and approve scholarships, stipends, and allowances for deserving students.
Section 9 grants the executive council power to select scholarship, stipend, and other allowance recipients.
Section 9 grants the executive council exclusive authority to recommend students eligible for graduation.

Funds, financing, and tax benefits

Section 13 declares that all legacies, gifts, and donations for the high school’s benefit, support and maintenance, or aid to its students are tax exempt.
Section 13 provides that such donations are allowable deductions from the gross income of donors for income tax purposes.
Section 13 provides that for income tax purposes, the high school is exempt from the payment of all taxes, fees, assessments and other charges of the government, its branches, and subdivisions.
Section 14 creates a special fund called the Sta. Rosa Science and Technology High School Fund.
Section 14 provides that all incomes and donations created under the Act constitute that special fund.
Section 14 requires the Board of Trustees to expend the Fund exclusively for the purposes of the Act.
Section 16 requires necessary amounts to carry out the Act to be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following enactment and in yearly General Appropriations thereafter.
Section 16 provides that unexpended balances for any particular year do not revert to the general fund and instead form part of the Sta. Rosa Science and Technology High School Fund.

Personnel details and administrative support

Section 15 authorizes bureaus or offices of the national government and their counterparts in Region IV to loan or transfer employees to the high school upon request by the director.
Section 15 allows detailing of employees when, in the judgment of the head of the bureau or office, they can be spared without serious detriment to public service.
Section 15 requires detailed employees to perform duties required under the detail assignment.
Section 15 provides that the time employed counts as part of regular official hours.
Section 15 states that all laws, rules, and regulations limiting the detail of government employees do not prevent this arrangement.

Implementing rules and effect of approval

Section 17 requires the Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports to issue rules and regulations necessary to carry out the Act.
Section 18 provides that the Act takes effect upon approval.