Purpose and scholarship emphasis
- Section 2 directs the high school to offer a free scholarship basis for a secondary course.
- Section 2 requires special emphasis on subjects pertaining to sciences and technology.
- Section 2 states the purpose of preparing students for scientific and technological careers that contribute to:
- social development and
- economic well-being of the community, business, and industries.
- Section 2 links the target contributors and beneficiaries particularly to the First District of Laguna, especially the Municipality of Sta. Rosa, the whole province of Laguna, and the CALABARZON sub-region.
Director, appointment, and removal
- Section 3 requires the high school to be headed by a director.
- Section 3 provides that the director’s appointment follows prescribed civil service law, rules and regulations.
- Section 3 provides that the director’s compensation is fixed by the Board of Trustees under the Revised Compensation and Position Classification System.
- Section 3 prohibits removal of the director except for cause.
- Section 3 provides that the director’s functions, powers, and duties include those usually pertaining to the principal of a public high school, in addition to duties specifically provided by the Act.
Board of Trustees composition and terms
- Section 4 creates the Sta. Rosa Science and Technology High School Board of Trustees.
- Section 4 sets the following members ex officio:
- the regional director, Department of Education, Culture and Sports, Region IV as ex officio chairperson;
- the director of the Sta. Rosa Science and Technology 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 adds two members not receiving regular government compensation:
- One (1) member representing business and industry; and
- One (1) member representing the scientific and technological association.
- Section 4 provides that members not receiving regular government compensation receive a per diem per session at rates in accordance with existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
- Section 4 provides appointment rules:
- the President appoints the business and industry and scientific and technological association members upon the recommendation of the chairman of the Board;
- one serves six (6) years and one serves four (4) years.
Board powers, student admission, and discipline
- Section 5 grants the Board of Trustees all powers and prerogatives of a board of directors of a corporation.
- Section 5 requires the Board to have these specific powers and duties:
- fix the site of the high school;
- receive and appropriate sums provided by law for support of the high school;
- approve appointments made by contracts the director enters into for employment of faculty members, lecturers, and other employees, subject to Section 12 and provided due process for removal;
- determine academic ranks;
- fix compensation and other conditions of employment;
- approve curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline drawn up by the executive council;
- provide fellowships for faculty members and approve grants of scholarships, stipends, and allowances to deserving students;
- approve issuance of certificates or diplomas to successful graduation candidates;
- provide its own rules of procedure and prescribe administration rules consistent with law and with Section 2’s purpose;
- receive in trust legacies, gifts, and donations of real and personal property and administer them in accordance with the donor’s directions, or otherwise as the Board in its discretion determines for the high school’s benefit and aid to students;
- establish criteria for student selection and admission, including competitive examinations.
- Section 6 provides that a 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 are served on the director or secretary.
Meetings, per diems, and required annual reporting
- Section 7 authorizes the Board to fix per diems, allowances, and honoraria for Board members for each meeting subject to usual government accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
- 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.
- Section 8 requires filing on or before the beginning of each school year.
Executive council, registrar, and treasurer
- Section 9 creates an executive council consisting of the director, department heads, and other ranking faculty members or officials determined by the director.
- Section 9 gives the executive council exclusive powers and duties, subject to Board approval:
- screen and select students for admission;
- select scholarship, stipend, and allowance recipients;
- develop curricula, course of study, and rules of discipline.
- Section 9 provides that the executive council has exclusive power to recommend students eligible for graduation.
- Section 9 provides that the executive council has disciplinary power over students through the director.
- Section 9 requires implementation of Board policies and allows other functions, powers, and duties as the Board prescribes.
- Section 10 requires a registrar who acts as secretary of the Board and is appointed by the director with Board approval; the registrar keeps records prescribed by the Board.
- Section 11 requires a treasurer appointed by the director with Board approval; all accounts and expenses are subject to usual government auditing.
Faculty selection standards
- Section 12 requires faculty members and others holding academic positions to be selected according to criteria established by the Board consistent with law.
- Section 12 provides that the criteria include, if necessary and practicable, screening and competitive examination.
Tax exemption and allowable deductions
- Section 13 provides that all legacies, gifts, and donations for the benefit of the high school, for its support and maintenance, or for aid to its students are tax exempt.
- Section 13 provides that such donations are an allowable deduction from the gross income of the donors for income tax purposes.
- Section 13 provides that, for income tax, the high school is exempt from the payment of all taxes, fees, assessments and other charges of the government and its branches and subdivisions.
Special fund and permitted expenditures
- Section 14 creates a special fund called the Sta. Rosa Science and Technology High School Fund.
- Section 14 provides that the fund consists of all incomes and donations to the high school created under the Act.
- Section 14 requires that the fund be expended by the Board of Trustees exclusively for purposes of the Act.
Loan, transfer, and detailing of employees
- Section 15 authorizes national government bureaus or offices and their counterparts in Region IV to loan or transfer employees and detail them to duty in the high school upon the director’s request.
- Section 15 conditions the authority on the head of the bureau or office judgment that employees can be spared without serious detriment to public service.
- Section 15 requires that detailed employees perform duties required under the detail.
- Section 15 provides that the time employed counts as part of the employees’ regular official hours, notwithstanding laws, rules, and regulations limiting detail.
Funding appropriations and fund non-reversion
- Section 16 requires that the amount necessary to carry out the Act be included in the General Appropriations Act of the year following enactment into law.
- Section 16 provides that thereafter, expenses of the high school are provided in the yearly General Appropriations Act of the national government.
- Section 16 provides that any unexpended balance for any particular year does not revert to the general fund and instead forms part of the Sta. Rosa Science and Technology High School Fund.
Implementing rules and effectivity
- 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 its approval.
- Approved on April 8, 2001.