Happy Hollow High School Gains Independence Under New Law On April 16, 2013, President Aquino has

signed Republic Act 10477 giving the Happy Hollow High School its own identity. This means that Happy Hollow High School would no longer be an annex of the Baguio City National High School (BCNHS). Is this a cause for celebration for the school board and the students? What does this separation from BCNHS mean, anyway? Independence The law has given the high school its own name and shall now be recognized by the Government as Happy Hollow National High School (HHNHS). The school shall be treated as any independent national high school. Like a bird leaving the nest to make his own, the school board shall decide what programs to implement, the policies to pass, any disciplinary measures to impose on its students, or the like. Happy Hollow National High School will no longer have to answer to its former parent school, BCNHS, regarding its administrative or management decisions. Congress Allots Budget for the School The law also provides that whenever Congress decides the nations budget for the whole year, the necessary funds that HHNHS needs to operate shall be included. This means that whatever money that will be set aside especially for HHNHS will be for the schools operation alone. Thus, HHNHS will no longer have to wait for the main office or parent school to hand down any funds, if any, for school operation or project. HHNHS is Still Responsible for Its Past Actions Of course, everyone is familiar with the famous words: with great power comes great responsibility. The law provides that the assets, liabilities, personnel, and records that HHNHS held while it was still an annex shall still form part of the assets, liabilities, personnel, and records as a new national high school. The school cannot escape its liabilities yet, even if it has been given a new name and a separate identity, unless discharged in accordance with law or contract. The employed teachers and other school personnel shall also remain to be the same unless dismissed from service for valid reasons. However, despite HHNHS being given such free reign, the HHNHS shall still be required to comply with the necessary orders, memoranda, and other rules and regulations of the Department of Education and other laws. HHNHSs Future It is quite interesting to see how the school board and the faculty shall act when given such independence. Only time will tell if they will uphold the welfare and development of their students and

continue to improve the education system of Happy Hallow or instead they will choose to turn blind eye to the current issues the school.