Andrew Orsini
BOARD of Education member Andrew Orsini broke down in tears Wednesday while testifying in support of the Public School System’s request for adequate funding and expressing concern about employees who could be furloughed on Oct. 1, 2025, if the Fiscal Year 2026 budget is enacted with only $31.7 million for education.
During the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee’s budget hearing in the Senate chamber, Orsini, along with Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho and other PSS officials, testified on the proposed FY 2026 budget appropriating $127.4 million for government operations.
In his testimony, Orsini urged senators to fund PSS at least $40 million, saying adequate funding for education is important not only for students but also for the CNMI.
When he reached the portion of his testimony regarding PSS’s plan to furlough vice principals, substitute teachers, and other employees, Orsini became emotional.
“I think some senators may be struggling with the idea that giving to PSS would mean taking away from other agencies that are already exhausted. I want everyone to know that since 2019, the CNMI Public School System has already been exhausted. We’ve had our cuts and stretched ourselves thin financially,” he said.
With a ragged voice, he added, “A lot of our best employees have already left the islands; our teachers, our principals, and our district already make much lower salaries — sometimes only half the salary — of their counterparts in the rest of the United States, and even Guam.”
Orsini told senators, “These hard-working, passionate, and committed employees show up to work every day not just to pay their mortgages, rent, car loans, or student loans — many also have medical bills — but they show up to work so they can improve the lives of the people of the CNMI.”
He said the employees’ dedication allows students to access opportunities their teachers themselves could not afford. “We are not asking for more recognition or compensation. We just want to be able to keep coming to work for the schools and continue putting students first,” he said.
“I am pleased to know some honorable senators are also products of the Public School System, and I’m sure that because of your high-quality and accredited education, you can surely find a way to save it,” Orsini added.
