OVER the past 36 years, the Public School System has faced a dynamic journey marked by both triumphs and challenges, each contributing to its growth and evolution. This year stands out as a particularly noteworthy chapter in PSS history. With a range of initiatives successfully implemented, the school system is set to end the year on an exceptionally high note.
Despite a challenging year for the Commonwealth, the PSS leadership has remained instrumental in driving the school district’s successes.
On Jan. 8, 2024, the new education commissioner, Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, reported for duty. It was in November 2023 when he accepted the Board of Education’s job offer. Prior to his hiring, the PSS Special Education Program’s state director, Donna M. Flores, was named interim commissioner by the BOE and served in the role for five months.
Various capacities
Dr. Camacho became the 10th commissioner of PSS since it became an autonomous government entity in 1988.
Born on Saipan and a graduate of CNMI public schools, Dr. Camacho dedicated more than 20 years of his life to the nation as a soldier, retiring with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He also served as a professor at Drexel University and, until December 2023, was a dean at the University of Guam.
On Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, there are 20 public elementary, middle, and high schools under the supervision of the commissioner of education. In addition, a number of federally funded college-and-career readiness programs as well as the Early Head Start/Head Start Program, Early Intervention Services, and Special Education Programs support public education services. These programs are also managed by the commissioner of education.
Transition to a cloud-based financial management system
Along with other CNMI government departments and instrumentalities, PSS reached a significant milestone when it switched to Tyler Technologies’ cloud-based Tyler Enterprise ERP software. According to PSS, the software will enhance and automate the school district’s financial management system.
The JD Edwards System was used by PSS for many years. On Jan. 11, 2024, PSS marked the transition to a modern, cloud-based financial management system provided by Tyler Technologies. It took PSS nearly three years to prepare and train for this financial management system migration.
By the end of January, the Tyler Enterprise ERP software was rolled out throughout the school district’s 20 elementary, middle, and high school campuses on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
This project was initiated by the PSS finance department, which is headed by Arlene L. Lizama, in collaboration with the PSS Federal Programs Office.
Tyler Technologies/Tyler Enterprise ERP is the nation’s leader in integrated software, with over 40,000 installations and services 25% of all school districts in the United States.
National accreditation reaffirmed
In May 2024, PSS proudly celebrated the reaffirmation of its national accreditation by Cognia, which will remain valid until June 2030.
PSS said the accreditation underscores the school district’s dedication to providing high-quality education and fostering continuous improvement for nearly 10,000 public school students across the CNMI.
“This is a validation of our work over the years and shows how we hold ourselves to a much higher standard as an institution of learning,” Commissioner of Education Lawrence F. Camacho said.
Throughout its more than 125 years of service, Cognia, formerly AdvancED, has globally recognized schools that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation for the needs of learners, and effective leadership.
To earn Cognia accreditation, a school must, among other things, implement a continuous process of improvement and submit to an external review.
According to Dr. Mark A. Elgart, president and CEO of Cognia, “The CNMI Public School System has demonstrated that it has continually met high standards and made progress on key indicators that impact student learning. Maintaining their accredited status for 25 years highlights a commitment to the quality and improvement of the education provided.”
Strategic Planning Institute
In June, PSS held its first Strategic Planning Institute, which brought together government officials and business leaders to support PSS efforts to strengthen the local workforce.
These include initiatives for high school graduates who want to pursue a college education or start a career. By working together, the islands’ various stakeholders hope to provide public school students with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed in the job market.
Commissioner Camacho initiated the Strategic Planning Institute. It pledges to “champion workforce development” by coordinating PSS’ current college-and-career-designed programs with other government and private sector initiatives.
The acknowledgment by the CNMI Department of Labor that there has been a change in local workforce trends over the past 20 years was one of the highlights of the Strategic Planning Institute. There is currently a growing demand for laborers in key sectors, including education, nursing, food preparation, construction, installation, and repair.
ARPA obligated
PSS became the first school district in the Pacific region to obligate 100% of its share of the American Rescue Plan Act funds. Sept. 30, 2024 marked the end of the three-year funding period.
The $160 million ARPA grant awarded to PSS marks the largest federal investment in the school district since its establishment 36 years ago.
The expenditure of ARPA funds led to “many firsts” for the Commonwealth’s public education system. These include initiatives and innovations to support student learning and prevent learning loss resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Board of Education praised Commissioner of Education Dr. Camacho and PSS Federal Programs Officer Jacqueline Che for their “leadership in ensuring that every dollar was spent according to the approved ARPA spending plan of 2021.”
“Today, I want to share with the board a significant accomplishment of the Public School System: it was able to close out its ARPA funds ahead of schedule by attaining a 100% obligation rate,” said Board of Education member Antonio L. Borja. He said no ARPA funds will be returned to the U.S. Treasury.
The Office of the Commissioner of Education directly oversees the Federal Programs Office or FPO, which manages the ARPA fund expenditures. To make sure that the funds were used as intended, the FPO collaborated with students, parents, program directors, school administrators, and other stakeholders.
PSS was the first to submit its ARPA proposal among all U.S. outlying areas and the first to receive approval among the U.S. territories.
National education official visits CNMI
The Council of Chief State School Officers’ chief executive officer, Dr. Carissa Moffat Miller, traveled to Saipan, Tinian, and Rota for the first time in the CCSSO’s 90-year history. During her three-day visit, she spoke with parents, teachers, students, and other public education stakeholders.
Miller said she witnessed how federal investment in education is directly benefiting public school students in the CNMI.
“What you do here for your students, teachers, parents, and the community is phenomenal. This is a celebration of education,” she added.
While here, Miller also participated in the 36th anniversary celebration of the Public School System. She joined the commissioner of education, the governor, and education leaders in honoring the 2025 district-level Teacher of the Year. The CCSSO runs the National Teacher of the Year Program.
Aging facilities
PSS said it has invested millions of dollars in replacing and improving outdated and aging facilities, some of which date from the 1980s.
At Hopwood Middle School, whose buildings were destroyed by Super Typhoon Yutu in 2018, the federally funded installation of five modular buildings will be completed soon. Each building will have five classrooms.
In October 2024, Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Commissioner of Education Camacho unveiled a multi-million-dollar computerized fire alarm, bell, and intercom system for all 20 public elementary, middle, and high school campuses on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
This federally funded project replaces the aging alarm systems of schools, and is designed to make the students’ learning and working environment safer and smarter.
In December, Gaparan Elementary School inaugurated its new federally funded cafeteria, which replaces the facility built in the late 1980s.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho and Senior Director for Instructional Services Jackie Quitugua accompanied Dr. Carissa Moffat Miller, seated right, the executive officer of the Council of Chief State Schools Officer, on a tour of Rota public schools on Nov. 25, 2024. The CCSSO is a nonpartisan organization of public officials who head the departments of elementary and secondary education throughout the United States and its territories.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, accompanied by Associate Commissioner for Administrative Services Eric Magofna, inspects the installation of prefabricated modular classrooms at Hopwood Middle School.
One of Hopwood’s nearly completed modular classrooms.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho inspect the new state-of-the-art fire alarm, bell, and intercom system of the Public School System.
Participants of the Strategic Planning Institute pose for a photo at Crown Plaza Resort Saipan.
