MILITARY veteran and community activist Fabian Indalecio opposes House Bill 23-20 which would allow a simple majority to constitute a quorum on the five-seat Board of Education.
In an interview on Wednesday, Indalecio said there are “serious ramifications” in reducing the BOE quorum to three from four. He noted that of the five elected members of the BOE, three members represent Saipan while Tinian and Rota have one each.
He said the reason the BOE requires four members to constitute a quorum is to make sure that at least a member from either Tinian or Rota is always represented in the decision-making process.
Indalecio also said that there is “no equity” in allowing only three members to make decisions that affect the children’s education. “Once a decision is made, that’s going to be solid, and it’s something that will impact the Public School System,” he said.
The larger the quorum the more democratic the deliberations will be, he added.
Indalecio said it’s also an issue for him and many other members of the community that H.B. 23-20 passed the House without a public hearing.
He said it is a controversial bill that needs to be reviewed thoroughly with comments from the public.
The bill, which was passed by the House on March 9, 2023, was introduced by Rep. Manny Castro who was concerned about the BOE’s failure to organize due to a lack of quorum.
Indalecio said he is not on anyone’s side, “but I jumped in to put in my two cents because our elected leaders in the Legislature are intervening and crossing over the other side of the elected leaders of the BOE just because they are having issues with the election of a BOE chair.”
According to H.B. 23-20, “The presence of four voting members shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any board meeting, provided that members from at least two senatorial districts shall be present to constitute a quorum.”
The bill is now with the Senate.
Fabian Indalecio
