WITH the Public School System facing steep reductions in its fiscal year 2026 budget, Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho is reaching out to parents and community stakeholders starting this afternoon, warning that diminished funding could undo years of progress in classrooms across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
A series of town hall meetings for all school clusters will begin today, Tuesday, starting with the northern cluster schools. The first session will be held in the Chacha Ocean View Middle School cafeteria and will start promptly at 5:30 p.m. The general public is invited to attend.
“This is a step backwards for our students and educators,” Camacho said. “We have worked hard to create an engaging and supportive learning environment, and budget cuts threaten to undo this progress. Our students deserve the best resources and opportunities to thrive in their education.”
“These gains reflect years of collaboration among PSS, the Board of Education, and our stakeholders — students, parents, community members, and business partners,” he added. “They did not happen overnight but are the result of decades of partnership.”
Camacho said his goal in engaging parents and community partners is transparency. “We must do our best, as one PSS community, to protect these investments built on the painstaking efforts of those who came before us.”
Town hall schedule
Parents, teachers, staff, students, families, and community partners are encouraged to attend the following town hall meetings:
• Northern Cluster (Today, Sept. 2, 5:30–7 p.m.) – Chacha Ocean View Middle School cafeteria
Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, Tanapag Middle School, Kagman Elementary School, Chacha Oceanview Middle School, and Kagman High School
• Central Cluster (Sept. 3, 5:30–7 p.m.) – Marianas High School cafeteria
San Vicente Elementary School, Garapan Elementary School, Oleai Elementary School, Marianas High School, William S. Reyes Elementary School, and Hopwood Middle School
• Southern Cluster (Sept. 4, 5:30–7 p.m.) – Koblerville Elementary School cafeteria
Francisco M. Sablan Middle School, Koblerville Elementary School, Da’ok Academy, Saipan Southern High School, and Dandan Middle School
• Rota (Sept. 10, 5–6:30 p.m.) – Sinapalo Elementary School cafeteria
Sinapalo Elementary School and Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School
• Tinian (Sept. 11, 5–6:30 p.m.) – Tinian Middle School and High School cafeteria
Tinian Elementary School, Tinian Middle School, and Tinian High School
Budget concerns
PSS has requested $49.285 million to operate its 20 campuses, funding salaries and benefits for more than 1,000 staff members serving over 9,000 students across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The late Governor Arnold I. Palacios had proposed $40 million budget, saying that shortfalls might only be addressed if new revenue sources emerge.
Camacho stressed that anything less than the requested amount risks rolling back improvements in student achievement, access to safe, secure, and reliable learning facilities, and support for teachers. “Investing in education is investing in our future,” he said. “We must prioritize our children’s learning experiences to prepare them for the challenges ahead.”
During his visits to schools across the CNMI, Camacho said he witnessed the energy and enthusiasm of students, teachers, and staff. He said sustaining progress requires consistent resources, including updated learning materials, technology integration, maintenance and renovation of facilities, and ongoing teacher and staff training.
Support from the governor
Camacho remains cautiously optimistic that PSS will secure its constitutionally mandated 25% share of the budget. In a recent meeting with Gov. David M. Apatang and his fiscal team, the governor committed to advocating for at least $40 million in funding, with the potential to close the gap to meet PSS’s full request, Camacho said.
The Senate, which postponed its Aug. 28 hearing on the PSS budget, is now scheduled to review the matter on Sept. 9.
“Together, we can ensure our schools have the necessary resources to support our students,” Camacho said, adding that advocacy from parents and community members will be critical in shaping the outcome.
