By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
COMMISSIONER of Education Lawrence F. Camacho has reassured education stakeholders across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota that the Public School System’s accreditation remains secure, as PSS navigates “unprecedented fiscal challenges.”
Despite operating under one of the most difficult fiscal years in its 37-year history, PSS continues to move forward as one of the Commonwealth’s largest public service providers, Camacho said.
Serving roughly 9,000 students across Rota, Tinian, and Saipan, PSS employs about 1,500 teaching and non-teaching staff and operates 20 campuses, including 10 Head Start–Early Head Start centers. The approved budget of $31.7 million for PSS is among the lowest in the school district’s history.
During the second phase of PSS budget town halls on Tinian, Rota, and Saipan, where he met with parents, teachers, staff, students, and community members, Camacho discussed upcoming cost-cutting measures set to take effect next month.
A major concern was whether budget reductions could affect accreditation. Camacho assured stakeholders that, following in-depth discussions and reviews with Cognia, PSS’s accreditation remains “safe and in good standing.”
“We have received confirmation from Cognia that our accreditation is secure,” he said. “This is the result of our collective effort and our schools’ ongoing commitment to meeting high standards of teaching and learning.”
SROs recalled
In a related development, School Resource Officers — uniformed police officers assigned to Saipan’s public middle and high schools under a partnership with the Department of Public Safety — were recalled effective Monday as part of cost-saving measures.
Despite the recall, Camacho emphasized that student and staff safety remains a top priority. DPS has committed to maintaining visible foot patrols during mornings and afternoons in designated school zones, he said.
“While our SROs have been recalled, the partnership between PSS and DPS remains strong,” he said. “We are working together to keep our schools safe for every child.” Camacho also expressed appreciation to DPS Commissioner Anthony Macaranas for reassuring the community that safety continues to be a priority amid ongoing fiscal austerity.
Virtual meeting
Last week, Camacho and the PSS accreditation team met virtually with Cognia to present the fiscal challenges confronting the school district and their potential impact on student learning.
“Cognia appreciated our transparency and the opportunity to guide us as we move forward without interrupting classroom learning, which directly impacts accreditation,” Camacho told stakeholders.
He said maintaining accreditation is critical for all PSS high school graduates, as colleges and universities in the U.S. and elsewhere prefer or require applicants to hold diplomas from accredited institutions.
Parents and students also raised concerns about federal college aid eligibility and the transferability of high school credits, including Advanced Placement courses.
“PSS accreditation will remain intact — and this is very good news for all of us,” Camacho said.
In an advisory issued Oct. 3, Cognia’s International Evaluation Services Director LaTisha Barnes confirmed that PSS’s accreditation remains secure. “Due to financial constraints and governmental changes, PSS reached out to Cognia regarding possible impacts on accreditation. I assured the group that accreditation for CNMI will last until June 30, 2030, provided annual membership fees are paid,” Barnes said.
Cognia, a non-profit, non-governmental organization, accredits primary and secondary schools throughout the United States and globally.
Previously known as AdvancED, Cognia granted PSS its first five-year accreditation in 2014, making it the first school system in the Pacific region to receive system-wide validation. In April 2024, PSS received another six-year accreditation term, extending through June 2030.
Camacho expressed confidence that, even amid fiscal austerity and personnel changes, PSS will maintain its high standards, protect student safety, and continue providing quality education to all students across the Commonwealth.
