PSS to cut school week; parents and teachers brace for change
By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff
In a historic shift that will ripple through classrooms, affect employees, and affect families’ routines across the islands, the Public School System will transition to a four-day school week starting Monday, Nov. 17.
With a 64-hour school week, nearly 9,000 students and almost 1,500 teachers and staff face the biggest austerity move in years—a fallout from one of the steepest funding shortfalls in PSS history.
The warning signs started early this budget cycle, when PSS’s $49 million request, submitted last July, was trimmed to $37.1 million, a sharp drop from even the promised “workable” $40 million. The resulting $12 million gap left PSS fighting to keep doors open and programs alive.
By August, Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho sounded the alarm, reinforcing warnings and acknowledging that the system had little choice but to enact historic cuts.
“This is a critical step we must take to keep our system operating under these financial circumstances,” Dr. Camacho said in his memo on Nov. 7.
The Board of Education on Nov. 1 approved the austerity plan in line with the FY2026 budget law, allocating just $31.7 million.
School Mondays go dark
Effective Nov. 17, all public schools and PSS offices across the islands will close on Mondays. Missed classroom lectures, stalled student activities, and canceled programs will reshape the academic week.
If a Monday happens to fall on a public holiday, closures will shift to the next available workday, and employees will receive holiday pay.
To go with the four-day school days and work week, school calendars and classroom routines have been redrawn.
Programs adjust and endure
Not all programs are immediately affected. Federally funded initiatives like Head Start, Early Childhood Special Education, Teacher Aides, Early Intervention, and the Child Nutrition Program are temporarily protected amid federal budget talks.
“This delay is necessary to preserve program eligibility and federal funding,” Dr. Camacho ‘s memo reads.
Questions about program eligibility can be forwarded to the Federal Programs Office, and a revised school calendar has already been issued to help families navigate the changes.
Grab-and-Go Meals fill the gaps
To ensure no child misses out on basic nutrition, the Child Nutrition Program will continue Grab and Go meal distributions every Monday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., or Tuesday if Monday is a holiday.
Each student receives both breakfast and lunch.
After-school snacks, however, are suspended until further notice.
Staff under pressure: Contract addenda and uncertainty
Every PSS employee received a contract addendum last week outlining the new work schedule. They faced a hard deadline—noon today—to sign and return agreements to Human Resources.
Those who failed to do so are barred from reporting to work until the paperwork is complete. Staff declining the terms must notify HR and their immediate supervisor.
Healthcare and Pay: What Remains Stable
While the future is uncertain, the GHLI office assures employees that AETNA coverage remains intact, pending the Open Enrollment period later this November. Those needing changes or with questions are encouraged to contact the CNMI AETNA Area Representative at Pacifica Insurance Underwriters, (670) 234-6267.
Despite the chaos, PSS payroll will continue to target early direct deposits, provided staff submit timecards and leave forms promptly each week. Delays could mean late paychecks for frontline educators and staff.
There may yet be light at the end of the tunnel. House Bill 24-70, which would unlock $4.9 million in previously appropriated funds for PSS, has already cleared the House of Representatives and is awaiting Senate approval.
Dr. Camacho remain “optimistic for a revised budget of at least $40 million.” “We continue to work with both the Executive and Legislative branches to advocate for our students and schools.”
