THE Public School System is gearing up for a new round of town hall meetings to outline a path forward for public education amid budget challenges beginning Fiscal Year 2026. With a focus on transparency, collaboration, and student success, PSS said it will show families, teachers, and stakeholders how resources will be allocated and how the future of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota schools will be addressed.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho said the forums are crucial for informing the public about the school system’s plans amid fiscal constraints and for gathering input from parents, students and staff.
“The upcoming town halls are about keeping our community informed,” Camacho said. “We want parents, teachers and partners to clearly understand where we stand and what the numbers mean for our schools. These forums are about transparency and preparing together for the road ahead.”
The Senate is expected to act on the revised FY 2026 budget this Friday, while the House has until Sept. 30 to approve an amended version. The new fiscal year starts on Oct. 1. Without a new balanced budget by that date, there will be a partial government shutdown.
Town hall schedule
– Tinian: Oct. 2, 5–6:30 p.m., Tinian Middle and High School cafeteria, with public participation via Zoom (Meeting ID: 931 0157 7389, Passcode: 636835).
– Rota: Oct. 6, 5–6:30 p.m., Sinapalo Elementary School cafeteria, Zoom (Meeting ID: 930 6304 3832, Passcode: 155128).
– Saipan: Oct. 8, 5:30–7 p.m., Marianas High School cafeteria, Zoom (Meeting ID: 970 9992 0975, Passcode: 078688).
Flyers and supporting materials will be distributed at the forums.
Camacho said the town halls will clearly outline cost-cutting measures under various budget scenarios while providing stakeholders a platform to share insights on how these measures could impact teaching, learning and overall school operations.
“The cost-cutting measures we plan to implement based on budgetary constraints will be discussed,” he said. “The town halls also provide opportunities for stakeholders to share ideas and recommendations, especially regarding our core mission of teaching and learning. These forums allow us to hear the voices of our parents and students.”
Third budget scenario
PSS will present a third budget scenario, significantly lower than the $36 million and $32 million scenarios shared during the first round of town halls.
“I plan to update on the scenarios we were planning — this depends on the actual budget, which we hope will be signed into law by the time of the town halls,” Camacho explained. “We added this third scenario to show the gravity of the challenges we face. While $40 million, as proposed by the Apatang administration, is already lower than our original request of $49.285 million, this new scenario illustrates how unsustainable things could become if funding falls further.”
He emphasized that the third scenario represents a worst-case outlook but is essential for the public to understand fully.
“These meetings will clarify our challenges with a budget much lower than what we currently operate under,” he said. “They will show where gaps exist and how we plan to mitigate or reduce them.”
Currently, PSS serves more than 9,000 students across Saipan, Tinian and Rota, supported by over 1,000 teaching and non-teaching staff. The district’s original $49.285 million request reflects rising costs of providing free education, while the administration’s $40 million proposal is considered a workable benchmark.
“Even as we present this third scenario, our message remains hopeful,” Camacho added. “We stand with the Apatang-Mendiola administration in prioritizing critical services and continue to believe that $40 million is the workable path forward to keep classrooms open and learning strong.”
Camacho also noted that PSS is revising its school calendar to reflect anticipated budget realities.
“This process will reveal the reduction of instructional days due to significant manpower reductions and furloughs, which could lead to accreditation concerns and possible probationary conditions,” he said.
