AT the Public School System’s budget town hall meeting Wednesday evening at Sinapalo Elementary School, teachers, counselors, parents, and students voiced strong support for the Public School System while also urging elected officials to join Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho in explaining to the community the challenges facing public education in fiscal year 2026.
The forum, streamed live on PSS’s Facebook page, drew a full audience from both of Rota’s schools: Sinapalo Elementary School and Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr.-Sr. High School. While many commended PSS leadership for transparency and resilience, several attendees expressed concern that the burden of explaining the education budget falls only on the commissioner and his team.
The Rota town hall began at 5 p.m. and ended close to 7 p.m. Wednesday.
“I want to commend you and your team for the leadership, for keeping PSS afloat, but it is not right that you and PSS alone are carrying the tough [burden],” said teacher Theresa Manalang of Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr.-Sr. High School.
Switching between English and Chamorro, Manalang called for lawmakers to take part in future discussions.
“It’s so sad that they are supposed to answer or help answer our questions, but they are not here. We need our congressmen and senators here in Rota, on Tinian, and in Saipan. It is sad you’re the only one sitting up there. They have to be here, because they are the ones debating whether to give PSS what it requests, and making decisions in the Legislature about what to pass or not pass,” she said.
“Bring them down, commissioner. Bring them down to their respective people because the people voted for them. You can only do so much — but you cannot answer everything,” she added.
Another school staff member expressed her appreciation for the commissioner’s presence but echoed the call for shared responsibility.
“We appreciate that you are telling us the truth of the challenges, sitting there alone. But you should not have to bear this alone,” she said.
Budget realities
Camacho outlined the proposed $49.2 million FY 2026 budget, including $42 million for personnel to support over 1,000 employees who are locally funded across 20 schools and 10 Head Start centers on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, and $7.2 million for operations and matching federal grants.
He reminded the audience that the American Rescue Plan Act stabilized PSS operations in FY 2022, 2023, and 2024, preventing furloughs and protecting the mandated 180 instructional days. With ARPA funds no longer available, PSS must now rely fully on local appropriations.
“Every dollar we receive translates into instructional time, safe campuses, and student achievement,” Camacho said, adding that proficiency rates in math, reading, and early literacy have risen over the past three years.
Shared priority
Parents and educators at the forum emphasized that while they value the commissioner’s advocacy, lawmakers must also be visible in the conversation.
“Accountability means showing our students, families, and educators that education is truly a shared priority,” Manalang said. “Our legislators should be here, answering the questions that only they can answer.”
The Rota town hall is part of a series of islandwide meetings to inform the public about the education budget and gather input.
Rota students, parents, and public school employees listen to Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, foreground, back to the camera, during a town hall meeting on Wednesday evening.
Classroom teachers and staff of Rota’s Sinapalo Elementary School and Dr. Rita H. Inos Jr.-Sr. High School attended the PSS budget town hall meeting on Wednesday evening.
Rota students also attended the PSS town hall meeting.
Rota Mayor Aubry Hocog expressed her and other municipal officials’ support for PSS.
