THE TRUTH of the matter is the Board of Education has self-corrected without the need to change the law like some people, House Members and even lawyers seemed to have thought was necessary. This was not the first time the BOE has run into a brick-wall but it was the first time for the stalemate to last so long at such a critical time. But I truly believe had they gone into Executive Session that there would have never been a fiasco but it seems certain member(s) and the PSS attorney wanted to make the individual disputes a public mess by refusing to go into Executive Session. The inequity poli-trick of Tinian & Luta raised by Herman was even dispelled because the new Chair is from Tinian – HELLER! But I think the real problem is the attorney for PSS who also helps the Board, as he was hired by Alfred, not the BOE, which is proving to be the real problem, as it seems he’s demonstrating favoritism with issues affecting Alfred by keeping it out of Executive Session so Alfred can hear the discussion. He’s dictating to BOE when they can go into Executive Session when that IS NOT his job. By policy BOE members can’t even have lunch and discuss PSS, Executive Session is their ONLY Tool — duh! BOE can go into Executive Session to discuss ANYTHING they deem necessary & proper, its informal discussions — duh! Locals say, “stay in your lane PSS’s attorney”!
I stated in the Public Comments during the last BOE meeting that: Executive Session is a TOOL that is in place for a genuine reason, as most if not all Government Entities will have “dirty-laundry” at one time or another, which does not necessarily need to be washed & dried in Public. Refusing to go into Executive Session is why BOE is now in the spotlight and being scrutinized. Furthermore, nothing official can take place in Executive Session as it is a TOOL for only building a consensus on the Board’s intentions. Refusing to go into Executive Session automatically turns a controversial issue into BOE & Public Politics and we now see what that can do in trying to change a law that has worked successfully nearly four decades. So, in the future, please respect each other when they ask to go into Executive Session so that you can discuss things freely and even passionately like adults to reach a consensus and remember that no one always gets what they want as “compromise is the key to resolving conflicts in deciding what & who is best for PSS,” as our nation was founded upon a Bill of Rights Compromise.” I also mentioned my book & teachers’ rights.
It is also now clear the House acted solely on the word of Herman-pan, and NOT the request of the Board of Education, which proves the point I was trying to make about Herman and Alfred — Heller! While the author of the Bill to change the quorum still seems to think his business background qualifies him to offer a “political solution for something that is not broken,” I wish to assert that “I am a former Teacher & BOE Member, with a BA Degree in Economics (Think-Tank Methodologies, Micro & Macro Economics), MA in Educational Leadership-certified by BOE as being qualified to be the Commissioner of Education and the equivalent of a MS in Political Science which makes me far more qualified to ascertain “what is needed on the Board of Education.” Next time he wants to write a Bill affecting PSS, he needs to ASK someone who is truly qualified to give him sound advice before listening to someone with an ulterior motive. To the credit of the House, I will say Herman seems to be an expert at fooling the Legislature & voters, but not me! I just hope the House LEARNED their lesson, as they were poli-tricked by a real old-pro in the Political Arena.
The fiasco is over and absolutely no reason for the Senate to entertain the Bill to change the quorum for BOE. Let’s all move on like BOE has done and voters just need to pay closer attention to what the BOE & COE are doing and how each member votes on issues, as “voters are the only check & balance on our Education System.” BOE has always been in your hand’s voters!
One People One Direction.
Ambrose M. Bennett is an Economist who minored in Sociology, a Political Scientist, a retired teacher & former CNMI Board of Education Member, a James Madison Fellow (U.S. Constitutional Scholar), a Fulbright-Hays & lifetime Humanities Scholar who resides in Kagman III.
Ambrose M. Bennett
