By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
COMMISSIONER of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho on Wednesday announced that the Public School System’s austerity measures will be implemented on Nov. 17 instead of Nov. 1, as previously planned. The change comes amid ongoing discussions with the legislative and executive branches to secure “sustainable, student-focused solutions” for the school district’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
In his memorandum issued Wednesday morning — just three days before public schools and central office programs on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota were scheduled to implement Monday shutdowns — Camacho moved the implementation date of PSS’s austerity measures, citing ongoing dialogue with the administration and Legislature.
Previously issued notices of austerity will be on hold. Key points include:
• All schools and offices will continue normal operations on their regular work schedules.
• Employees are expected to report to work as usual.
• There will be no changes to the school calendar.
• There will be no changes to payroll processing at this time.
“This decision allows additional time to continue working closely and collaboratively with both the legislative and executive branches to explore available options for a revised FY 2026 budget that adequately reflects the operational needs of our public schools and protects our workforce and programs as much as possible,” Camacho’s memorandum reads.
Variety learned from House Ways and Means Committee Chairman John Paul Sablan that he, along with Committee Vice Chair Blas Jonathan Attao, House Education Committee Chair Roman Benavente, and Rep. TJ Manglona, met with Camacho Tuesday morning at the Office of the Commissioner of Education on Capital Hill.
House leaders reportedly reached out after Camacho’s Monday announcement of a system-wide cost-cutting measure, citing concerns that PSS cannot continue to operate with $31.7 million in funding. Even if the PSS central office — the first target of the austerity measures — were to shut down, the savings would still be insufficient to maintain operations at approved funding levels, PSS said.
The approved $31.7 million PSS budget requires across-the-board cost-reduction measures affecting the central office, the Board of Education, and all 20 school campuses on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, PSS said.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Ways and Means Chairman Sablan assured PSS that efforts are ongoing to increase the approved $31.7 million in funding. The goal is to avoid cost-reduction measures that would impact nearly 9,000 students and 1,500 employees.
Stand-alone legislation — House Bill 24-70, authorizing PSS to “utilize unrestricted funds previously appropriated” — was prefiled Wednesday.
Until a workable budget is secured, PSS said it must continue preparing for austerity measures while collaborating with the administration and Legislature to protect vital educational services.
After months of waiting for a “workable budget” for FY 2026, PSS had planned for cuts to work hours and suspending Monday classes to prevent deficit spending. The system had anticipated a revised budget of $37.7 million–$40 million, but only $31.7 million was approved.
PSS’s initial FY 2026 budget proposal was $49 million, reflecting the rising cost of educational services for nearly 9,000 students and 1,500 employees.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
