Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho, third right, poses for a photo with Senate Committee on Education and Youth Affairs Chair Ronnie Calvo, second left, House Committee on Education Chair Roman Benavente, third left, and Vice Chair Ralph Yumul, left, at the commissioner’s office on Capital Hill on Wednesday morning. Also in photo are Associate Commissioner for Administrative Services Eric Magofna, second right, and PSS Director of Finance Arlene Lizama, right. Benavente initiated the meeting as part of the Legislature’s outreach efforts to PSS.
(PSS) — During a meeting with the education commissioner at his Capital Hill office on Wednesday, the chairs of the Legislature’s education committees assured the Public School System of their support.
The meeting was initiated by House Committee on Education Chair Roman Benavente, who said they wanted to “reach out and touch base,” as well as “to see how we can help PSS.”
The vice chair of the House Education Committee, Ralph Yumul, accompanied Benavente, a former Board of Education chair.
Joining them was Senate Committee on Education and Youth Affairs Chair Ronnie Calvo, a former special education teacher at Sinapalo Elementary School on Rota.
With Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho were Associate Commissioner of Administrative Services Eric Magofna and PSS Director of Finance Arlene Lizama.
“I initiated this meeting because we want to basically touch base with Commissioner Camacho and see how the situation is,” Benavente said.
“I asked Senator Calvo to accompany us, and through our conversation [with the commissioner], we were able to comprehend our school district’s actual situation,” Benavente said.
Camacho discussed the school district’s funding level, the effect of the CNMI’s economic climate on PSS, its plans for post-American Rescue Plan Act funds, and ongoing infrastructure projects, such as the new modular classrooms at Hopwood Middle School as well as the upcoming construction of a new PSS CTE building at Marianas High School, among other topics.
Today, Friday, Feb. 14, Hopwood’s multi-million-dollar, federally funded modular classrooms will be inaugurated at 9:30 a.m.
“I’m very proactive in moving forward with the education of our children,” Benavente said. “Their education is the foundation and key to our economic growth. And as you all can see or have heard of, PSS already has these plans put in place, and…what they need is support,” Benavente said.
“It is very important that when we are talking about the future of our children…we talk about working with all stakeholders on how we can work to make things more conducive and less [problematic] for PSS in ensuring that our students learn, and that PSS is able to deliver its mandate more efficiently,” he added.
“We stand by ready to assist PSS with anything that it needs to support the education of our children,” he said.
