Agenda also includes Head Start budget revision, long-term resident EAD and a series of board governance resolutions
SAIPAN — The 19th CNMI State Board of Education will hold a special meeting Friday morning to address a packed agenda that includes a proposal to move to a four-day school week for the 2026-2027 school year as part of ongoing government austerity measures and a discussion on implementing a Supreme Court ruling that could determine how much of the CNMI budget must be directed to the Public School System.
The four-day school week proposal would take effect for school year 2026-2027. The move is part of the broader austerity measures the CNMI government has been implementing in response to ongoing fiscal pressures.
Under unfinished business, the board will take up discussion and possible action on implementing and enforcing a Supreme Court slip opinion interpreting the 25 percent general revenue requirement, which mandates that 25 percent of the CNMI budget be allocated to PSS. A longstanding dispute between PSS and the central government over how that 25 percent is calculated has left the funding formula unresolved, and the Supreme Court ruling is expected to shape how the board moves forward.
Other new business items include a fiscal year 2026 budget revision and a retention incentive policy proposal for the Head Start and Early Head Start program, a Title I site-based decisive team item, participation in the Micronesian Islands Forum Regional Education Summit, a discussion on the CNMI Long-Term Resident Employment Authorization Document and a resolution to adopt SARC Coordinator standard operating procedures as board policy.
The board will also consider several governance resolutions under new business, including resolutions disallowing micromanagement by individual board members, a waiver of wrongdoing by any individual board member, officer eligibility rules for new board members and staff contract renewals. CLO Report No. 2026-19-01 is also on the agenda.
The board is scheduled to go into executive session to discuss legal counsel updates, a PSS employee grievance dating to 2018 and other matters.
