SAIPAN — A Marianas High School classroom teacher told the CNMI State Board of Education’s ad hoc committee on constitution and budget Wednesday that austerity measures have created a significant morale problem among teachers, urging the board to “aggressively pursue” what he described as the “25%” issue.
Jeremiah Rother, who identified himself as a classroom teacher at MHS, said teachers are trying not to let morale issues affect how they work with students and stakeholders, but said staff feel “defeated” and “let down” by the board’s handling of the matter so far.
Rother also said there is a widespread perception among teachers that the board has “abrogated its responsibilities,” and described what he called a “culture of fear” within PSS where issues are not being escalated to management or to the board.
He said the “25%” issue should have been pursued earlier, including when PSS had more available funding, referencing federal relief dollars and COVID-era appropriations. He said teachers now perceive the board as “dragging its feet” on the issue.
Rother also raised concerns about changes to “austerity Mondays” and the school calendar, saying teachers believe students are returning to the same level of instructional contact time as before austerity while teachers lose what he described as their only protected preparation time historically built into Monday afternoons.
Watch the full video of the meeting on the NMI News Service Facebook page and YouTube channel.
