PSS ends substitute teaching contracts amid budget crisis; government lawsuit not filed

At least 33 substitute teachers across the Northern Mariana Islands were informed today that their on-call contracts have been terminated, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

The news comes amid a budget shortfall and just days after the CNMI Board of Education voted to authorize the Commissioner of Education to sue the CNMI Government for its constitutionally mandated funding. The lawsuit has not been filed.

In August, PSS told legislators that they have lost 137 employees since January, including 47 teachers, and did not hire replacements for the teachers before reopening schools as the cash-strapped school system tries to stretch its workforce and budget.

This is a developing story on Marianas Press.