PSS Students’ Moving Plea for the Future of the CNMI Schools

​During the CNMI State Board of Education emergency meeting on October 8, a severe financial crisis and proposed budget cuts threatened to fracture the foundation of the island’s public school system, raising the daunting possibility of a two-day school week.

​For more than an hour, public comments poured in during the emergency meeting. Elders, retired educators, and passionate citizens dropped everything to stand in the gap, speaking one after another to defend the island's youth. They spoke of tending to a community garden—making difficult sacrifices to ensure the youngest sprouts have the sunlight they need to thrive.

​"You're all essentially gardeners," community member Jesus Abraham Kentu gently reminded the board, acknowledging the heavy burden they carry. He urged them to remember the sanctuary schools provide, noting, "You provide a safety net that some of these children may not have at home... right now, the children are the ones that need the most help."

​But the most powerful lessons of that extensive public comment period came from the students themselves.

​High school student leaders from Kagman, Marianas, and Saipan Southern spoke up.

​PSS Student Representative Jude Burgos relayed a comment from a student leader of Kagman High School, stating: "I started thinking about the students who do not have strong internet at home... the students whose parents are working all day, the students who rely on the school bus because they have no other way to get to school... I do not want a student to start believing they are not smart enough when the real problem is that they simply are not getting enough time and support."

​Burgos added a profound reminder of what it means to be a representative: "Leadership is speaking when something is affecting the people we represent."

​The students also fought fiercely to protect their educators, recognizing the quiet sacrifices made in the classrooms every day. "Dedicated teachers who remain in our schools are essentially volunteering their effort and time just for the students," noted a graduating senior. "We deserve a full five-day school week, stable resources, and qualified teachers... Please stand up for us, fight for the funding our schools require."

​They reminded the room that our schools are far more than academic buildings. As Kagman High’s Student Council President, eloquently explained: "School is more than simply a place where we complete assignments and receive grades. It is a place where young people have the opportunity to explore ideas, discover their interests, build meaningful relationships, and begin shaping the future they want for themselves."

​Her closing words left a lasting echo in the room: "Please do not give up on us. We are young, but we are capable of so much. We deserve the opportunity to learn, to grow, to make mistakes, to discover our passions, and to prepare ourselves for the future."