PSS, IR employees set talks on immigration status

Public School System leaders will meet with employees with Immediate Relative status this week to discuss the latter’s concerns about the impact of federalization on their employment.

Elementary schools principals’ representative Ignacia Demapan told Saipan Tribune that PSS has invited all IR employees to a meeting Friday at Saipan Southern High School.

All 96 IR employees—classroom teachers, support staff, and technical manpower—are expected to attend the meeting, as well as lawyers for PSS.

The Department of Homeland Security earlier said that after the transition period, the CNMI will only have two categories: immigrants and non-immigrants. Those with IR status, DHS said, will not be considered after the transition period. However, they have opened an application support center on Saipan to assist these IRs in getting their “green cards” to avert a negative effect on their status.

In Kagman Elementary School, about 10 employees, mostly support staffers, may lose their jobs if they don’t obtain green cards.

It is stated in CNMI law that all government positions must be filled with U.S. citizen individuals and those with IR status.

“We want to prepare our schools and our employees on the possibility [that they may lose their jobs]. This early, PSS wants to hear from them their concerns so we may be able to provide some assistance. Since our legal counsels and PSS officials are the ones directly communicating with the authorities on this, [we] want to make sure that our personnel are all well-informed about the issue,” Demapan said.

PSS has over 500 classroom teachers, of which 66 percent are highly qualified. Non-HQTs were given a one-year contract provided they show good effort to pass the Praxis tests.

Many PSS positions have remained vacant for some time now due to lack of funding and qualified candidates to fill the requirements.

In the event many IRs fail to process their green cards, Demapan said this will compound PSS’ lack of teachers.

“We don’t want to lose more employees…because we actually need more. After this meeting, I hope some recommendations, plans, and resolutions will be reached,” she said, adding that school principals are all encouraging their IR personnel to work on their papers.

“We need to have our people be informed on what needs to be done and what’s going to happen ahead of time. Then from there, we can plan for the worst,” the principal added.

KagES has 55 employees and is home to 624 students.