‘CNMI private schools no means to comply with feds’

Private schools in the CNMI don’t have the means to comply with federal requirements, according to State Board of Education teacher representative Ambrose E. Bennett.

Bennett said for the past eight years the Coalition of Private Schools has succeeded in working together with the BOE but it has not prevented “unforeseen problems” to occur.

In this regard, Bennett raised the issue to the board and said an ad hoc committee is necessary to provide solutions to the dilemma.

He said the board is looking at this possibility. The ad hoc committee will be initially composed of BOE members and Coalition of Private School members.

“There has been and continues to be an excellent working relationship between the State Board of Education and the Coalition of Private Schools. The two organizations have worked well together over the past eight years in many years of education, legislation, and overall partnership with regards to the children of the CNMI,” he said in his letter given to the board last week.

Bennett said the Coalition of Private Schools has proven to be a successful organization, but it has never had any authority to regulate and fully assure that private school members are duly compliant with state and federal laws.

In addition to its lack of authority, Bennett said, some private schools are not members of the coalition because some do not want to join the group.

“This creates a situation where no one really knows whether or not schools are in compliance,” he said.

Public Law 11-32 gave way to the creation of the Coalition of Private Schools. The law states that the coalition is a voluntary organization duly incorporated under the laws of the CNMI.

The law has brought a “certain amount” of accountability between the member schools to assure the public that compliance to state and federal laws with regard to education, fire, health, and safety would continue.

Bennett said there also is a misinterpretation of this law by the board and the commissioner of Education. He said the opinions of both bodies that they don’t have authority to meddle in the affairs of the private schools.

“This is simply not true,” said Bennett, adding that new private schools have opened without approval from the board and PSS.

“It has literally resulted in that any one can open a business, call it a school, and go about their business regardless of the potential harm done to students in particular and the educational system of the CNMI in general,” said Bennett.