Board’s legal opinion on Agnes McPhetres’ retention delayed

The anticipated opinion of the Board of Regents’ legal counsels on the retention of Agnes McPhetres in the board has been delayed, according to its chairman, Charles V. Cepeda.

The opinion, he said, was supposed to be out early last week.

“As of today, no legal advice or opinion on Regent McPhetres’ issue was submitted. We’re notified that it’s still being reviewed carefully and we’re taking some issues into consideration,” he told Saipan Tribune Friday.

Cepeda had sought the opinion after Gov. Benigno R. Fitial informed him that he didn’t receive nor accepted McPhetres’ resignation letter. That letter, which McPhetres later rescinded, was the basis of the board’s decision to consider her no longer part of the board during its last meeting.

Cepeda said the board has set a temporary schedule for its next meeting on March 30 to discuss, finalize, and accept the report to the accreditation commission due on April 1.

When asked if the board will “invite” McPhetres to its next meeting, the chair said he plans to resolve the issue with the former regent before the scheduled meeting.

“I am hoping to get the legal opinion before that and resolve once and for all her status on the board,” he said.

Honorary faculty regent Frank Sobolewski said Friday the signature petition supporting McPhetres’ retention on the board was stopped following the board’s “rejection” of the petition.

He said that, although the board chair had recommended that it be submitted to the governor, this may not happen.

Fitial earlier reiterated his wish for McPhetres to remain on the board, citing her long experience at the college. Being a former college president and a member of the accreditation commission, Fitial said, would help NMC get out from its current show-cause status with the accrediting commission.

McPhetres had resigned from her post, citing “issues” she has with the management style of college president Dr. Carmen Fernandez.

NMC hired Fernandez as its chief executive officer in 2007. Her two-year contract is set to expire May or June this year.

BOR chair Cepeda declined to discuss and comment about her possible renewal, citing it’s the board’s focus to meet accreditation requirements at present. He said the president’s evaluation is up in June.