Orsini to Guerrero: I will listen

Newly-sworn in Board of Education member Andrew Orsini pose for a picture with his new colleagues in the BOE and the Public School System leadership. (Erwin Encinares)

The CNMI State Board of Education witnessed yesterday during a special board meeting the oath-taking of the new Saipan representative, Andrew Orsini, who was sworn into the 16th BOE on Capital Hill.

Superior Court Associate Judge Teresa Kim-Tenorio administered the oath taking.

“I will listen to the advice you gave me,” said Orsini during his brief remarks yesterday after taking his oath, addressing outgoing BOE Saipan representative Herman Guerrero, who said in a separate interview that his advice to Orsini was to listen.

“I will continue to listen to our parents, teachers, and students. It is because of listening that I am here today, and listening is what I have been doing,” he said.

BOE chair Marylou Ada commended Orsini’s optimism, saying, “I was very touched by his speech.”

“It’s nice to have a breath of fresh air in the BOE, so we are looking forward to working with him,” she added.

The Rota representative on the board, Herman Atalig, said in a separate interview that Orsini’s experience in the public sector would provide a unique insight to the board’s future discussions.

“I know that if we collaborate on any issues…pertaining to our Public School System family, I know that he can contribute…to the BOE, and I definitely welcome him to the board,” he said. “I know that he will be a team player for all the students, teachers, and families.”

BOE vice chair and third Saipan representative Janice Tenorio predicts that Orsini would be an asset to the BOE.

“[Both Orsini and I] worked at the Civil Service Commission [on] human resources, he is [a former] Commonwealth Utilities Corp. human resources manager,” she noted. “He is family, literally. He was an educator, so he is diverse in [his] inputs.”

Tenorio noted that Orsini would be insightful in crafting policies relating to human resources and administrative issues due to his past experiences.

“We look forward to his knowledge and teamwork and we would all collaborate in the best interests of the students,” she said.

With Orsini sworn in, the 16th BOE lacks just one representative for Tinian; former BOE Tinian representative Florine Hofschneider opted not to seek re-election.

According to Ada, the BOE is expecting a gubernatorial appointment to fill in the slot since nobody ran for the position during the 2018 elections.

“The governor has several names,” said Ada, declining to disclose who the candidates are.