Despite a request from the college management, the Northern Marianas College Board of Regents did not vote to support or oppose a House bill that would essentially declare the Northern Marianas Technical Institute a recipient of public funds.<\/p>\n
The bill, H.B. 19-04, would establish a \u201cHigher Education Commission\u201d with the intent of creating charter schools and an \u201cAdult Vocational and Continuing Education Charter School.\u201d The bill names this vocational and charter school to be NMTI.<\/p>\n
The college, which previously commented on different versions of this bill, brought the issue to the board on Friday to seek a clear position.<\/p>\n
Board regent Elizabeth Rechebai disclosed that that \u201cLegislature is interested to know\u201d the board\u2019s position on the matter.<\/p>\n
College president Dr. Sharon Hart called H.B. 19-04 \u201ca critical one,\u201d urging the board to take a stand on it, whether to support, oppose, or remain neutral.<\/p>\n
Hart stressed that it needs to be learned \u201cwhat impact would [the bill] have on\u201d on the college and its fiscal stability.<\/p>\n
NMC External Relations director Frankie Elliptico said the previous boards\u2019 direction had been sometimes \u201cnebulous\u201d and urged for a clearer position on the matter.<\/p>\n
Regent William Torres disclosed, though, that he learned right before their meeting that the bill they had before them would not be the same one addressed in the future.<\/p>\n
He said he was informed that the hearing date had been changed and that the creation of a Higher Ed commission and vocational school would be \u201cseparate.\u201d<\/p>\n
Torres appeared to oppose the bill, arguing their position against NMTI in the Legislature. Regent Frank Rabauliman also echoed Torres\u2019 stateements.<\/p>\n
Both regents stressed the \u201cneed to engage other players\u201d like the Public School System and NMTI.<\/p>\n
Noting as \u201cdefinite\u201d the expiration of the contract worker program in 2019, he said, \u201cHow are we going to divvy this responsibility\u201d among the different institutions?<\/p>\n
Torres also asked how the college\u2019s share of the \u201ccontract worker fee\u201d funds are being used. \u201cWhat did we use it on in year one?\u201d he asked Hart, who said she would have to go look back to find out.<\/p>\n
Torres said, \u201cWe are going to get hammered\u201d by the Legislature for this fact, which he declined to elaborate on.<\/p>\n
Board chair Juan T. Lizama said the \u201ccrux\u201d of the matter was: \u201cDo we want another public institution?\u201d<\/p>\n
H.B. 19-04 aims to \u201cfacilitate technical training and vocational education opportunities by establishing the Higher Education Commission\u2026for purposes of enabling charter schools as well as an adult Vocational and Continuing Education Charter School.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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