Garrison quits

Marianas High School principal Craig Garrison has resigned from the Public School System, effective Sept. 1, due to what he described as “irreconcilable differences” with Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan.

Garrison’s departure was announced yesterday by Sablan during a principals’ meeting at Laolao Bay Golf Resort. The announcement surprised attendees, including Garrison who didn’t expect Sablan to announce his resignation yesterday.

Sablan told Saipan Tribune after the meeting that Garrison did not cite any reason for his resignation. She said she received a formal resignation letter from him and that she accepted it.

Garrison will be replaced by Cherlyn Cabrera.

Garrison told Saipan Tribune that in a one-on-one meeting with Sablan two weeks ago, he raised specific concerns, majority of which relate to providing equity to schools.

“This wasn’t really about salary, but more on a compensation program for schools with larger sizes. If you’re a principal with 75 students and you’re making the same amount of money with principals with over 1,400 students, there’s a rate disparity. Equity is one reason why many people have left the system. If the commissioner really wanted to make it happen, she can do it,” he said.

“Fair share” at schools, he added, is important for the school system to work.

Dissatisfied with what he described as Sablan’s continued “inaction and promises,” Garrison emailed Sablan late last week about his decision to resign.

He admitted being surprised that it was announced yesterday. “I was not even informed that she will announce it today,” he said, adding that he has yet to inform his staff and faculty.

Commissioner Sablan refused to comment on Garrison’s statements.

“I want to say that I don’t have any statements to make at this time on things that he has disclosed [to you],” the commissioner told Saipan Tribune.

Garrison has been making headlines since he took over as MHS principal. He was the subject of a four-day protest in April organized by former MHS teacher James Yangetmai’s group, demanding his immediate ouster. Garrison was also the subject of two recent public hearings at the Legislature. Most of the criticisms thrown his way relate to his leadership and management style.

Garrison assured yesterday that he was not forced or asked to step down from his post. He admitted, though, that he had been thinking about quitting since being transferred to MHS last school year.

“I am not sad and not relieved…disappointed probably. I just can’t continue to take this kind of imbedded abuse from many different angles. I don’t want to stay for the wrong reasons,” he told Saipan Tribune.

Garrison said he has no concrete plans yet on what his next step is. He expressed a desire, though, to open a private secondary school that will help underprivileged students. He hinted that he might even go back to public schools but probably under a new commissioner. He is also weighing his options of going back to Thailand or California.

Garrison, who has been with PSS for 15 years, is a former vice principal of Saipan Southern High School. He later became its principal when his predecessor, Peter Leau, was appointed PSS associate commissioner for administrative services.

Garrison, who is credited with transforming Saipan Southern High into a model school, said he’s not learning anymore in his position.

“I’ve been in the system for 15 years and I fought long and hard to achieve the things we did at SSHS. I fought even harder to achieve the same at MHS…but frankly I am fed up fighting a battle when the people in charge who must support me are part of the problem. One of the things here is, I am not learning anymore from the leadership,” he said.

He also labeled the decision to transfer him to MHS last school year as a “poor” show of PSS leadership.

“Timing is everything and that was a poor decision made by the leadership,” he said, pointing at the many programs at SSHS that he initiated and have been put on hold as a result of his transfer.

Garrison said that Sablan “is just good in making promises” but he didn’t elaborate on this statement.

He admitted that the issues raised by Yangetmai’s group also weighed in his decision to resign.

Yangetmai formally filed a grievance complaint against Garrison last week. No decision has been reached on this matter.

Garrison has countered Yangetmai’s allegations point-by-point on numerous occasions, the latest of which was a 20-page written testimony he submitted on July 6 to the House Committee on Education.