Garrison rescinds resignation

Less than a month before the effective date of his resignation, Craig Garrison rescinded his decision to resign from the Public School System—a decision that he said was prompted by the request of his many supporters.

Garrison confirmed with the Saipan Tribune yesterday that he submitted a letter rescinding his resignation to the office of Education Commissioner Rita A. Sablan and to the system’s Human Resource Office director, Charlie Kenty.

Garrison was the principal of Marianas High School. He resigned in July, citing irreconcilable differences with the PSS leadership. His resignation was supposed to become effective on Sept. 1 but Sablan later placed him on administrative leave until the end of his term.

Saipan Tribune learned that Garrison’s letter rescinding his resignation was received by Sablan’s office on Aug. 2. To date, Garrison said he has yet to get a response from both Sablan and Kenty.

Sablan was unavailable for comment when contacted several times yesterday. Board of Education member Herman T. Guerrero refused to comment on the issue, while both board chair Marylou Ada and board member Lucy Blanco-Maratita did not respond to Saipan Tribune’s inquiry yesterday.

In his letter to the COE, Garrison indicated that he was formally cancelling his resignation, “effective immediately.” He cited the requests and pleadings he has received from community members, parents, and students as reasons for reconsidering his early decision.

“I have been reminded by countless supporters within PSS leadership family, the board, the students and parents of my valuable contributions and the loss that they feel the system would suffer in my absence. Due to this consideration I have elected to continue to work toward improving the lives of our students and their families,” said Garrison in his letter.

Two weeks ago, a group of students initiated a signature petition to convince the PSS leadership and the Board of Education to bring Garrison back. As of Tuesday, over 200 signatures have already been gathered for submission to Commissioner Sablan.

Cherlyn Cabrera has been the acting MHS principal since the announcement of Garrison’s resignation in July.

Garrison said he is willing to assume any post at PSS, wherever his expertise is needed. Garrison is a highly qualified administrator. He is a former vice principal and principal of Saipan Southern High School.

“I do understand that previous to this decision, a new leadership has been appointed at MHS and I have no desire to usurp that decision, so please make every effort to find a suitable placement and or position relevant to my qualifications as both an HQT and/or HQA,” added Garrison in his letter.

Starting this new school year, PSS will no longer employ non-highly qualified personnel pursuant to the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act. In the case of school administrators—principals and vice principals—those who do not meet the requirements will need to step down and go back to where they are highly qualified, whether as counselor or classroom teacher.