SayGuam.com

Say Anything About Guam

Archive for category Education

30th Guam Legislature

Nov 18

Posted by Sanjay Sharma in Bills, GDOE, Legislature, Matt Rector, News, Politics | No Comments

The 30th Guam Legislature is halfway through their term and the island nightmare of politics has begun.  Schools have closed, education has received a huge blow to their funding, people’s homes are being taken away, pay raises for only bosses were given, and new fees were put in place.  That’s right, every reason you vote a person out of office is exactly what some of these senators are doing.

November Session

Bill 95’s efforts to keep FQ Sanchez Elementary School open did not pass.  Only Frank Aguon, Judi Guthertz, Matt Rector, and Rory Respicio votes yes to keep it open.

Bill 116 authorizes the Guam Census Program to temporarily hire workers for the Decennial 2010 Census.  Only Ben Pangelinan, Matt Rector and Rory Respicio voted no. This doesn’t provide any benefits for workers as oppose to hiring them as service contracts which provides health and retirement benefits.

Bill 176 establishes additional fees for the Government of Guam to collect for Notary applications.  It was passed by a 10-5 vote.  This poses insignificant fees for the people of Guam.

Bill 177 establishes additional fees for clearances with the Attorney General’s office.  Only Ben Pangelinan and Matt Rector voted no.  This poses insignificant fees for the people of Guam as well.

Bill 181 gives a 4% pay increase for the Judges and Justices and no increases to the lower level workers.  Only Ben Pangelinan, Matt Rector, Telo Taitague and Judi Won Pat voted no.

Bill 200 gives a pay increase for the Attorney General but not for the lower level workers.  It passed with a 9-6 vote.

Bill 209 requires all persons or public officials that have authority over GovGuam contracts to comply with a financial disclosure.  All voted yes.  This will disclose of any conflict of interests.

Bill 135 authorizes the Department of Public Health and Social Services to use H2 visa fees to fund 16 public workers to conduct health inspections.  This bill passed with 11 yes votes and only Frank Blas Jr., Eddie Calvo and Ray Tenorio voting no.

Bill 147 gives more accountability with the Guam Economic Development Authority by prohibiting giving loans to those who already owe money to the Government.  This bill passed with an 11-3 vote.

Bill 175 allows private corporations control in certain functions of the Guam Power Authority and Guam Water Authority which may harm our current workers and increase rates.  Only BJ Cruz, Ben Pangelinan, Judi Guthertz, Matt Rector and Rory Respicio voted no.

Bill 191 allows all Graduates under the DOC Sanchez Scholarship Program to receive a pay increase.  All voted yes.  This rewards our workers for the higher education obtained which benefits their job.

Bill 227 gives Parole Officers hazardous pay.  This bill passed with only 1 no vote from Ben Pangelinan.  This compensates our Parole Officers for the hazardous situations that they undergo.

Bill 233 amends the Rules and Regulations on DOE school property to which will allow advertising on school property. DOE schools should remain neutral.  Only Ben Pangelinan and Matt Rector voted no.

Bill 207 allows DPW to use Federal Funds to buy property from the people of Guam and/or condemn property.  Only Ben Pangelinan and Matt Rector voted no.

Bill 229 decreases funds from the Yamashita Corp by taking away the opportunity to retain current teachers who would like to expand their knowledge and certification in education.  Unfortunately this bill passed with only BJ Cruz, Judi Guthertz, Ben Pangelinan, Matt Rector and Rory Respecio who voted no.

For a recap on the 15 Guam Senators, we have the following:

Senator Thomas C. Ada
Majority Whip
Committee on Utilities, Transportation, Public Works and Veterans Affairs

Senator Frank B. Aguon, Jr.
Committee on Economic Development, Health & Human Services, and Judiciary

Senator Frank F. Blas, Jr.

Senator Edward J.B. Calvo
Minority Leader

Senator Benjamin J.F. Cruz
Vice-Speaker
Committee on Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Youth and Public Broadcasting

Senator James V. Espaldon
Minority Whip

Senator Judith P. Guthertz, DPA
Assistant Majority Leader
Committee on the Guam Military Buildup and Homeland Security

Senator Tina R. Muna-Barnes
Legislative Secretary
Committee on Municipal Affairs, Aviation, Housing and Recreation

Senator Adolpho B. Palacios, Sr.
Committee on Public Safety, Law Enforcement, and Senior Citizens

Senator Vicente (Ben) C. Pangelinan
Committee on Appropriations, Taxation, Banking, Insurance, Retirement, and Land

Senator Matt Rector
Assistant Majority Whip
Committee on Labor, the Public Structure, Public Libraries and Technology

Senator Rory J. Respicio
Majority Leader
Committee on Rules, Natural Resources, and Federal, Foreign, & Micronesian Affairs

Senator Telo Taitague
Assistant Minority Whip

Senator Ray Tenorio
Assistant Minority Leader

Senator Judith T. Won Pat, Ed.D.
Speaker
Committee on Education

Tags: , , , ,

JFK Starts on Monday, August 24, 2009

Aug 21

Posted by Sanjay Sharma in Education, GDOE, News | No Comments

John F. Kennedy High School finally opens its doors to students on Monday, August 24, 2009.   The first day of class for the JFK islanders will begin with Green Day (periods 1,3,5) and the first bell will be ringing at 7:05am.  The two week delay was caused by concerns from the superintendent’s office regarding the high levels of Chlordane and the ongoing construction by Coretech on a few classrooms.  There were last minute changes made by DOE to divide classrooms, addition of sinks, and Coretech was trying their best to address the changes.

“It’s my responsibility to ensure that nothing happens to you 20 years down the line, so if there’s any indication that you might be harmed by something you can’t see right now, but may be present, that’s my responsibility,” Nerissa Underwood explained.

The flexible make-up days within GDOE’s schedule found on www.gdoe.net might be used to make up lost education time.  The 14 Points of an Adequate Education Law mandates that the Education Department must provide for 180 days of instruction.  However, the flexible make-up days are reserved for natural disasters only.  Seeing how this event is not a natural disaster, I am sure this will cost the government some money, cost the teachers their vacation, or cost the students their education time.

Interim JFK High School

In late July 2009, Guam health officials were notified that chlordane was detected in surface soils near building foundations at the Interim JFK High School at concentrations that warranted further investigation.    Surface  soil  chlordane  concentrations  ranged  from  non-detected  to  205 mg/kg.  Guam EPA noted  the chlordane at  the  Interim JFK High School was applied  in accordance with the  common  practice  at  the  time  for  its  intended  purpose  as  a  termiticide.    Based  on  the  soil concentrations,  the Guam EPA has concluded  that  the  relative  risk of chlordane at  the school  is similar  to  the  risk  from exposures at any  school or building  that was  constructed prior  to 1989.  AMEC concurs with this statement.   Exposures and risk to chlordane detected at the school would result from directly touching, eating or  inhaling soil with chlordane  in  it.   Due  to  the  length of  time between application of chlordane and the present day, chlordane is highly unlikely to be present in air.   To eliminate  the possibility of direct contact with soils and  to eliminate potential  health  risk  to  students,  a  4-foot wide  concrete walkway was constructed near building  foundations over soils with elevated  levels of chlordane.   Soil sampling conducted in August 2009 beyond the boundary of the walkway indicates that the 4-foot walkway has removed exposures to soils with higher concentrations of chlordane.  Chlordane concentrations in soils immediately beyond the walkway ranged from non-detected to 4.8 mg/kg.

What is Chlordane?
Chlordane  is a complex man-made chemical mixture  that was used as a pesticide  in  the United States  from  1948  to  1988.  It  is  a  thick  liquid  whose  color  ranges  from  colorless  to  amber, depending on its purity. It may have no smell or a mild, irritating smell.  Before  1978,  chlordane  was  also  used  as  a  pesticide  on  agricultural crops,  lawns and gardens and as a  fumigating agent. USEPA canceled the use of chlordane on food crops and phased out other above-ground uses  over  the  next  5  years.  In  1988,  when  the  USEPA  canceled chlordane’s use  for controlling  termites, all approved uses of chlordane in the United States stopped. In soil, chlordane attaches strongly to particles and is unlikely to pose a threat to groundwater.  Half of the chlordane applied to soil surface may evaporate in 2 to 3 days. Evaporation is much slower after chlordane penetrates into the soil as it is bound very tightly.

What Harmful Effects Can Chlordane Have on Us?
Most health effects in humans from chlordane exposure are on the nervous system, the digestive system, and  the  liver. Chlordane  is considered a possible human carcinogen  (Agency  for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Toxicological Profile for Chlordane).

Tags: , , , , ,

The Puppet Show May Continue its Double Session

Jun 18

Posted by Sanjay Sharma in Bills, Education, GPSS, Governor, Legislature | No Comments

John F. Kennedy High School

The Puppet Show May Continue its Double Session

“I believe that much of present education fails because it neglects this fundamental principle of the school as a form of community life.” – John Dewey

John F. Kennedy High School has been shut down by the Attorney General’s office after the school failed a safety inspection during June 2008.  Since that time the Governor, Guam Legislature, and Guam Public School System had failed to take action.  The double session situation at George Washington appears to be status quo with the new school year fast approaching in August 2009.

Scene One: The Governor

The Governor has been talking about renting from Core Tech International Corporation in Tiyan as a possible solution since December 2008, but only started entering into official contractual discussions during April 2009. Joshua Tenorio, Spokesperson for Core Tech International Corporation, has been seeking the media limelight to promote the deal by calling this a “favor to the community of Guam.” The Governor, persuaded by the opportunity to appear as a lead personality, was willing to enter into a 10 year agreement with a price tag of 5.1 million a year to rent a building to house 2,300 students and the 170 employees. The Governor had called the Guam Legislature into session once the contract was reviewed by the Guam Attorney General’s Office, and the Governor proposed an amended Bill.

Scene Two: The Guam Legislature

The Guam Legislature was completely oblivious to the happenings of the John F. Kennedy community.  Some senators were not aware that the students of John F. Kennedy High School were in double session at the George Washington High School campus. Instead, they were under the impression that 2,300 students were using 20 usable classrooms to carry out their day to day schooling.  These senators did not realize that the Superintendent of the Guam Public School System directed office employees to use 10 of those classrooms.  Other senators were under the impression that all the John F. Kennedy High School students were redistricted into a newly built high school (Okkodo) and George Washington. A few keen senators like Judy Won Pat, Matt Rector, Ray Tenorio, BJ Cruz, and Rory Respecio were well aware of the situation that the John F. Kennedy students faced.

After two days of discussion, the Guam Legislature unanimously passed the Governor’s Bill to allow a contract with Core Tech International Corporation.  The changes of reducing the 10 year contract to a one year contract and funding a million dollars less than requested, however, had the spokesperson of Core Tech walking away from the negotiating table and saying the deal is over.

Scene Three: The JFKHS puppet show may continue its double session

The John F. Kennedy High School community has stated numerous frustrations over the double session schedule at George Washington High School.  The students complain about not receiving adequate instructional time as outlined by the policies of the Guam Education Policy Board, not having extra time for clubs to meet afterschool, and not being able to have part-time jobs.  Parents are concerned about finding alternate sources of daycare for their younger children attending elementary and middle school because their sixteen year old John F. Kennedy High School student cannot supervise the younger children when their sixteen year old comes home at 7:00pm afterschool.  Teachers are reportedly leaving John F. Kennedy High School to seek employment at other high schools that offer the traditional school hours of 7:00am-1:30pm as opposed to 12:30pm-5:30pm.

Scene Four: The funding for a rebuild of John F. Kennedy High School

Despite the complaints, there is a lack of urgency from the lawmakers to explore options for an interim John F. Kennedy High School.  The only sign of hope of ending the double session is with the Superintendent of the Guam Public School System who has pledged the use of federal grants of $70 million to rebuild John F. Kennedy High School, in which International Bridge Corporation has assured a completion within nine months of having a contract signed.  This news comes in time for the school year starting on August 2010.

JFKislanders.com

Tags: , , , , , ,