Sen. Chris Barnett said the new superintendent of education has paused a decision by the Guam Department of Education made yesterday that will lead to scores of school aides losing their jobs if funding isn’t found to pay their full-time salaries. According to a July 6, 2023 memorandum, all full-time limited term School Aide I employees at the Guam Department of Education will be fired July 31, and encouraged to apply for part-time school aide positions once they are announced. The memo was sent by the assistant superintendent of education for special education to all the school aides affected.
“I spoke with the head of GDOE Special Education,” Mr. Barnett said. “After sharing my concerns about the severe impact this would have on essential services within the department, I was informed the [special education] director met with Superintendent Swanson. I was told the meeting for today with [limited term] school aides would be postponed. I was also told GDOE is now looking for ways to resolve this internally and find ways to offset the $6 million cost and fund it. Of course the legislature is also ready to assist in the upcoming budget process if an internal solution is not reached.”
The memo sites a lack of funding to sustain the full time positions. That lack of funding, according to the memo, is due directly to the recent pay increase of 22 percent for members of GovGuam’s general pay plan, of which these school aides are part.
“It is with deep regret that we inform you of our need to temporarily discontinue Full-Time Limited Term School Aide I positions,” special education assistant superintendent Thomas Babauta wrote to the employees. “Unfortunately, due to the recent 22% General Pay Plan (GPP) increase, the department is unable to financially sustain full-time school aides and the position will be re-announced as a part-time position. We have sought alternate solutions and resources to help address this issue, but have not been able to identify additional funding or reach a solution.
“It is disappointing though that former acting superintendent [Judith] Won Pat painted the picture that GDOE would be able to sustain the 22 percent increases without an impact to services,” Mr. Barnett said. “Many GDOE workers in the GPP have expressed frustration in not being paid their increases retroactively to April 1, so if the department doesn’t intend to pay the retro, maybe those funds can be used as part of an offset or funding solution.”
6 Comments
Alan San Nicolas
07/08/2023 at 4:42 AM
MAN TAIMAMALAO YAN MAN TAIHAGA I MATAN MIYU NI MAN AMU !!! Un na fan ñalang I bisinu sa pon na yumok yan chebot I estumagu mu !!! Finoña I famagu’on engles, ” WOW ” yan gi fino I famagu’on chamorro, ” leche-hafa enao”?
Imelda Tanapino
07/08/2023 at 1:43 PM
Trim the tax payer funded GovGuam fat. If you are able to do without them now, why weren’t you doing without them before? Island tax payers do not exist to pay for greedy, corrupt, dysfunctional, inefficient, paree paree GovGuam.
Sal Hulo
07/08/2023 at 3:42 PM
There is no money. What do people don’t understand. Case in point revenue projections and what is actually received differ. Guam better start some new industries and get rid of these people pulling down real high salaries in the government. Next topic of interest highest paid govguam employees including overtime.
Sal
07/08/2023 at 3:44 PM
There is no money. What do people don’t understand. Case in point revenue projections and what is actually received differ. Guam better start some new industries and get rid of these people pulling down real high salaries in the government. Next topic of interest highest paid govguam employees including overtime.
Sal
07/08/2023 at 3:50 PM
And privately contracted individuals who work for nonprofits but have contracts with the government
Frank Perez
07/09/2023 at 3:51 PM
Students with special needs are the most vulnerable population within GDOE! Their IEPs are legal mandates where “one-to-one” paraprofessionals ensure that these students’ needs are appropriately addressed! When GDOE Special Education Division must hire less than qualified and hire non-recommended evaluated candidates, then you place these children at risk and legal suits will cause GDOE to go into bankruptcy! I am not being a sensationalist! Due Process proceedings are expensive and time consuming. GDOE has consistently failed to build capacity by seeking educational grants that would have addressed these issues. UOG-GDOE collaborations practically non-existent!