April 10, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Guam Department of Education Announces Corrective Action Plan to Address Office of Public Accountability's Investigative Audit on Overtime Payments
Earlier today, the Office of Public Accountability (OPA) released the results of an investigative audit on the Guam Department of Education’s overtime (OT) payments previously paid. OPA’s investigative audit identified internal control deficiencies which led to OT payments to ineligible employees and raised concerns about the approval process and OT payments at GDOE.
“As the Acting Superintendent of Education, I concur with the OPA’s audit findings and will work with management to implement a corrective action plan to address the deficiencies noted in GDOE’s processing and payment of overtime,” said GDOE Acting Superintendent Dr. Judith T. Won Pat.
GDOE’s corrective action plan is inclusive of additional training to ensure that those responsible for approving overtime comply with established GDOE standard operating procedures, laws, rules, and regulations. GDOE will take appropriate measures to address noncompliance to ensure greater accountability.
Additionally, GDOE will reinforce the role of the certifying officer in the approval process for OT payments and expenditure of federal funds and is working on an automatic block for overtime payments to exempt employees within GDOE’s payroll system.
As recommended by the OPA, GDOE will seek the recovery of local funds that were paid to ineligible exempt employees for overtime and will work with the OPA and the Attorney General’s Office to examine the appropriate measures required to recover lost funds.
GDOE is also strengthening internal controls with additional monitoring by the GDOE Internal Audit Office (IAO) of overtime. IAO will also perform additional compliance monitoring of all U.S. Department of Education Grant federally funded expenditures.
Moving forward, GDOE will ensure stricter compliance regarding local and federal law with greater adherence to guidance from the U.S. Department of Education, GDOE legal counsel, and GDOE consultants.
GDOE’s corrective actions are also part of GDOE’s transition plan that was previously submitted and recently approved by the U.S. Department of Education. The plan has been in effect since April 1, 2023.
GDOE believes that these corrective actions will address the OPA’s findings and will work together with the OPA and the Attorney General’s Office for guidance on more potential corrective actions.
For more information, you may contact Michelle A.T. Franquez at (671) 300-1677 or send an email to matfranquez@gdoe.net.
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Click here to view or download the PDF of the press release: PRESS RELEASE - Guam Department of Education Announces Corrective Action Plan to Address Office of Public Accountability's Investigative Audit on Overtime Payments
September 27, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Guam Education Board Approves Modification to the SY 2021 - 2022 Calendar at the Monthly Board Meeting on September 23
Last night, the Guam Education Board (GEB) approved the recently modified calendar for School Year (SY) 2021 - 2022 at its monthly board meeting on Thursday, September 23, 2021.
In a unanimous vote, the GEB approved a motion to make two modifications to the SY 2021 - 2022 school calendar. The first modification reflected the use of professional development days four (4) through eight (8) from Monday, August 30, 2021, to Friday, September 3, 2021. In accordance with Governor Lou Leon Guerreoro’s Executive Order 2021-21, all public, private, and charter schools suspended in-person instruction on Friday, September 27, 2021. During the week of August 30, teachers, schools, and our familiy stakeholders used that week to prepare students for remote online learning. The second modification on the calendar was the description of the dates scheduled for progress reports and the end of the semesters. The language was revised to so that the languge will align with the description of the updated Curriculum & Grading policy that was unanimoulsy approved by the GEB (8-0) at its monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.
The amended SY 2021-2022 calendar is attached and also available on the GDOE website.
For more information, you may contact Michelle Franquez, the Interim Public Information Officer at 300-1677 or send an email to matfranquez@gdoe.net.
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October 13, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GDOE Releases Updated COVID-19 Weekly Dashboard
The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) would like to announce to the public the release of its weekly COVID-19 dashboard.
Today's initial dashboard captures data from October 11-12, 2021. Going forward, the dashboard will include and summarize the prior week's reports of COVID-19 new and active cases for GDOE employees and for GDOE students who were on campus at the time they were deemed to be positive. Student cases for those who are online or who were, for some other reason, not on campus during the time they were deemed to be positive are not reported in the GDOE daily report or the weekly dashboard. The daily reports and dashboard are intended to represent on-campus positive and active cases where there exists a potential risk of transmission.
“We continue to closely monitor the number of cases that show up at our schools,” said GDOE Superintendent Jon Fernandez. “Our focus is to ensure that we prevent the spread of the virus within our classrooms and campuses. The information we are tracking will give us an opportunity to make informed decisions about the future.”
Every Wednesday, the dashboard will be published on the GDOE’s social media accounts as well as the GDOE website. For more information, you may contact Michelle Franquez, the Interim Public Information Officer at 300-1677, or send an email to matfranquez@gdoe.net.
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The JFKHS “Grad ’n’ Go” ceremony will be live-streamed on their school YouTube channel:
tinyurl.com/jfkislanders
The Islanders are the first of our public school students to receive their diplomas and turn their tassels as they celebrate their “Grad ’n’ Go” ceremony today, Wednesday, June 2, 2021. The “Grad ’n’ Go” ceremony will commence at 3 p.m.
The John F. Kennedy High School administrative team invites the public to watch the live stream on the JFK Islanders’ YouTube channel to respect COVID-19 mitigation guidelines and to ensure the safety of their graduates.
Good luck, JFK Islanders, and congratulations!
Hafa adai, GDOE family!
Jason Davis of Tribe Guam Fitness is offering GDOE employees and their families an exclusive opportunity. Jason is hosting a beginner/intermediate worksite wellness program. From June 8 to July 8, classes will take place in the parking lot of the GDOE Tiyan Headquarters from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Read the flyer below for more information to register for this special offer.
The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) invites incoming seniors to apply for its High School Seniors Internship Program (HSSIP). The GDOE would like to offer students the opportunity to gain experience in the workplace. To better serve this need, the Superintendent, proudly announces 20 openings for the Cycle Four of the GDOE HSSIP. Incoming seniors enrolled in a GDOE high school are eligible to apply for the chance to gain valuable work experience, engage with the department’s leadership, and earn a generous stipend.
The program offers basic work experiences in contemporary office settings to support professional development beyond the traditional classroom. It focuses on project-based assignments and at the same time, allows interns the opportunity to learn professional communication and collaboration techniques, participate in leadership development, sharpen technological skills, enhance interpersonal skills, gain basic understanding of the GDOE district offices and more. Additionally, interns will execute an intern-led presentation at the end of the summer to showcase their experience in the program. Those who take part in the program will be able to use the experience to enhance professional resumes, add to their college applications, and be called upon to participate in other GDOE activities throughout the year.
The GDOE internship program consists of three separate sessions. Those selected will be working at the Tiyan location for GDOE’s headquarters and district-level offices for all three sessions. Duty hours are between 8:00 am and 2:00 p.m. The three sessions are scheduled for:
Session One: June 13, 2022 – July 27, 2022
Session Two: December 19, 2022- January 3, 2023
Session Three: April 3, 2023 – April 10, 2023
Applicants must:
• Be a student enrolled in a GDOE high school;
• Be at least 16 years of age or older;
• An incoming high school senior for SY 2021 – 2022;
• Have a 2.0 cumulative grade point average with at least 18 credit hours (as per Board Policy 351.4);
• Be available to attend all dates and hours pre-determined by GDOE for each session;
• Complete and submit an application with a neatly written or typed essay on or before the submission deadline;
• Be responsible, mature, and ready to learn in a real-life workplace environment; and
• Have parents/guardians sign application forms if applicant is under the age of 18.
Deadline to submit applications is June 6, 2022 by no later than 5:00pm. The application for the GDOE Internship Program can be found on the GDOE website. Completed applications should be sent electronically to nmonforte@gdoe.net. If you have any questions, please use the same email address.
Deadline to submit applications is June 6, 2022 by no later than 5:00pm.
The application for the GDOE Internship Program can be found on the GDOE website. Completed applications should be sent electronically to nmonforte@gdoe.net. If you have any questions, please use the same email address.
Click here for the application: GDOEHSIP APPLICATION FORM 5.6.2022.pdf
May 19, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GDOE Becomes First School District to Have All Schools Accredited by WASC
The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) will host a virtual event via Zoom this morning to announce a huge milestone for the department. All 41 of the GDOE schools have achieved accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). This makes GDOE the first school district in the nation to accredit all schools under WASC. In addition to all schools being accredited, GDOE became the first district in 2015 to receive a WASC district-level accreditation.
The WASC Accrediting Commission for Schools conducts ongoing six-year cycle evaluations in which schools must demonstrate the capacity, commitment, and competence to support quality education and continued school improvement. Accreditation requires continual self-evaluation, frequent reports, and periodic comprehensive reviews.
“All of our GDOE schools have worked hard to achieve and sustain accreditation under WASC, which means all of our schools understand the need for continuous improvement in order to serve all of our students,” Fernandez said. “Achieving this milestone is no easy feat, and I commend our administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and students all across Guam for helping to meet our goal.”
Fernandez set the goal to accredit all schools back in 2014 and appointed Deputy Superintendent Erika Cruz to lead the effort. During the April 2021 meeting, the WASC Commission approved the initial accreditation of Chief Brodie Memorial Elementary School, which was the final school to seek accreditation.
“I am proud of all of our school leaders for joining the effort to achieve accreditation for their schools,” Deputy Superintendent Cruz said. “Their hard work has helped to align the accreditation process with our District goals, vision, and mission. The conversation about student achievement and academic improvement has grown richer with the work and collaboration required to receive the WASC seal of approval. I congratulate all of our schools on this accomplishment.
“The Guam Education Board has supported the superintendent and his team in this partnership with WASC. Our GDOE team has worked diligently to provide our students the quality education and support they deserve,” Guam Education Board Chair Mark Mendiola said. “We are elated to hear that all schools have achieved accreditation status, and we are excited to see the improvements that come from a more intense focus on learning, supported by WASC.”
GDOE and WASC officials will attend the virtual announcement, joined by Guam Education Board members, school administrators, and student representatives. WASC President Dr. Barry Groves and Executive Vice-President, Dr. Marilyn George, will also be in attendance.
“Earning accreditation at all 41 of their schools assures the educational quality of programs and services offered by their schools and reflect high standards of quality and integrity,” WASC President Dr. Barry Groves said. “We congratulate Guam for achieving a huge milestone.”
GDOE Superintendent Fernandez currently serves as a WASC Commissioner representing the Pacific Islands. While he participates both as a member of the WASC finance committee and in Commission decisions, Fernandez abstains from any decisions involving the public, charter, and private schools on Guam.
The formal announcement will take place via Zoom from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 19, 2021. The announcement will also be live-streamed on the GDOE’s Facebook page.
For any inquiries, you may send an e-mail to Interim PIO, Michelle Franquez, at matfranquez@gdoe.net.
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April 21, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Students Released Early at Inarajan Middle School Due to Water Outage. Classes to Resume Thursday, April 22, 2021
Students at Inarajan Middle School are being released early on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, due to an emergency water outage in the village and neighboring areas.
Face-to-Face classes will resume on Thursday, April 22, 2021, and any future changes will be announced.
Busses are en route to pick up bus rides and we kindly ask parents and guardians to pick up their children if they are car riders.
For inquiries and information, please contact the administration and staff at Inarajan Middle School at (671) 475-0668.
April 20, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GDOE and DPHSS Host COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic for Eligible Students
at John F. Kennedy High School
In conjunction with Public Health’s Immunization program, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) is hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic for eligible and interested students from John F. Kennedy High School (JFKHS). The clinic will take place in the John F. Kennedy gymnasium on Monday, May 3, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will be administered to interested students who are 16 years of age or older. Students who are under the age of 18 must be accompanied by one parent or, by a legal guardian while receiving the vaccine.
Interested and eligible students and their parents/guardians are welcomed to walk in on the day of the clinic. We also encourage participants to schedule their appointments online at https://tinyurl.com/2bjt2dwc.
All participants must complete a consent form before they can receive the vaccine. Printed copies of the consent form are available at JFKHS. The PDF of the consent form is available to download at https://tinyurl.com/3xvaw4b3.
Parents/guardians and participants must provide a valid Guam identification. Students may also use their school identification cards.
Accompanying parents/guardians can receive the Pfizer vaccine as well.
Participants are to follow the COVID-19 Mitigation Guidelines:
· Undergo a temperature check before entering campus;
· Wear a mask at all times;
· Maintain a physical distance of at least 6ft.;
· Wash hands or use hand sanitizer often;
· Arrive fifteen (15) minutes before their scheduled appointment; and
· Remain in their vehicles until instructed to enter the gymnasium.
Please be advised that vaccinations are given upon availability.
For more information, please contact Bernabe Mutuc, JR at (671) 642-2100. You may also e-mail Michelle Franquez at matfranquez@gdoe.net.
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