GDOE CONTINUES TO RECRUIT TO FILL TEACHER, ONE-TO-ONE SCHOOL AIDE AND SCHOOL HEALTH COUNSELOR POSITIONS

The Guam Department of Education continues to recruit to fill teacher, one-to-one school aide, and school health counselor positions for school year 2020-2021.

Interested job seekers may view existing vacancies on the GDOE Human Resources page at www.gdoe.net or https://bit.ly/gdoejobs. 

Minimum requirements for school aides include a high school diploma, while minimum requirements for teachers include a bachelor’s degree in any subject area. School health counselor applicants must possess a current license as a Registered Professional Nurse in Guam. Once selected, applicants will be required to submit police, court, and drug testing clearances. 

For the full list of vacancies, please visit the GDOE website. For more information, please contact the GDOE Human Resources Division at 475-0496. 

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION 2020 SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE VIRTUAL TRAINING SERIES 

The Guam Department of Education (GDOE) Division of Curriculum & Instruction in conjunction with the Pacific Resources for Educational Learning (PREL) Pacific Regional Comprehensive Center (PRCC) will be hosting a four-day two-hour virtual professional learning experience on “Social and Emotional Development: Conscious Discipline” this week.

Conscious Discipline Educational Consultant Amy Speidel will be the main facilitator and will address topics ranging from brain research and social and emotional development to trauma strategies and working with young children. The training aims to assist educators with social and emotional wellness strategies in preparation for the reopening of schools. 

The four-day virtual training sessions will be held from Tuesday, July 14th  through Friday, July 17th  from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Each day will target a specialized Early Childhood Program group.  

The training is intended as a follow-up for those participants who attended the Social & Emotional Development training in May 2020. It will provide early childhood educators with skills and strategies to successfully address the social and emotional wellness needs of children during their first eight years of life.  

For more information, please contact School Program Consultant Eloise R. Sanchez at 300-1388.

GDOE'S CRITICAL ROLE IN OUR COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RECOVERY

Written by GDOE Superintendent Jon Fernandez

When the COVID-19 crisis hit Guam in mid-March, the community was able to see the role that the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) plays in times of crisis. Over forty school nurses reported to the front lines of our public health response, ten school resource officers were deployed to support quarantine operations, ten social workers were mobilized for contact tracing, and over 200 GDOE staff members served daily school breakfasts and lunches at 12 school sites and spent hours loading car trunks with food commodities and fresh produce. In total, the GDOE has been able to provide nearly 2 million school meals and over 34,000 food commodity bags with a total of 444,000 items distributed to the community through this pandemic. Today, 18 special education bus drivers are delivering about 560 breakfast and lunch plates and learning packets to the homes of 199 students with special needs and their siblings around the island. Teachers also produced over 1,700 face shields to benefit GDOE and health care workers on the front lines. In short, GDOE shifted quickly from its core mission of teaching and learning to a broader mission of supporting our entire island during a time of difficulty, and we will continue to do so while we are able.

As our community works its way through this pandemic, GDOE has put forward a plan for the potential re-opening of schools in the event that our Governor and our public health experts declare it safe to do so. Our plan identifies three main areas of focus: Safety, Distance Learning, and Social and Emotional Wellness. The plan puts safety first with requirements for face masks or shields for employees and students, temperature checks, frequent cleaning and hand washing, and physical distancing. The focus on safety means that we cannot accommodate all students back in school at one time, which has led to three options for students — (1) 100% home learning online, (2) 100% home learning with hard copy materials, or (3) alternating days of face-to-face classroom instruction combined with home learning. Finally, we know our students and employees have come through a pretty traumatic period, and we will be spending time this summer training and preparing school leaders to focus on social and emotional well-being and providing support before we get down to the business of academics.

Over the next few weeks, we know there are still many details that will need to be worked out at each school by principals, teachers and staff. Of critical importance is getting information from parents and guardians regarding which of the three models of learning they prefer for their children. If you haven’t received an e-mail, phone call or home visit from your school yet, please do reach out and contact your school directly to fill out the “Model of Learning Registration” form; school contact information can be found at our website at www.gdoe.net. Once we know how many students have chosen each option, we will be able to better organize, prepare and communicate a more detailed plan of action for the opening of the school year. We will also continue to reach out to parents through our schools and parent-teacher organizations to answer questions and gather more input. Please join us in this conversation.

We certainly look forward to the day we can open up and operate under normal conditions where kids can all come back to school to get in-class instruction, socialize with their peers, and receive the supports that are normally available at school, whether it be food, counseling, or extracurricular activities. We know that a full re-opening of schools under safe conditions will be good for students and will enable parents and guardians to fully return to work as our economy rebuilds. Until that day, our plan represents our best research, ideas, and recommendations to give us a chance at safely continuing our mission, albeit using different models of teaching and learning, during the critical beginning phase of our island’s recovery.

HEAD START TEACHER AMANDA COSSMAN RECEIVES REGION 9 HEAD START ASSOCIATION 2020 LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP

Congratulations to Talofofo Elementary School Head Start teacher Amanda Cossman who was awarded the Region 9 Head Start Association 2020 Legacy Scholarship.

The $3,000 scholarship is awarded from Head Start Region 9, with funds provided through partnerships from investment firms that have chosen to fund scholarships for Head Start and Early Head Start agency staff.  The scholarships not only benefit Head Start employees seeking to further their careers, but also benefits children and families who benefit from these programs throughout the year.

“It’s a big help for me because I was stressed about going to college,” Cossman said. “This really motivated me, knowing that people want to help promote education for teachers, and it has been a big stress relief.”

Cossman is a former Head Start parent who later became a Head Start aide for two years. She worked her way up and has been a Head Start teacher for the past year.  She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and hopes to graduate in fall 2021. After she graduates, Cossman hopes to continue working under the Head Start program, and says that she enjoys working with children at the preschool level.

“I encourage people to apply for scholarships such as these. The worst that can happen is that you won’t get it, but if you do, it will be a big help,” she added.

ASTUMBO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLOSED AFTER WORKER TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19

Astumbo Elementary School (AES) will be closed until further notice beginning Monday, July 6, 2020, after one Grab-N-Go School Meal Program worker tested positive for COVID-19. The Grab-N-Go School Meal Program at AES will also be suspended until further notice. Parents of Astumbo Elementary School students may pick up summer Grab & Go learning packets at Finegayan Elementary School on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. until further notice.

On Saturday, July 4, 2020, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) learned that a Grab-N-Go School Meal Program worker at AES tested positive for COVID-19. The worker had been tested as part of contact tracing. 

Immediately after learning of the worker’s health status, Superintendent Jon Fernandez closed AES to allow for deep cleaning of the campus over the next several days. Testing will be coordinated by the Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS).

Daily precautions are taken at GDOE school sites to safeguard the health and safety of employees, volunteers, and families. Not only are schools cleaned and sanitized daily, but all workers and volunteers are required to wear a mask while on campus. Additionally, those handling food items are also required to use both masks and gloves. Further, the cafeterias follow all safety and sanitary procedures and practices. Unauthorized personnel are not allowed in the cafeteria food preparation area. 

Grab-N-Go School Meal Program distribution will continue at the remaining 11 sites this week and GDOE will continue to ensure that safety measures are followed at all sites. Participants are reminded to wear a mask when picking up meals, to stay in their vehicles, and follow directions. Anyone feeling ill or with COVID-19 symptoms should not pick up meals from a Grab-N-Go distribution site. School meals are distributed from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the following locations:

North:

• F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School

• Maria Ulloa Elementary School

• Wettengel Elementary School

Central:

• Agana Heights Elementary School

• B.P. Carbullido Elementary School

• George Washington High School

• John F. Kennedy High School

• Jose Rios Middle School

   

South:

• Inarajan Elementary School

• M.U. Lujan Elementary School

• Southern High School

For inquiries on COVID-19, contact 311 through a local number, or call the Joint Information Center at (671) 478-0208/09/10.

GDOE ACHIEVES 7TH CONSECUTIVE CLEAN AUDIT FOR BOTH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FEDERAL GRANT COMPLIANCE

For the seventh year in a row, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) received an unmodified (clean) audit opinion on its financial statements and compliance over major federal program requirements for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019. This also marks the fifth consecutive year that the agency audit has no material weaknesses identified. The audit was completed by Deloitte and Touche, LLP.

GDOE has been able to sustain its commitment to fiscal responsibility and improved audit performance, which reflects GDOE’s consistency in sustaining operational improvements and strong internal controls as it works toward relief of its specific conditions and “high risk” designation imposed by the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

GDOE closed FY 2019 with an $8 million (M) decrease in net position compared to the restated $15.8M decrease in FY 2018 as shown in its department-wide financial statements. On its governmental fund financial statements, GDOE closed the year with a $1.5M fund deficit, primarily due to the perennial cash shortfalls in its local appropriations. GDOE’s appropriations through the general fund totaled $249.1M in FY 2019 compared to $251.9M in FY 2018, or $2.7M less than the previous year. Had it not been for the decrease in appropriation coupled with a cash release shortage of $2.6M by the Department of Administration, GDOE would have experienced an increase in revenue of $5.3M.

The continuous reduction in overall appropriations and shortages from the Territorial Educational Facilities Fund significantly impacts cash flow, which results in slowed payments of outstanding invoices, increased prior year obligations and accounts payable, and interest and late fees. In July 2019, the Government of Guam projected an increase of $38.3M in revenue collections. Though GDOE acknowledges actual results may be greatly affected by COVID-19, hope remains that the legislature and the Governor’s office will ensure full release of appropriations yet to be realized by the GDOE before legislative action redirects the use of available balances. 

While GDOE experienced budgetary reductions and shortages in cash releases, it exercised prudent financial management and controlled expenditures. Total governmental fund expenditures decreased by $3.1M, from $321.8M to $318.7M in FY 2019; most notably salaries, wages, and benefits decreased by $5.8M and contractual services decreased by $3.2M. The decrease in personnel cost was primarily attributed to a decrease in hiring and staffing levels. GDOE reduced federal and local staffing by a total of 49 positions in the current year.

Although GDOE maintained its clean audit opinions, the independent auditors identified two significant deficiencies in internal controls over major federal programs. The first finding was related to the procurement of airfare services using a rotation list; an assessment of GDOE’s overall air travel revealed that the selection of travel agencies were neither rotated fairly nor competitively. The second finding was related to compliance with contract terms for the U.S. Army Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Program in which GDOE furnished the Simon Sanchez High School unit with cafeteria space instead of the agreed exclusive classroom and GDOE did not provide proof of liability insurance for the instructor.

GDOE agreed with the findings and is in the process of taking action to address the deficiencies, which includes revising its travel policy and working with the Department of Defense officials for adequate space requirements in the design and build of the new Simon Sanchez High School. 

“In the early 2000s, this agency was unauditable and, in the years following, change was hard to sustain, especially with the rapid succession of different superintendents during that period,” said GDOE Superintendent Jon Fernandez. “Since 2012, we have been able to create that stability within the agency and to build the capacity to sustain the necessary changes and improvements that have resulted in seven consecutive clean audits and minimal material weaknesses and questioned costs. As the largest agency in GovGuam, this is a significant feat which we do not take for granted and which we can point to as we work to get off of high risk with the federal government. It is due to the continued hard work of our staff throughout the agency.”

Over the past 18 months, GDOE has managed to have several of its seven specific conditions removed including (1) prompt access to information, (2) program-specific requirements, and (3) compliance with program requirements. ED is currently scheduled for a mid-July virtual review of GDOE’s progress in addressing the remaining four specific conditions, including (1) the role of the third party fiduciary agent (TPFA), (2) the responsibilities of GDOE and the TPFA in addressing federal grants, (3) the Reconsideration Evaluation Plan, and (4) timely single audits. ED did acknowledge in writing that GDOE has met the fourth requirement for single audits but has yet to officially remove that condition.   

“With a seventh consecutive clean audit in hand, I hope this is the year we see significant movement on behalf of USDOE in finally returning full responsibility over federal funds to our department,” Guam Education Board (GEB) Chairwoman Maria Gutierrez said. 

“We have worked very closely with federal officials at the US Department of Education, including Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Assistant Secretary Frank Brogan, to create a sense of urgency in addressing GDOE’s request for reconsideration,” GEB Budget and Finance Committee Chair Mark Mendiola said. 

“While we work with our federal counterparts on this issue, we also thank our local leaders for their continued support and ask that they continue to provide us with the resources needed to meet our mission of teaching and learning,” Chairwoman Gutierrez added.

GUAM EDUCATION BOARD APPROVES SCHEDULE OPTIONS FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2020-2021 DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The Guam Education Board (GEB) voted to support schedule options for School Year (SY) 2020-2021 as recommended by the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) District School Readiness Task Force (DSRTF) at its regular board meeting held on June 30, 2020. 

The DSRTF was established by the Superintendent of Education in May 2020 to develop options and recommendations for the reopening of SY 2020-2021. The Task Force consists of six committees in areas including safety and operations, curriculum, personnel management, social and emotional wellness, communications, and finance. Due to COVID-19 safety concerns, the Guam Education Board has approved three instructional model schedule options for SY 2020-2021. All three models will be offered, and parents may select which model their child will participate in:

1. Home Learning Online Instruction (Online Learning): This model of instruction and attendance is 100% online home learning. Students participate in classes online and are required to have a computer or tablet, and reliable internet access. Additionally, though not necessarily required, access to a printer and scanner is beneficial. 

2. Home Learning Hard Copies (Paper Based/Hard Copy Curriculum): This model of instruction and attendance is for students who would like to do 100% home learning but do not have the equipment to support 100% online work. This would be a home learning model supported by a paper-based or hard copy based curriculum.

3. Traditional (Face-to-Face): This model of instruction and attendance will be for students who will be participating in traditional face-to-face classes in school consisting of an A-B-C alternating schedule, where 1/3 of students attend classes on any given school day. The A-B-C alternating schedule entails the following:

   • Students are divided up into equally sized alphabetical cohorts (A, B, C). Efforts will be made to align schedules of siblings in the same or multiple schools.

   • Cohorts will alternate days for physical attendance on campus.

   • On days when students are not physically on campus, they will have assignments, projects or activities to complete and submit when they return. These assignments, projects, or activities can be provided and completed electronically or through hard copy depending on students' access to equipment and the internet.

   • Alternating days will follow the same order and adjust accordingly for holidays.

   • Fridays will be designated as student interventions and parent support days.

Parents/guardians are asked to submit the GDOE Model of Learning Registration Form by July 10, 2020 to select the model of instruction their child will participate in this year, regardless of whether their child is a new or continuing student. Children of parents who do not complete the form will be automatically enrolled in the traditional face-to-face model. Parents/guardians are asked to contact their child’s school for information on how to complete and submit the model of learning registration form. 

The Task Force recommendations were based on planning involving discussions with key stakeholders who were consulted as part of the planning process to include school administrators, teachers, non-instructional staff, student leaders, the Islandwide Parent Teacher Organization, Guam Federation of Teachers, Physicians Advisory Group (PAG), public health experts, island mayors and government leaders. Prior to the decision, the GEB also reviewed input from both parent and student surveys. The GEB also met with the Task Force weekly during the development of school reopening schedule proposals. 

Reopening plans were crafted to ensure consistency with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health experts. In addition to focusing on safety, the DSRTF is planning to provide social and emotional wellness training prior to the beginning of the school year and is also working on this effort with the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center.

In light of the COVID-19 health situation, the GEB voted to temporarily suspend the following board policies this coming school year:

• Board Policy 346 regarding instructional subjects and time on task for elementary schools

• Board Policy 381 regarding service learning requirements

• Board Policy 401 regarding uniform policy

• Board Policy 411 regarding student attendance

• Board Policy 602 regarding the adoption of textbooks and instructional materials

Additionally, the GEB requested that the 35th Guam Legislature introduce legislation to suspend laws relative to instructional hours and service learning requirements due to safety requirements being implemented to prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

“On behalf of the board, we are confident that these changes and the safety measures being implemented by the Task Force will ensure we are both able to reopen schools and keep our students and employees safe,” GEB Chairwoman Maria Gutierrez said. “While this will be a major change for our school system, we have heard the concerns from our parents and community, and know that safety must remain our top priority as we work to reopen schools this year.”

“I would like to thank our team for working around the clock to put these plans in place given the unprecedented situation we are faced with, and I would also like to thank the community, including our students, parents, teachers, elected leaders and healthcare officials for assisting us with determining these next steps,” GDOE Superintendent Jon Fernandez said. “As this situation continues to evolve, we will continue to consult with healthcare experts to ensure that our actions are the best that we can take to both keep our kids safe and provide them with a quality education.”

“With this endorsement from the board, our team is ready to begin implementation of our plans to address safety, curriculum and social and emotional wellness,” GDOE Deputy Superintendent Joe Sanchez said. “This is going to be a tremendous effort and challenge, and I want to thank our team and our community for their support.”

For the latest information regarding the GDOE reopening plans for School Year 2020-2021, please visit https://www.gdoe.net/District/Portal/school-year-2020-2021-information.

INDEPENDENCE DAY HOLIDAY REMINDER

The Guam Department of Education would like to remind stakeholders of the upcoming Independence Day holiday.

The Independence Day holiday will be observed on Friday, July 3, 2020. School offices, the GDOE headquarters in Tiyan, and the Grab-N-Go School Meal Program will be closed on Friday in observance of the holiday. 

The Grab-N-Go School Meal Program will resume on Monday, July 6, 2020. 

PARENTS/GUARDIANS ASKED TO SUBMIT MODEL OF LEARNING REGISTRATION FORM BY JULY 10

In preparation for School Year (SY) 2020-2021, the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) is asking all parents/guardians to fill out the GDOE Model of Learning Registration Form to assist the GDOE as it plans the reopening of schools this fall. The form allows parents to select the model of instruction they would like their child to participate in during SY 2020-2021. 

All parents/guardians are asked to complete this form and submit it to their child’s school by July 10, 2020, regardless of whether their child is a new or continuing student. Families will be asked to complete the form upon registration, and parents/guardians of continuing students who do not need to submit registration forms may also reach out to their child’s school directly to access and submit the Model of Learning Registration Form by the July 10 deadline. If parents/guardians do not submit this form, their child will automatically be enrolled in the traditional face-to-face instructional model.

Model of Learning Registration Form

Due to COVID-19 safety concerns, the GDOE is exploring three proposed models of instruction for SY 2020-2021. All three models will be offered, and parents may select which model their child will participate in. The Model of Learning Registration Form is being offered through the GDOE School Readiness Task Force, and aims to assess parental interest in enrolling students in one of the three following options: 

1. Home Learning Online Instruction (Online Learning): This model of instruction and attendance is 100% online home learning. Students attend classes online and are required to have a computer or tablet, and reliable internet access. Additionally, though not necessarily required, access to a printer and scanner is beneficial. 

2. Home Learning Hard Copies (Paper Based/Hard Copy Curriculum): This model of instruction and attendance is for students who would like to do 100% distance learning but do not have the equipment to support 100% online work. This would be a home learning model supported by a paper-based or hard copy based curriculum.

3. Traditional (Face-to-Face): This model of instruction and attendance will be for students who will be participating in a blended model of face-to-face and distance (home) learning. Due to safety and physical distancing considerations, the District School Readiness Task Force has proposed using an A-B-C alternating schedule, where 1/3 of students attend classes on any given school day. The proposed A-B-C alternating schedule entails the following:

   • Students are divided up into equally sized alphabetical cohorts (A, B, C).

   • Cohorts will alternate days for physical attendance on campus.

   • On days when students are not physically on campus, they will have assignments, projects or activities to complete and submit when they return. These assignments, projects, or activities can be provided and completed electronically or through hard copy depending on students' access to equipment and the internet.

   • Alternating days will follow the same order and adjust accordingly for holidays.

Safety Guidelines 

Parents/guardians should call ahead prior to visiting each school office and should schedule an appointment where possible in order to avoid crowding. All entering GDOE campuses are required to wear a mask, and visitors should report immediately to the main office where temperature screening will be conducted. Visitors may be asked to wait in their vehicles should doing so be necessary to enforce physical distancing guidelines. 

For more information, please contact each school directly. The GDOE school directory is available at https://www.gdoe.net/District/Portal/Directory.