(Hagåtña, Guam) – The testimonies provided by the Public School Parent Teacher Organizations at the Roundtable Hearing on Friday, March 17th, 2023 further highlight the need for immediate action to be taken by the 37th Guam legislature. Consequently, Senator Chris Barnett asked Speaker Therese Terlaje for an Emergency Session to expedite processing the bills that would mostly address the concerns of the parents. Speaker Terlaje quickly issued a memo upon receiving the request and called the legislative body to an emergency session for Monday, March 20, 2023.
Senator Jesse Lujan, who had requested that Governor Lou Leon Guerrero declare a state of emergency on the Guam Department of Education ten days before the roundtable held on Friday, agreed with Senator Barnett and was glad he listened to the needs of the people. Lujan was also grateful for Speaker Terlaje’s quick response.
“I wholeheartedly support Senator Barnett’s request for an emergency session and thank Speaker Terlaje’s quick response to call an emergency session for next Monday. We urgently need to address the appalling conditions of our public schools. I asked the Governor to declare a state of emergency at GDOE. To which she replied that the power to solve the problems plaguing GDOE rests with the Legislature. I just want the problems fixed and our public schools safe. The status quo is just unacceptable. The children and parents of GDOE deserve so much better. The Legislature, the Governor, and the senior management of GDOE need to work together and act with urgency. Enough is enough. The Legislature can do its part by going into session and acting on the three bills that can begin to provide relief. This is just step one in addressing the problems facing GDOE. We should wait no longer,” Lujan voiced.
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