While Dr. Judith Won Pat has begun mitigating the public school crisis, not enough is being done.
A state of emergency for our 27,497 students and 4,000 employees should be declared.
An emergency session should be called to introduce “The 2023 Emergency Act of Public Schools,” which will allow all resources to be immediately expanded, accessed and activated to help a system that is enduring the likes of a super typhoon.
The walk-throughs and round table discussions are insufficient. Results are needed now. Where is the Guam Federation of Teachers?
Each school leader should have already synthesized work order requests by categories — pest control, air conditioning, water problems, ground maintenance, electrical and others.
My thoughts — Administrator for Student Support Services Chris Anderson, who, by direction, should address the requests by connecting school site needs with current contracts, the National Guard, military partners, private partners and volunteer groups.
Emergency GWA protocol should address water issues. Current contracts have proceeded through procurement processes, so the legislation will authorize them to expand agreements. GPA is already at the table helping as they always do.
Federal Programs Administrator Ike Santos will continue to identify federal funds that can be reprogrammed to address the emergency state.
This includes discretionary funds that are typically used for travel or administrative costs.
Board members can attend off-island meetings via Zoom. The only travel should be for students and teachers engaging in learning opportunities and competition.
Ike’s leadership and relationship with the federal receivers can also continue progress in the third-party situation.
Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum & Instructional Improvement Joe Sanchez will continue to make steady progress in learning loss and achievement.
He should also be tapped to activate the dashboard adopted by the Board so that progress for the strategic plan is monitored.
Sen. Jesse Lujan introduced a measure that will require facility issues to be shared via technology.
Specifically, a deputy for assessment and accountability needs to be hired to facilitate the data tracking so that we know exactly what is working and what needs further attention. Board member Angel Sablan expects real-time status accessibility. As he delivers leadership with our mayors, he knows that action is needed immediately. Situations are aggravated when not immediately addressed.
Public Information Officer Michelle Franquez needs to issue daily press releases so that the path of progress is shared with families.
Parents need to remind their children of rules and consequences.
Each home base, homeroom, morning session needs to review rules and consequences.
GPD needs to activate School Crime Stoppers to remind students of the role they play in keeping their campuses healthy and in order.
The Guam Legislature called an emergency session to address unexploded ordnance.
Sen. Chris Duenas can champion another emergency measure for our imploding schools.
Added to our facility conditions have been lockdown situations in three schools in a week.
A teacher was arrested for alleged sexual abuse.
Urgency is needed to make it right for teaching and learning. Health, order and discipline are essential.
Let us act as if we use these bathrooms and work on these campuses — as our children and grandchildren do.
By: Aline Yamashita, Ph.D., is a teacher, single mother and former senator.
Source: Pacific Daily News