Implied complicity .
Sunday, 22 November 2009 23:48 Editorial
The Marianas Variety
“WE CANNOT continue to cover up for their mistakes and cover for them on all the short falls. We’ve suffered for far too long,” Gov. Felix Camacho said about the ongoing financial crisis at the Guam Department of Education.
The USDOE refused to allow local public education officials to use existing federal grant monies to cover an anticipated shortfall in several program areas.
Implicit in Camacho’s statement is the notion that somehow the governor was able, in the past, to find a way to obfuscate and “cover” the financial incompetence at the largest government agency – so long as it served his purposes.
For years federal officials expressed concerns over interloping local elected leaders in the management of GDOE with the matter finally coming to a head with the fruition of an elected education policy board, which was created by Public Law 26-26.
When he was senator, Camacho was among those who signed the bill that created the independent education board, and removed the governor’s control over the education department.
However, not long after coming into office at Adelup he changed his tune and has repeatedly lamented his impotence to do anything because of the historic federal concerns and policy changes since that time.
Although the two-term governor has been unable to come up with an innovative effort to find solutions for public education – a key platform on which he established his successful run for Adelup twice already – he seems to have little problem with finding a way to block solutions proffered by others.
Assistant Secretary of Interior Tony Babauta and Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo proposed that the Compact Impact fund be tapped to avert a massive layoff that could have far-reaching economic implications.
But Camacho refused to allow the use of Compact-Impact monies, saying it would shortchange vital services in other areas depending on those monies.
This was the same governor who earlier tapped into the same limited critical resource to pay for the construction of a recreational sports center in Dededo.
Compared to education, it seems the joyriding governor has lost his way on the roadmap to success for our students and schools.
It is time for this governor to step aside if all he can do is plan obstacles to progress with little offer of solutions like competent bridge financing for the hard-pressed education agency.
GDOE superintendent Dr. Nerissa Underwood inherited a lifetime of difficulties and needs synergy and support – not silly political grandstanding and empty chatter to help right the course of public education on Guam.
It is time for local officials to step to the head of the class with positive ideas or move to the back before their legacy is topped with a dunce’s cap.
Showing posts with label US DOE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US DOE. Show all posts
Monday, November 23, 2009
Saturday, September 06, 2008
US DOE Witholding Funds
U.S. DOE withholding funds:
Feds want AG's opinion on who governs GPSS
By Beau Hodai
Pacific Daily News
September 8, 2008
The Guam Public School System won't receive any of the nearly $40 million in federal funds it expects to receive until it's clear who governs the school system.
GPSS Superintendent Nerissa Bretania-Shafer yesterday said she had been contacted by U.S. DOE Risk Management Services Director Philip Maestri on Saturday. He informed her U.S. DOE wouldn't provide any federal funding for fiscal year 2009, which begins Oct. 1, unless Guam's Office of the Attorney General provides an opinion as to who has authority over the school system.
"Even though the funds may be delayed a few days, these are issues that need to be clarified," Bretania-Shafer said, noting that Maestri has repeatedly praised the progress the school system has made in meeting its corrective action plan.
The school system will maintain its high-risk grantee status unless it completes the corrective action plan requirements, which includes improving financial accountability and correcting procurement shortfalls.
Bretania-Shafer said a conference call has been scheduled for 7 a.m. Tuesday between Attorney General Alicia Limtiaco, Maestri and other members of U.S. DOE. The superintendent said she is optimistic that the AG's office will respond quickly.
Bretania-Shafer said this latest concern from federal education officials came on the heels of a letter she and the Guam Education Policy Board sent to Maestri in late August. She said the primary issue was related to protocol in dealing with the handling of federal funds.
"I have purview over federal funds. The (Guam Education Policy Board) has purview over me, but not over federal funds," said Bretania-Shafer. "How could (the board) hold me fully accountable when dealing with something that they are prohibited from dealing with?"
She also said DOE officials were unclear over what role the governor has in regards to the oversight and governance of GPSS.
The school system receives about $40 million in federal funds each year. With fiscal 2008 ending Sept. 30, money for federally funded programs will soon run out.
Some GPSS programs that stand to lose funding include special education, the Reading First program, the English as a Second Language program, Direct Instruction and Success for All, among others.
Bretania-Shafer said school officials have been considering alternatives if the federal funding is withheld indefinitely.
"We're going to have to appeal to the local government to help us carry the load that was carried by the federal government," Bretania-Shafer said. "Of the utmost concern to me are the funds for students with disabilities."
She said that she plans to meet with Gov. Felix Camacho soon and inform the Legislature of the situation once GPSS has assessed its financial situation internally.
"The governor wants to get this problem solved as quickly as possible, because we will continue funding these programs with local funding," said George Bamba, Camacho's chief of staff. "But, that will have a rippling effect throughout the government and other programs will suffer. We need to have this resolved by the end of the week."
School board Chairman Joe San Agustin expressed frustration last night with what he said is a lack of formal notification.
"We're waiting for this in writing, so we can respond to it accordingly," San Agustin said.
Feds want AG's opinion on who governs GPSS
By Beau Hodai
Pacific Daily News
September 8, 2008
The Guam Public School System won't receive any of the nearly $40 million in federal funds it expects to receive until it's clear who governs the school system.
GPSS Superintendent Nerissa Bretania-Shafer yesterday said she had been contacted by U.S. DOE Risk Management Services Director Philip Maestri on Saturday. He informed her U.S. DOE wouldn't provide any federal funding for fiscal year 2009, which begins Oct. 1, unless Guam's Office of the Attorney General provides an opinion as to who has authority over the school system.
"Even though the funds may be delayed a few days, these are issues that need to be clarified," Bretania-Shafer said, noting that Maestri has repeatedly praised the progress the school system has made in meeting its corrective action plan.
The school system will maintain its high-risk grantee status unless it completes the corrective action plan requirements, which includes improving financial accountability and correcting procurement shortfalls.
Bretania-Shafer said a conference call has been scheduled for 7 a.m. Tuesday between Attorney General Alicia Limtiaco, Maestri and other members of U.S. DOE. The superintendent said she is optimistic that the AG's office will respond quickly.
Bretania-Shafer said this latest concern from federal education officials came on the heels of a letter she and the Guam Education Policy Board sent to Maestri in late August. She said the primary issue was related to protocol in dealing with the handling of federal funds.
"I have purview over federal funds. The (Guam Education Policy Board) has purview over me, but not over federal funds," said Bretania-Shafer. "How could (the board) hold me fully accountable when dealing with something that they are prohibited from dealing with?"
She also said DOE officials were unclear over what role the governor has in regards to the oversight and governance of GPSS.
The school system receives about $40 million in federal funds each year. With fiscal 2008 ending Sept. 30, money for federally funded programs will soon run out.
Some GPSS programs that stand to lose funding include special education, the Reading First program, the English as a Second Language program, Direct Instruction and Success for All, among others.
Bretania-Shafer said school officials have been considering alternatives if the federal funding is withheld indefinitely.
"We're going to have to appeal to the local government to help us carry the load that was carried by the federal government," Bretania-Shafer said. "Of the utmost concern to me are the funds for students with disabilities."
She said that she plans to meet with Gov. Felix Camacho soon and inform the Legislature of the situation once GPSS has assessed its financial situation internally.
"The governor wants to get this problem solved as quickly as possible, because we will continue funding these programs with local funding," said George Bamba, Camacho's chief of staff. "But, that will have a rippling effect throughout the government and other programs will suffer. We need to have this resolved by the end of the week."
School board Chairman Joe San Agustin expressed frustration last night with what he said is a lack of formal notification.
"We're waiting for this in writing, so we can respond to it accordingly," San Agustin said.
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