by Mindy Aguon, KUAM News Thursday, March 18, 2004 Subscribe to Mindy's newsfeed   E-mail this article Printable version KUAM Toolbar Web Widgets Get RSS headlines

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Each day thousands of parents leave their children at school entrusting them in the hands of teachers and staff. While schools around the nation have seen the problems of students carrying guns leading to the deaths of innocent lives, it appears the Department of Education doesn't have a policy in place to hold teachers and staff responsible for bringing weapons to school.

An incident at J.Q. San Miguel Elementary School involving a teacher and a gun comes just days before Governor Felix Camacho signed a proclamation declaring March as Gun Safety Month. A teacher has been placed on administrative leave as DOE officials try to determine if teachers can bring firearms to school.

Can teachers bring guns to campus? That's a question DOE officials and Guam Education Policy Board members are trying to answer. The inquiry was prompted after a 3rd grade teacher at J.Q. San Miguel was found carrying a gun to school. The incident happened last week. According to teachers at the school who spoke frankly but anonymously, a certain 3rd grade teacher misplaced her bag, which was eventually found by a fellow teacher on a chair in the office.

Sources say the purse was open with the gun exposed and it was later determined the weapon was loaded. A report was made to the school's principal, who in turn contacted DOE Central. KUAM News was informed by DOE officials said teachers can have guns at school, as long as they have the proper license for the firearm. 

DOE spokesperson Gerry Cruz said, “We have to find out information, who owns the weapon? Did the person have a valid license to have the weapon, until that's done we won't be able to further comment. I can say this that the person, who was sort of involved in this incident, has been placed on admin leave until we can find out what are the exact circumstances of the situation.”

While DOE says the teacher was placed on administrative leave, we've learned she has been at work since the incident. Cruz says the Guam Police Department was notified of the incident and DOE's legal counsel is trying to find any weapons policies on the books. Cruz made it clear there is a policy relative to students and guns. He asserted, “In no way, shape or form does the department condone weapons by students being brought on board. What is the need to have a weapon on board if you're not a student because there's a danger posed to both the students and staff.”

Cruz admits there are signs posted at doe schools showing the prohibition of drugs, alcohol, tobacco and weapons on school campuses. He later said the policy applies to everyone on campus, except for law enforcement officers. While he originally said the teacher could have the gun at school as long as she had a license, Cruz changed his tune later in the interview, saying the superintendent is clear on the issue. “At no point and time are we going to excuse somebody for bringing a weapon onboard, because it is not allowed unless you are a law enforcement officer, so we are trying to investigate the circumstances and find out why was this was done,” he said.

While they do that, Guam Education Policy Board chair Romeo Hernandez says he's trying to determine if DOE has any policies in place regarding teachers and weapons. “We have not found any policy that governs the behavior of the staff, faculty, teachers and students as far as guns are concerned,” he stated. “I'm doing further research and see what policy or laws addresses that issue.”

Hernandez says he's grateful nothing happened at J.Q. San Miguel, adding if there isn't a policy in place at the moment, the GEPB will work to implement one for the safety of students and school staff alike.