Lacking funds, DOE cancels summer school

by Nick Delgado

Guam - No money means no summer school for the Department of Education. DOE Acting Superintendent Taling Taitano made that announcement today, saying the agency needs just over $1,000,000 to hold summer classes, with most of that funding going to pay salaries.  

For seniors who need more credit to graduate, DOE plans to extend the Eskuelan Puengi night school program to make up for not holding summer sessions. 

"The problem with summer school," she said, "is that we funded it through the consolidated grant, and funds will not be available until the third-party fiduciary agent is put in place. That's not likely to happen until June and there's just not enough time for us to put everything in place for summer school."

Taitano says they are awaiting a response from the Guam Legislature to use local funds to pay for summer classes; however, Speaker Judi Won Pat says it's impossible for DOE to borrow any funds, as they have been inconsistent with their spending.