Guam - Lawmakers heard testimony last night on a bill that would do away with elections for members of the Guam Education Policy Board. Bill 424 would allow the governor to appoint members to the board, with confirmation by the Guam Legislature. Board member Anita Manibusan says she decided to run for election to get involved in helping the school system.

She also said, "These people who say that the board is not effective, let me say senators, I know that Senator Ben Pangelinan comes to our meetings and he sits there. How many of these people who say that we are not being effective and doing what we're supposed to do attend those meetings?"  Manibusan says the board constantly gets blamed for the federal government not issue funds to the Department of Education, but she says that's not the case since the board cannot get involved with federal dollars.

In the meantime, board member Dr. Jose Cruz calls the bill "impetuous", saying additionally, "Electing board members has not been received well by our community, too, so why am I insisting on an elected board? Years of serving the board, especially staggered and increased tenure, appears to give more positive regard to those serving."