by Michele Catahay

Guam - Superintendent of Public Education Dr. Nerissa Bretania Underwood says the Department of Education has not cried wolf. Guam Education Policy Board members grilled the DOE management team during an emergency meeting Friday night, questioning why the agency had threatened to shutdown schools at the last minute.

The Bureau of Budget & Management Research this afternoon told DOE that it had enough funds to cover through the end of the fiscal year. Director Bertha Duenas had said an updated list from DOE was needed to determine if the agency would have cash for operations.

During the meeting, board members Mary Gutierrez and Joe San Agustin had questioned whether the letter from BBMR was a political move. Gutierrez further questioned why leaders act only during election year. Underwood had said DOE had made numerous attempts to get the funding it needs from Governor Felix Camacho and the 30th Guam Legislature since January, but concerns have fallen on deaf ears.

For the time being, schools will have classes on Monday, as DOE was able to avert a shutdown,