Finegayan, M.U. Lujan Head Start centers to downsize amid low enrollment

Two Guam Department of Education Head Start centers are expected to consolidate. During a public hearing Tuesday morning, acting GDOE superintendent Dr. Judi Won Pat telling lawmakers two Head Start centers will be shutting down. 

GDOE public information officer Damen Borja later clarifying with KUAM News that Finegayan and M.U. Lujan Elementary Schools, both of which have two centers, will be downsizing to one center each. 

Borja says the move will remain until Guam DOE can address classroom enrollment and staffing vacancies. 

Meantime, Won Pat giving insight into what may be contributing to low enrollment numbers, saying,  “Overall, we’re seeing in our schools that there’s a drop in enrollment. There are various reasons, of course, but one of the things is that families are just not having large families anymore. There used to be 8, 12, six, and now we’re down to two or one, or maybe the most 3.”

Won Pat giving this testimony during a hearing on Bill 126-38, a measure aimed at providing safe learning environments for island youth.