by Krystal Paco

Guam - Last Thursday the Guam Education Board failed to name a superintendent of the Department of Education from final two candidates, Salvador Avilla and Vince Leon Guerrero. On Tuesday, Senator Aline Yamashita introduced Bill 318, which would take GEB's responsibility to select the head of GovGuam largest agency, which caters to 32,000 students and 4,000 personnel, into the hands of the governor.

"I don't know exactly why we didn't find a superintendent this last search," said the senator. "I do know there were very qualified people on the list, and I am very concerned that we don't have stable leadership in place." She added, "The reason why I'm proposing this is because I think it's just really critical that the education system be provided leadership by a cabinet member, of which this legislation has already determined that the superintendent is a part of the cabinet."

Only a day after its introduction, Bill 318 is already facing opposition. The senator said, "I believe that there will be good deliberation on it. I already know some senators who have called onto radio shows and said they don't support it, and that's fine."

GEB elected board member Joe San Agustin told KUAM News, "I'm not in support of that bill, that's number one…first you pass a law to make the superintendent a cabinet member but unanswerable to the governor, how do you become a cabinet member of the governor and not answer to the governor, then now you want to make the individual appointed by the governor? What's the purpose of the board then?"

He added, "It's a knee-jerk reaction to not selecting one."

But Yamashita defended her concept, saying, "It's not a knee-jerk reaction, it's not knee-jerk legislation. I've been in this business for 30 years - we've tried all kinds of governance structures." Yamashita also said, "Bringing everyone back to the beginning of the school year when Simon Sanchez [High School] was shut down and well how are going to open up in time for school? Well, it was the Executive Branch who pulled everybody together activated and before school opened they got a passing grade"

San Agustin says Bill 318 may be at the advantage of previous superintendent hopeful Leon Guerrero, who currently serves as Governor Eddie Calvo's chief education advisor. He noted, "If this is another way of getting one of the candidates, selected this is not the way to do business."

Yamashita said, "This bill is not being introduced for Vince Leon Guerrero, nor does it have anything to do with Governor Calvo. This has to do with governance structure. I do not know if Vince would be interested. I do not know if the governor would tap him. I don't know that I haven't spoken to the governor. But what I do know - we need somebody who will work with the governor but be confirmed by the legislature and we move forward."

In the meantime, Yamashita waits for Bill 318 to be sent to one of the various legislative committees for review before a public hearing is scheduled and the bill can make it for vote on session floor.