22 days of leave and full premiums removed

Guam - Department of Education superintendent-select Jon Fernandez says he received a letter with the Attorney General's Office's recommended changes to his four-year contract with the board.  Fernandez in an e-mail statement wrote, "Throughout the negotiation process, there has been a lot of confusion, and, with the Attorney General's comments, I am pleased to finally have some clarity and specific guidance. This is all that I have sought from the start, and it's unfortunate that we had to wait so long to reach this point." 

He tells KUAM that there were two technical amendments as well as the removal of a provision that would have had the department paying full premiums for Fernandez's health insurance and another that gave him 22 days of leave when he begins the job.  The new superintendent confirms that an amended contract reverts his annual leave to the normal accrual rate for other government employees. 

Fernandez further told KUAM, "While these are standard negotiating items for most superintendent contracts across the U.S., Guam law apparently does not allow that flexibility." The education board is expected to have a teleconference with Fernandez on Friday. 

As we reported, Guam Education Board members Rosie Tainatango and Joe San Agustin expressed concerns about the leave and full premium provisions remaining in the final contract as they believed the board had only approved a $150,000 a year salary and relocation expenses.  With the latest corrections after the AG's Office rejected the final contract due to certain provisions failing to conform with the law, Fernandez says it's time to move forward. 

"I spoke with Chairman Francis Santos and with GEB member Barry Mead on Thursday, and I let them know that I remain committed to serving as superintendent. I have amended the contract in line with the Attorney General's comments and asked the full board for its support. We have lost a lot of time, and I am ready to see if we can begin to move forward together," Fernandez wrote in an email statement.  He says he remains 

committed to serving because he believes in helping Guam's young people get on a path toward a better education, better skills, and better preparation for the real world and for the global economy.  He added, "I believe that the Guam DOE must make student achievement our first priority and focus every effort in our central office and in our schools on improving the way our students learn and perform. It's time to roll up our sleeves and get started."

Fernandez has asked the board to submit the amended contract to Attorney General Leonardo Rapadas and Governor Eddie Calvo for their review and approval.  He is hoping to be on Guam in mid-June.