Guam - Guam Federation of Teachers president Tim Fedenko and Department of Education superintendent Jon Fernandez met for the first time last week. Fedenko tells KUAM News the two are positive about future dialogue to improve schools despite the tight budget and how both can improve on the present climate of fear at the schools. Fedenko says it's become apparent that teachers won't stand up to administrators through the grievance process in fear of retaliation when in fact the process would help in getting a contract in place as it produces a paper trail of issues that need to be addressed.

Although the teacher contract has expired, Fedenko hopes DOE schools will continue to honor the spirit of the contract until it can be renegotiated sometime after a new Guam Education Board is elected on November 6.