by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Department of Education superintendent Dr. Jon Fernandez has imposed five initial cost containment measures to reduce unnecessary costs and ensure resources are available to students. In a memo to employees, the superintendent directed employees to go paperless where possible with the elimination of color copying and printing with few exceptions.

He also implemented a prohibition of overtime and will impose additional scrutiny for the hiring of non-teaching positions. Fernandez says the energy usage must be reduced and the savings will go directly back to the school for classroom based priorities. DOE will also continue to freeze salary increments. The superintendent says the cost containment measures are necessary due to millions of dollars in reductions to DOE's budget, additional costs for the maintenance and insurance for JFK High School, funding the third-party fiduciary agent, additional food service costs, as well as the 15% reserve.