DOE advised to hold tight

by Krystal Paco

Guam - With talks of sequestration to take effect March 1, GovGuam's largest agency is advised to hold tight. Department of Education superintendent Jon Fernandez says he spoke with federal counterparts yesterday as well as participated in a conference call with U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan today.

"We're getting the message to hold tight don't just simply anticipate a 5% cut but hopefully by march first well get more specific guidance based on congress' action or inaction," he said.

It's unclear how DOE will be affected but an Office of Management Budget report projects the loss of $2.5 million in Title I funding as well as $700,000 in special education funding, or the equivalent of nine staffers. Fernandez says sequestration will have no impact on grants that have already been awarded but may mean adjustments to fall's grant cycle.

Although there will be no impact on child nutrition it remains unknown what will happen to the local head start program whereas national media report thousands of students would lose access to the federally funded program.