Charter school cooperating with oversight

by Krystal Paco

Guam - Guahan Academy Charter School officials may have kept their lips sealed before lawmakers at an oversight hearing held earlier this week, but it looks like they're cooperating now.

Committee chair on education Speaker Judi Won Pat confirms the school has been transmitting documents to her office regarding the school's annual report and budgeting. This follows her directive on Tuesday to subpoena documents and reschedule the hearing because school leadership kept hush, deferring all questions to attorney, Daniel Somerfleck.

"Subpoena is always a last resort for any committee to use. And that day when they refused to speak to us and only wanted to do it through their attorney basically left the committee with no choice but to exercise its authority then to subpoena records," KUAM News was told.

Won Pat adds that because the charter school operates with local funds, the legislature has oversight of the school.

Guam law provides $5,500 per Guahan Academy student, which comes out of the Department of Education budget.