Education leaders support bill to open schools awaiting health inspection

At least half of the Guam Department of Education campuses did not meet the June 30 deadline to be inspected by Public Health.

This drew supportive testimony today on a bill that would authorize those schools to operate while they wait to be inspected.

Acting Guam DOE Superintendent Dr. Barbara Adamos shared Superintendent Kenneth Swanson’s testimony with senators during a public hearing on the measure.

“Consequences of closing the schools will have a crippling effect on learning overall, family disruption and significant impact on the local economy. I am asking your support in the passage of Bill 317-37 to allow GDOE to continue on its successful path that we have been following, provide schools that are made safe while they await inspection, and successfully bring the entire system up to DPHSS standards by the end of SY 2024-2025

A hearing was also held on Bill 312 which would exempt uncertified teachers who have more than four years of teaching experience from the general knowledge requirement examination of the Guam Educator Certification.