THE Guam Education Board is preparing to submit a final contract to the Guam Department of Education's recently appointed superintendent, Jon Fernandez.
According to GEB Chairman Francis Santos, they are pushing for a May 16 deadline to finalize and send the contract to Fernandez.
Fernandez, the only candidate from off-island, was selected by GEB last April 9 after besting two other candidates – former Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Director David Shimizu, and GDOE acting interim Deputy Superintendent Robert Malay.
Fernandez has more than 10 years of experience working for the private and public sector. Prior to his selection as GDOE superintendent, he was working as a managing director of the Federal City Council, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization based in Washington D.C.
Based on the official vacancy announcement posted Feb. 17 this year, the GDOE superintendent of education is set to receive $125,000 per annum.
According to Santos, part of the contract negotiations is working out the travel, housing, and other relocation details for Fernandez.
GEB Parent Representative Barry Mead was in Baltimore for the ProStart Competition during the last week of April, where students from Simon Sanchez High School participated.
On April 28, Fernandez came over to meet with Barry Mead and the ProStart students. During the meeting, Mead was able to go over the details of the contract with Fernandez.
If the contract negotiations work out, according to Santos, the new superintendent will start working for GDOE starting June 1.
However, GEB member Joe San Agustin said GDOE cannot afford to fund the relocation expenses of Fernandez. He also stated the negotiation process should have been done before Fernandez accepted the position.
According to San Agustin, when the superintendent position was announced, there was no room for negotiation other than the $125,000 a year salary indicated in the announcement.
