SPEAKER Judi Won Pat has urged the Guam Education Board to establish clear performance indicators and to communicate with stakeholders regarding the criteria for evaluating the new Guam Department of Education superintendent.

The Speaker’s statement came in the wake of GEB’s decision to approve an annual $150,000 salary for GDOE Superintendent Jon Fernandez.

Won Pat yesterday released a statement to the media supporting the authority of the board to negotiate the contract.

But she also emphasized the revised contract should include clear performance outcomes the superintendent must reach.

“The board must establish and communicate to all stakeholders what the goals, objectives and criterion are for determining success when evaluating the new superintendent,” Won Pat said. “After all, this is what we require of our administrators and teachers. The superintendent should be held to the same, if not higher, level."

Won Pat also encouraged the new superintendent to pursue philanthropic and community service initiatives that would improve education and generate other funding sources.

She said: "I would encourage the board to assign Mr. Fernandez the task of spearheading the launch of the Foundation for Public Education Act of 2009. The law allows the superintendent to promote the improvement of the general welfare of public education which includes philanthropic and community service endeavors. This means the superintendent can accept private gifts, donations, endowments, services-in-kind, grants and other money which will go towards GDOE."

Prioritize

Won Pat also stressed that GDOE must prioritize spending as the government deals with its financial debts. She said with the budget hearings coming up in July, “the government of Guam doesn’t have money the education department is requesting.”

She said despite the current financial troubles of the government, “the Legislature will ensure that GDOE's operations do not suffer, especially in the classrooms.”

Won Pat emphasized: "It is our priority and my personal philosophy to put education first; however, this does not mean that we can ignore GDOE’s budget and its yearly financial shortfalls, and the governor’s attempt to reduce the deficit which affects every government of Guam department and agency.”

She added: “Therefore, at the end of the day, the board and the new superintendent must come to a compromise that is reasonable. I hope one can be reached so that Mr. Fernandez can come on board and begin the enormous job of education reform.”