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Back Local News New bell schedule debate heats up

New bell schedule debate heats up

Friday, 01 Jun 2012 03:00am
BY LOUELLA LOSINIO | VARIETY NEWS STAFF
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EMOTIONS flared during last night’s stakeholder meeting to discuss the controversial 4 block schedule.

Stakeholders from Simon Sanchez High School, John F. Kennedy High School, and Okkodo High School took to the podium to raise their concerns and ask present members of the Guam Education Board what their positions are on the issue.

The issues raised during the meeting echoed the same set of concerns previously discussed in the other stakeholder meetings held at GWHS and JFK. But this time, the discussions became more heated and reached a tipping point when some of the teachers openly expressed their dissatisfaction and even demanded the board members present to state their individual positions regarding the schedule.

Angel Calugay, one of the teachers from Okkodo who addressed the board, said “the board should be guided by the basic principles of democracy.” Calugay also stated: “If the board only consulted the teachers, they wouldn’t have to be at the meeting.”

Another teacher, Ken Orland, talked about structural issues, the school environment and the impact of the 4 block schedule.

Franklin Perez, from JFK, hopes the meeting wouldn’t be an “exercise in futility.” 

After the stakeholders presented their testimonies regarding the bell schedule, SSHS teacher Andri Baynum asked the board, on behalf of the others, to state their individual positions on the schedule.

GEB Chairman Francis Santos said he took offense to what Perez said earlier about the board.

“Obviously, there is a problem and that is why I made a decision to come out. I chose to come out but I can’t speak on behalf of the rest of the board,” Santos stated.

Santos challenged the teachers to come to the Legislature to voice their concerns. He said the board is not being heard as well.

“Please read the board minutes. You will find that I voted against the schedule,” said Dr. Jose Cruz, a member of the education board.

He clarified that he voted against the schedule because it clearly lacked the supporting data he was looking for.

Joe San Agustin, another board member, said he has been pushing for a motion to suspend the implementation of the schedule.

Baynum also explained the position of the stakeholders from his school. “We want them to rescind the schedule. I am very proud that the three board members showed up but also disappointed that several of the appointed board members did not show up in the meeting. Out of nine board members, only three showed up.”

He said this is very telling of how the board is going to continue to operate.

“The teachers were also upset because the board spent a lot of time negotiating a contract for one individual (incoming GDOE Superintendent Jon Fernandez) while the teacher contract has not been negotiated at all,” Baynum stated.

 

Comments  

 
0 #7 Benjamin 2012-06-04 10:48
Change occurs from within but the within has to want to change. I really appreciate parents who could afford otherwise placing their students in the public school. How about it Governor Calvo do you wish to place you kids where your mouth is and join the one of the public school PTA's I went to a public school that included millionaires and the only son of a billionaire. Would Marie Benito really have moved over form elementary education if you weren't governor? Please reconsider your ways and pray for guidance.
 
 
-1 #6 Kalaukieleula 2012-06-02 16:15
Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Change or lose.
 
 
+2 #5 Kalaukieleula 2012-06-01 08:26
Benjamin, your point is well taken that Teachers should be on year's contract with year round benefits and breaks when they choose. That's assuming that the reserve talent for substitutes can meet the licensing bars to have students make AYP. That's a tall order. Student needs have to come first and teachers have to be honored as professionals equal to doctors and lawyers. Trained to be an elite corp that treats every student individually with the correct targeted instruction. Can we do that? It requires some intense PD, coaching and progress monitoring to be sure teachers teach authentically.
 
 
+3 #4 Benjamin 2012-06-01 08:15
So what if Select care is loosing 18 MILLION DOLLARS because of the Obama Care policy of returning the profits to the stake holders. The Calvo's and Eddie are doing all right as it is.
No wonder he hates PAC's that stand up to them. Remember Safeway and the deal that did away with it between the Governors family and the Tan family. We hate competition is the Calvo motto. Personally I like competition and more importantly I like Lucerne Ice Cream!!! Give me Safeway over Payless Not Super Markets any day!!!
 
 
-1 #3 Benjamin 2012-06-01 08:09
Moreover as I am sure Ms Kalaukieleula would agree that if the school board would only take away the summer break teachers would ultimately be more happy. As a husband of a teacher of more than twenty years, I would like my wife to be able to take a five week vacation in October which not only are the flights inexpensive but also the trees are in bloom in New England. What do you say teachers? Five weeks in October or whenever you choose or an unpaid summer?
 
 
+2 #2 Benjamin 2012-06-01 08:05
I agree with Kalaukieleula that with the new 4 by 4 schedule the teachers who already are putting in more than 40 hour weeks will have to be compensated at an overtime rate of 1.5 times their hourly rate. Still it might be more effective as I am sure Ms. Kalaukieleula to just hire a new teacher at the regular rate.
 
 
-10 #1 Kalaukieleula 2012-06-01 04:28
The GDoE data shows that between 9th and 12th grades 50% of the students leave high school. Changing the bell schedule to meet student needs with targeted interventions to see more students succeed and graduate is the purpose of increasing instructional hours. The work schedule is not a democratic issue. Teachers like every other state worker are paid for 40 hours a week. So where are those hours dedicated to direct services for students? High School should be at least 7:45 am to 3 pm. Language is a remedial program for intermediate reading. Transmath is an intervention for intermediate math. Rewards is a syllabication program to develop decoding strategies. Students' needs have to drive the instructional decisions and environment. Where is the professional integrity?
 

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