Memo notes drastic change to school aide positions

There's some unwelcomed news being circulated out the Guam Education Department -- at least for those existing full-time school aide positions and any potential applicants. 

KUAM News got a copy of the concerning memo. 

It states due to the recent 22% general pay plan increase, GDOE cannot financially sustain full-time school aides and the position will be re-announced as a part-time position.

Additionally, the memo states, effective July 31, personnel actions for all full-time limited-term school aide one will end.

Education oversight chair Sen. Chris Barnett, told KUAM that this memo, “ruffled a lot of feathers within the community," especially within the department that is in great need of these aides, Special Education.

"We know that Special Education within the Guam Department of Education is already in so many ways, a deficit and so that memo, when I saw it, it was shocking," he said. 

Barnett noting the education superintendent's signature was not on the memo. 

It was however signed off by Thomas Babauta with GDOE Special Education. 

"I hope that GDOE sorts this out and ensures that our Special Education students get what they deserve," Barnett said. "Because quite frankly we had a round table hearing and I’m very disappointed in the level of service that the special education and so seeing this memo really bothered me because these are students, we really have to put the resources where they’re going to go and these are federally funded positions."

Barnett added he spoke with the head of Special Education and was reassured that they will try to find the money to pay for these aides, but if not, he reminds the school system they can ask the legislature for the funds.  

The memo includes that the education department sought alternate solutions and resources to help address this issue, but has not been able to identify additional funding or reach a solution.

GDOE  encourages those still interested to apply for the part-time school aide positions once they are announced. 

A meeting was apparently set to happen at the GDOE’s headquarters in Tiyan to further discuss this issue, but the senator says he learned that it was postponed because the superintendent had no knowledge of it. 

Meantime, GDOE officials are working to resolve the issue ahead of the upcoming school year.