Teacher outraged over hostility, poor conditions at shared campus

Chief Brodie Memorial Elementary was buzzing with news last Friday.

“We got a notice from our principal…says we passed,” said Chief Brodie ESL Teacher Melinda Burke.  

The Tamuning campus finally got approval from Public Health, but days later, they’re still sharing space with Juan M. Guerrero Elementary.

“We were devastated...we were absolutely devastated,” said Burke. 

Burke said they feel “unhappy” at the Dededo campus and "tolerated, not welcome."

“We had one staff member say, ‘Why don’t you just go back to your own school,’” she said. 

Burke also raised concerns about "subpar conditions" at the Dededo campus, including a "D" rating from Public Health.

“J.M. Guerrero had a ‘C’ rating—but when they heard about students being in classrooms in a condemned area, they came back. Because of the awnings and other issues, they bumped them down to a D rating,” said Burke. 

Guam Department of Education Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Swanson previously confirmed to lawmakers that funds have been secured to replace canopies leading to those classrooms.

Meanwhile, Chris Anderson, GDOE Student Support Administrator, also shedded light on JMG’s "D" rating–assuring the school has less than 40 demerits—which is still a passing grade.

“Those rooms were identified to not be used when the initial inspection took place–and then they were notified the rooms were being used without health coming back to do the inspection to clear the rooms to be used,” said Anderson.  

Education officials also acknowledge that Chief Brodie doesn't have all the equipment they need–while in the same breath contending Burke's issue of teaching in a library storeroom was resolved by the second week of school.

Now, only time will tell what the fate of Chief Brodie Elementary School will be, as a meeting is underway between Chief Brodie, JMG teachers, and the superintendent this Wednesday.