By Trina A San Agustin
Variety News Staff

EDUCATION Superintendent Luis Reyes, in the first ever State of Education Address yesterday, spoke of greater accountability and plans to reorganize the central office management of the Guam Public School System which he says is “just not effective,” among other items in his “agenda for change.”
Reyes also talked about the launching of the Foundation for Public Education in November which he said “will serve as an alternate base for financial support.”
“This past year, I have begun to explore ways in which we may operate as a more efficient organization. There have been many attempts in the past to reconfigure and make manageable the operations of the Guam Public School System. The time to act is now.”
GPSS has close to 4,000 employees who serve over 31,000 students in 37 public schools throughout Guam.
These facts, according to Reyes, have a span of control that is simply “too wide to initiate and manage change in order for any major initiative to take place.”
“Change is difficult and oftentimes feared. However, with the active participation of our employees and the continued support of the Guam Education Policy Board, the Guam Legislature and the governor of Guam, we can and will change,” he said.
In line with his plan for change, Reyes proposed to reorganize GPSS’s central office management structure.
“The current organization of 15 divisions and six administrators reporting directly to the superintendent is just not effective. It is my vision to have an organization whose ultimate goal is to be more efficient and effective. I have already initiated efforts at improving inter-organizational communication and inter-divisional accountability. The end result is a tighter, more streamlined organization,” Reyes said, as the audience applauded.
The education superintendent said in line with the current effort to effectively manage GPSS, he assigned senior liaisons collateral duties to oversee, on his behalf, the areas of operations, federal affairs and policy.
“In the coming days, I shall appoint a liaison over the areas of Academic Affairs and School Leadership and Community Outreach and Public-Private Partnership,” he said.
Reyes feels these “liaisons” can bridge the gaps that currently exist between units, schools and divisions.
“Many programs and activities run through multiple units and the liaisons are designed to facilitate communication and ‘close the loop.’ Such an organization promises to improve the delivery of services to the classroom while supporting our only reason for existence: students,” he added.
The superintendent said school year 2007/2008 will be the year to “ingrain into the minds of the Guam Public School System family a greater calling for each of us to put forth nothing short of Excellence in Education.”
Reyes calls for greater accountability, an improved community outreach and capacity-building initiative, and a call for excellence in education to be the “platform upon which we will build a stronger, more efficient and effective school house.”
“This is our professional commitment. This is our civic duty,” Reyes said.
‘Nothing new’
Guam Education Policy Board vice-chairman Joe S. San Agustin said Reyes’ idea to streamline the central office of GPSS is nothing new.
San Agustin said board members have been urging Reyes to move forward with the changes.
“The superintendent talked about how the organization (GPSS) is today. He also talked about how it needs to be streamlined and better managed. That is what the board members have been pushing for — streamlining — and we want to see that accomplished. Like real soon,” San Agustin said.
GEPB chairman Peter Alexcis Ada said he was impressed with Reyes’ determination to make changes in the front office.
San Agustin, Ada, and the other education board members will discuss the changes that Reyes plans for in today’s board meeting at Simon Sanchez High School at 6 p.m.