IN the Marianas Variety – Guam Edition, January 02, Page 5, the top story reads, “GPSS clarifies ’07 budget, 14% teacher pay raise.”
It starts off like this: There have been assumptions and assertions made in the public forum regarding the budgeting of the 14 percent teacher pay raise. GPSS would like to make several points of clarification regarding those raises. Among the highlights which I will encapsulate:
1) The DOA needed time to complete the study as mandated by PL 28-396 which authorized the study and implementation.
2) Members of the Legislature and the governor’s office were VERY supportive of the GPSS FY ’07 budget.
3) There lies NO fault in the governor’s office, the Guam Legislature, DOA nor GPSS.
4) DOA did its best.
5) The availability of cash at this point is affecting other agencies and NOT the fault of anyone.
Boy, if this isn’t a reason to shut down GPSS (which I wrote in the VOP, PDN in 2003 when the government was faced with tough choices), I don’t know what is. GPSS eats up more than any other agency. It continually seeks more funds. Test scores at best remain stagnant. Qualified folks flock to DODEA and other schools and vocations. And no one takes RESPONSIBILITY.
I will argue, once again, what most don’t like to hear. You cannot reform GovGuam without reforming GPSS. You ignore GPSS at your own peril ( like “ignoring” the power of Carl T.C. Gutierrez). So how do you fix it instead of the same old song and dance like the above statements from the Office of the Superintendent (it might as well have said Office of the Governor)?
SHUT GPSS down for a short period, return all federal money, revamp and come out smaller and leaner and able to compete. (Like a FORD which needs to compete against TOYOTA.)

MATT PHILIPS
Mangilao, Guam