HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) —The Guam Department of Education can’t fully afford the 22% pay increase under the General Pay Plan and may have to end full-time status for limited-term school aides, a top education official said in a memo.
A memo signed Thursday by Assistant Superintendent of Special Education Thomas Babauta informed limited-term school aides that their jobs as full-time, limited-term employees would be “temporarily” discontinued.
“Unfortunately, due to the recent 22% General Pay Plan increase, the department is unable to financially sustain full-time school aides and the position will be re-announced as a part-time position,” Babauta said in the memo.
Babauta stated in the memo that alternative solutions and resources were sought to address the issue, to no avail. As a result, effective July 31, personnel actions for full-time limited-term school aides will end.
The issue didn’t sit well with Sen. Chris Barnett, chair of the legislative committee on education, who spoke with the head of GDOE special education and offered assistance.
“Of course, the Legislature is also ready to assist in the upcoming budget process if an internal solution is not reached. It is disappointing … that former acting Superintendent (Judith) Won Pat painted the picture that GDOE would be able to sustain the 22% increases without an impact to services,” Barnett said.
The freshman lawmaker suggested using funds not tied up in retroactive pay as a way to address the situation facing limited-term aides.
“Many GDOE workers in the (General Pay Plan) have expressed frustration in not being paid their increases retroactively to April 1, so, if the department doesn’t intend to pay the retro, maybe those funds can be used as part of an offset/funding solution.” he said.
No terminations
Babauta clarified for The Guam Daily Post on Saturday that, technically, no employee is getting fired. He said the limited-term, full-time status lasted only for the year and was slated to expire.
“Every year, the aides have been on a limited-term, part-time status because of funding. Last year we were able to place them on a limited-term, full-time status for the first time. This was a year-to-year situation,” Babauta said. “Because of the increase of 22% increase, we would not be able to sustain the limited-term, full-time status, so we are reverting back to a limited-term, part-time status.”
Judith Won Pat, the former acting superintendent for the Guam Department of Education, testifies during a legislative oversight hearing at the Public Hearing Room of the Guam Congress Building in Hagåtña on Thursday, July 6, 2023.
