Our Schools

• There are projected to be close to 8,000 more students in our public schools at the buildup’s peak.
• This will create a demand for up to 532 more teachers.
• DOE has to fill 300 vacancies each year, which means that in 2014 DOE will need to find over 800 new teachers. 
• The DEIS does not address the cost of building new schools for the 8,000 new students.  DOE, however, estimates the cost to be $134 million.  This is over 70% of the total budget that DOE expects to receive in 2010. 

I.         An Increase in Students and Demand for Teachers

THE DEIS:

The DEIS predicts almost 8,000 more students in our public schools at the peak of the buildup:[1]

Year	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
Additional Students	3,317	5,383	6,362	7,937	5,769	2,801

The increase in students would require up to 532 more teachers in our classrooms:[2]

Year	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
Additional Teachers	223	362	426	532	387	188

These calculations are made based on the assumption that DOE has 1 teacher for every 14 students in our elementary schools, 1 teacher for every 14 students in our middle schools, and 1 teacher for every 19 students in our high schools.[3]

DOE’S RESPONSE:

DOE first notes that the assumptions made in the DEIS about class sizes are incorrect.  According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Guam Federation of Teachers and DOE, the maximum number of students ranges from 18 to 25 in elementary school.  The maximum class size in middle and high school is 28.[4]

“DOE must fill an average of 300 teaching positions every year.  This is attributed to a high turnover and insufficient number of certified teachers.  Approximately 50% of those vacant positions are filled by retired teachers.  The University of Guam graduates approximately 125 educators annually.  Those statistics clearly indicate a need to explore other means for addressing the teacher shortage.”[5] “Statistics also reveal that after the peak year, the number of teachers that will be needed significantly decrease.  What would we do with the teachers that were hired to meet the peak year if the student population decreases?”[6]

II.        Demand for New Schools and Facilities

THE DEIS:

The DEIS does not address the need or costs of new schools to support the increase in student population.

DOE’S RESPONSE:

9 new schools will be needed to accommodate the increase in students.[7] The total cost to build these schools is estimated to be $134,682,029.00.[8] DOE requested a total of $189 million for its operations in 2010.

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[1] Vol. 9, Appendix F, p. 4-46.

[2] Vol. 9, Appendix F, p. 4-48.

[3] Vol. 9, Appendix F, p. 4-44.

[4] Governor’s Compilation, p. 47.  The Governor’s Compilation of Comments can be found at http://guamgovernor.net/content/view/485/2/

[5] Governor’s Compilation, p. 48.

[6] Governor’s Compilation, p. 48.

[7] Governor’s Compilation, p. 52.

[8] Governor’s Compilation, p. 52.