VIDEO: Superintendent Fernandez Recommends Delaying 4A/B Schedule for Another Year

Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 July 2012 22:33 Written by Betsy Brown Tuesday, 03 July 2012 17:11

Guam - Department of Education Superintendent Jon Fernandez has recommended that the Guam Education Board delay the implementation of the 4A/B schedule for high schools.

In a release to the media today Fernandez said the delay would allow more time for input and planning, and allow school administrations for plan for the upcoming school year.

“I haven't been involved in this entire process, but I believe it's time for a final resolution of this matter," Fernandez said in the release. "I'm focused on getting our schools opened on time for the coming school year, and to do that, we have to resolve the high school schedules now. Trying to move forward at this juncture is proving to be operationally difficult."

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GEB Chairman Francis Santos told PNC today that he supports the Superintendent's recommendation, especially after hearing the bus scheduling challenges the Department of Public Works is facing.

“The Board believes that the 4 A/B schedule should be looked at as a means for getting students on track for graduation,” said Board Chairman Santos. “However, if our Superintendent wants more time to make sure we get it right, we will support him.”

Santos said delaying the schedule will also allow the board to gather more input from teachers and other stakeholders.

As it stands Santos says George Washington, John F Kennedy, Okkodo and Simon Sanchez High Schools will return to their schedules from the last school year when classes resume in August. Southern High School is expected to move forward with a 4x4 schedule for the 2012/2013 school year, as the school will be implementing the John Hopkins reform program.

READ the Release from Superintendent Fernandez in FULL below:

GDOE Superintendent Fernandez Pushes for Resolution of High School Schedules

4 A/B Schedule Delayed for 4 of 5 High Schools; Southern HS will be Allowed to Adopt 4x4 Block Schedule to Support Johns Hopkins Program

Guam Department of Education Superintendent Jon Fernandez is recommending that the 4 A/B block schedule be delayed one school year for all high schools except Southern High School. Southern High School, which operates under the Johns Hopkins curriculum,will go to a 4x4 block schedule to ensure that the curriculum can be implemented effectively.

The delay for other schools,Mr. Fernandez said, will allow more time for input and planning. It would also allow the administration to accelerate its plans for the upcoming school year.

“I haven't been involved in this entire process, but I believe it's time for a final resolution of this matter," said Mr. Fernandez. "I'm focused on getting our schools opened on time for the coming school year, and to do that, we have to resolve the high school schedules now. Trying to move forward at this juncture is proving to be operationally difficult."

Guam Board of Education Chairman Francis Santos, after speaking with Mr. Fernandez, indicated that he believed the Board would support this proposal, especially given recent information received from the Departmentof Public Works. DPW officials have expressed serious concerns regarding the logistics of providing buses and bus drivers to meet the demands of the new schedule. In addition, a delay in implementing new schedules would allow stakeholders in the community another opportunity to weigh in on the proposal.

“The Board believes that the 4 A/B schedule should be looked at as a means for getting students on track for graduation,” said Board Chairman Santos.

“However, if our Superintendent wants more time to make sure we get it right, we will support him.”

Mr. Fernandez has indicated that he would like to see the schedule discussed in the context of a broader, more comprehensive and academically-focused strategy, aimed at increasing graduation rates and ensuring that graduates are ready for college or the workplace.

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