There were only minor problems reported during Tuesday’s first day of school for the island’s public schools.
According to the Guam Department of Education, some issues identified included a shortage of food services at Astumbo Middle School and traffic jams at various schools due to the influx of parents and guardians dropping off and picking up students.
Slight bus delays were also reported in the afternoon. GDOE Superintendent Jon Fernandez and DPW Bus Operations Superintendent Frank Taitano were on site at L.P. Untalan Middle School at the end of the day to send off the final bus departing from the school.
Despite these minor hitches, GDOE successfully opened all 41 public schools last Tuesday.
The GDOE management team thanks the Guam Education Board, Governor of Guam, senators of the 35th Guam Legislature, island mayors, the Guam Police Department, Guam Fire Department, Guam Army and Air National Guard, Mañelu, and other elected leaders and community organizations for welcoming students at GDOE campuses throughout the island.
“We would like to thank our community partners and elected leaders for coming out to welcome our students on the first day of classes,” Fernandez said in a statement. “These small gestures of goodwill show our staff and students that their community partners and elected leaders care for them and support our schools.”
The superintendent and GDOE management team spent the day visiting schools and troubleshooting any issues that arose throughout the day.
“We are grateful for the community support that resulted in a successful first day back to classes for our students and teachers,” Fernandez said. “We are glad to have our students back in school, and look forward the successful school year ahead.”
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