PSS’ oversight and accountability issues raised during budget hearing

A number of individuals took the stand during the Public School System’s budget hearing before the House Standing Committee on Ways and Means to voice their concerns and seeking the Legislature’s help in holding PSS accountable for their spending and oversight of programs.

Yesterday, PSS leadership appeared before the House Standing Committee on Ways and Means to discuss its fiscal year 2025 budget of over $39 million.

Before PSS took the floor to justify their budget proposal (the highest budget proposal among all government entities), members and supporters of the Chamorro Carolinian Language and Heritage Studies (CCLHS) took the stand to voice their concerns for the lack of support to keep the CCLHS program alive.

Malua Taisacan Peter, in her heart-moving comments, expressed that the Refaluwasch program under PSS has not been treated equally with the Chamorro program and asked that the Legislature hold an oversight hearing to see for themselves how PSS programs are ran and to allegedly see how the CCLHS program favors the Chamorro program more than the Carolinian. In addition, Peters says PSS should be held accountable for this.

“I hate standing here having to bring this to your attention. I am almost 80, I was discriminated against [as a Refaluwasch], and this continues [to happen] to Refaluwasch students and [the] community. I am saddened to stand here, on behalf of the Carolinian people, but I cannot stand by without doing something to protect the younger generation. With that, we ask that [the Legislature] take time to see what can be done to help. Hold and oversight hearing to get a picture of how the PSS is running its programs. Also, audit [should be done for] accountability. I would like the Legislature to request for an audit. With the situation of the economy, we need it done. We need to see who is getting more for less work and who is getting less for more work,” she said.

Fellow members of the Carolinian community reiterated the importance of the Carolinian language and culture with Naseema Odin expressing that the Carolinian program is failing.

“We want equity across the board. We’ve asked this of past commissioners and now the current. We keep hearing we need more teachers but we don’t have money and we just want to know, what are we doing with the money that we have? There are currently less than 10 full-time Carolinian teachers for years. We need accountability within ourselves,” she said.

House Speaker Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), although absent as he is currently enrolled in the CCLHS program with the University of Guam, had his comments read out yesterday stating that his goal is to preserves the Chamorro and Carolinian language.

“We understand other subjects are requesting funds as well, we support these requests as it benefits the entire community. However, we would like to bring to your attention some concerns regarding the commitments made to us at the starting of our training,” he said.

Villagomez expressed that he and over 20 others who took on the CCLHS program at UOG were supposed to be hired through PSS upon completing their course, but have recently been informed that they would be put through the Workforce Investment Agency instead for a 90-day probation period. As for WIA, Villgomez said no MOA has been provided.

“There is a disparity of Chamorro and Carolinian Teachers within PSS. We kindly request the intervention of the Legislature to ensure that management honor promises made to us to include full-time employment, positions, and incentives per course. Our goal is to contribute effectively and efficiently to the organization and pass on our heritage and educational expertise through languages,” he said.

Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho assumed the position six months ago and inherited these issues, expressed that PSS would be looking into these concerns.