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GOVERNOR CAMACHO DISCUSSES GDOE FINANCIAL CONCERNS WITH MAESTRI AND SPEAKER |
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September 30, 2009
Governor Felix P. Camacho and Legislative Speaker Judi Won Pat placed a phone call to Philip Maestri, U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) risk management service director, today to discuss issues related to a letter sent to the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) Tuesday by the USDOE.
The letter focused on the results of a Comprehensive Corrective Action Plan (CCAP) validation site visit to Guam by USDOE that took place in July. The letter outlined numerous failures by GDOE to meet financial management standards regarding federal funds. During the telephone conversation, Maestri expressed that he is mainly concerned with GDOE’s management and accountability of federal funds and that USDOE must make sure those funds are being properly handled.
“It is clear that GDOE needs help with managing their finances and any assistance I can provide as governor will require legislative support,” said Governor Camacho. “I will support any measure that will provide immediate assistance to GDOE, including the idea of bringing in a third party to manage their finances.”
USDOE has given GDOE 15 days from the Sept. 28 letter, or by Oct. 13, to respond to their concerns. GDOE is expected to account for the department’s failure to follow through or comply with fiscal accountability and management measures. In his letter, Maestri states that USDOE will consider withholding federal funding from the education department and/or obtain a third party to manage federal funding for the department.
"The bottom line is we need to resolve GDOE’s systemic issues once and for all, but it will take more than 15 days. As we await GDOE’s response to USDOE, the speaker and I will continue to do what we can to assist them,” said Governor Camacho.
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