LEON GUERRERO-TENORIO ADMINISTRATION CREATES SCHOOL
SAFETY PARTNERSHIP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 8, 2019
Hagåtña, Guam – The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administration announced today the creation of
the Governor’s School Safety Partnership. The group consists of members of the Guam Police
Department, the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center, and Guam Homeland Security.
Leading the effort will be Lt. Governor Joshua Tenorio and GDOE Superintendent Jon
Fernandez as co-chairs.

Governor Leon Guerrero made the announcement at Simon Sanchez High School in front of
students and teachers before joining school administrators and students on a tour of SSHS and
F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School. The tour allowed the Governor and Lt. Governor to see and
hear firsthand the safety concerns affecting faculty and students.

Governor Leon Guerrero, Lt. Governor Tenorio and Superintendent Fernandez met several times
to discuss the challenges surrounding school safety. Public school campuses face a variety of
threats, including heavy weather, substance abuse, school violence, and potential active shooter
situations. While the school system has a number of protective and preventive measures in place,
the Superintendent has asked for help in coordinating with key executive agencies to enhance
law enforcement response to school campuses, expand capacity for more school-based
behavioral health intervention and treatment, and hardening school facilities.

The Governor’s School Safety Partnership’s goal is to focus on the three areas identified by the
Superintendent and report findings and recommendations no later than June 30, 2019.

“We have heard the concerns from our families and our educators, and I want to assure
them that we will work together with GDOE to come up with collaborative solutions to
keep our children safe,” Governor Leon Guerrero said.
“I look forward to continued partnership with GDOE. When I was the Judiciary of Guam
Administrator, we worked with GDOE to establish the School Resource Officers Program.
SROs are a powerful tool at school campuses because they act as liaisons between the
school, court, police, and other law enforcement officers and agencies,” said Lt. Governor
Tenorio.
“I appreciate the commitment of our Governor and Lt. Governor to helping protect our
students and employees. Over the next few months, I look forward to working closely with
our agency partners to do what is necessary to secure our schools and improve our ability
to prevent and respond to the threats that our schools face,” Superintendent Fernandez said.

For inquiries, please contact Krystal Paco, Press Secretary at 787-3229 or
krystal.paco@guam.gov.

PDF:

PR020819-2

 

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