Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The local Department of Education (ASDOE) late last week “suspended until further notice” all current public school sporting events, claiming that it was based on a directive from the Governor’s Office “to stop overtime hours”.

However, the governor’s executive assistant Iulogologo Joseph Pereira tells Samoa News the ASDOE management could have made arrangements for department employees — especially bus drivers — not to incur overtime hours.

Samoa News learned last Friday evening of the suspension of all ASDOE sports, with some parents saying over the weekend that they were told it was a directive from the governor — that no overtime hours can be paid — which resulted in the suspension of games.

By yesterday afternoon, ASDOE had sent out an update, announcing that the sports program is back on. And this was confirmed by officials of two schools, after a parent contacted Samoa News around 1p.m, seeking confirmation of sports resumption based on information from the school where her son is a student-athlete.

Responding to Samoa News inquiries, ASDOE official Dr. Samasoni Asaeli said yesterday that “DOE leadership has lifted the suspension of sports effective” yesterday and, “all sports competition” resumed yesterday afternoon.

Samoa News understands that the Governor had contacted the ASDOE main office to discuss the issue, as he was not aware that the sports program was suspended. The Governor’s call to ASDOE followed Samoa News questions sent early yesterday morning.

At least two parents told Samoa News over the weekend that they were very saddened with the move to “suspend” games when some games were already scheduled for Friday, after hours, and last Saturday; and the Lolo Administration should have made some exceptions, especially for sporting events, as athletes have practiced for a long time and were looking forward to “showcasing their school pride on the field”.

“Please inform your student-athletes, coaches, parents, and staff/faculty members that all sports currently running, are suspended until further notice, as per the directive from the Governor's Office to stop overtime hours. This is the message relayed from our deputy and the main office,” according to a copy of an email message - obtained by Samoa News over the weekend - from ASDOE officials to principals.

The same email - which appears to have been sent out late Friday afternoon - has since being forwarded to many others outside of ASDOE, including some lawmakers, who were not happy with the ASDOE decision.

Emailed questions sent over the weekend to Education director, Dr. Ruth Matagi-Tofiga, were returned with an auto-reply that she was out of the office.

Asked for confirmation that Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga had given such a directive, Iulogologo first explained that a “cost containment measure, overtime payment was suspended due to our cash follow challenges attributed” to the partial federal government shutdown.

However, “I am disappointed that ASDOE literally used this to suspend sports activities. If they were truly concerned about the children's sports then DOE management could rearrange schedules for bus drivers and all other DOE employees involved so no overtime would be incurred,” Iulogologo said yesterday morning.

He pointed out bus drivers do not drive buses all day and they could take time off after all the morning routes are completed. “They would return to work in the afternoon or when it is time to transport students back home or to sporting activities,” he said, adding that the same arrangements could be made for other ASDOE involved personnel.

“It is disappointing that ASDOE management didn't explore ways not to suspend the games before said decision was made. The same goes with all agencies of ASG who have 24/7 services,” he added.

Iulogologo said the issue of overtime was discussed, “but I had hoped that the directors would explore ways not to sacrifice services before terminating them. Director should have discussed this issue with the Governor before the decision was made to terminate sports activities for the children.”

According to him, the “Governor is dedicated to the development of our children as evidenced by numerous programs that he has established for all the children of American Samoa.”

With games suspended until further notice, some parents contacted their lawmakers voicing their disappointment. Among them was Rep. Larry Sanitoa, who had written last Saturday to ASDOE officials seeking an explanation, after being contacted late Friday by several coaches and parents of Tafuna High School who expressed their “disappointment and frustration after receiving notice...that the basketball season has been canceled due to lack of funding for bus drivers”.

“The coaches and parents were extremely disappointed because the students have spent several weeks practicing and players have already paid for their uniforms and supplies,” he wrote in an emailed letter. “Some businesses and friends have also pitched in financially to help with the entry fees and other supplies.”

At yesterday’s House session Sanitoa requested a House hearing to find out what had happened. He said parents and coaches were extremely disappointed of the news last Friday about the league being canceled due to the lack of funding to pay bus drivers.

“Many parents said that the student-athletes have been practicing for three months and they have already paid for their uniforms and game supplies,” he said.

Additionally, several businesses and individuals have helped out by paying the entry fees for the teams, as well as other miscellaneous expenses. “I was told that this is the first time a team needs to pay an entry fee,” he said.

House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale asked the House Education Committee to look into the matter and call a committee hearing, if possible.