by Nick Delgado

Guam - Sodexo presented the Department of Education's Facility Action Plan to the Guam Education Policy Board today. The 400-page report shows the critical areas in the public school system that are in need of major repairs and renovations. Those plans include new fire alarm and electrical systems as well as modification of old classrooms and roof repairs.

The executive summary presented to the board today revealed that the five-year plan is expected to cost more than $130 million.

GEPB chairperson Ron Ayuyu says they will not approve the report until they complete prioritizing the projects, adding, "We want to make that we understand what the assessment is and the board understand that this is how much it will cost and what needs to be priority."

The issue, Ayuyu says, is that they currently only have four members on the board and need six to vote on the report findings. The department plans to use ARRA funds to help fund a portion of the projects and then plans to ask for the remainder of the funds from the legislature. Board finance chair Joe San Agustin recommends that the projects be separated among each school to prevent a lengthy procurement process.

He said, "If a contract needs to go out per school, then so be it - so it gets going, the schools need the fixing not the department but the individual schools need fixing."

The board will meet again with Sodexo next Tuesday at 4pm to begin prioritizing the projects.