Guam - The Guam Education Board this evening approved a $261,819,069 fiscal year 2012 budget for the Department of Education. The initial request was just over $281 million now, cutting the figure by some $22 million. The GEB agreed on the figure by eliminating positions for new full-time employee, travel costs, tutoring as well as several contractual projects, to name a few.

The budget request will be given to the Guam Legislature this Friday for consideration. GEB finance committee chairperson Joe San Agustin says the board is still ironing out the details for the proposed Central High School and a charter school, which is part of DOE's budget but is not yet included in the approved total budget.

In the meantime, the board is also continuing discussions on the proposal to close F.Q. Sanchez Elementary School. Board members plan to meet with stakeholders at the Umatac campus later this month.