As Government of Guam budget talks ramp up, the public sector's largest agency detailed their projected budget request for Fiscal Year 2027. And while Guam Department of Education officials justified what was included, they also fielded questions about what wasn’t.

It’s a budget request $1,000 more than its previous ask last year —a request totaling $307 million. But what didn’t make the cut? Guam Education Board members asking that question during a special meeting on Thursday. Member Angel Sablan said, “Security, security, security—is it there in this budget?”

The answer to that question? Not specifically—though acting GDOE superintendent Dr. Judi Won Pat says there is a task force developing ways to address security concerns. She adding one of the expenses she and her team are looking at in their spending plan is for capital improvement projects: with plans to install solar lights and cameras at two frequently-targeted campuses.

“As much as possible, yes, in terms of responding to the 14 points we’ve included in the budget–the other thing we did is that wherever we could transfer out of local funds to then have it covered by federal funds, we’ve done that, and that’s the reason why we were able to bring this budget even much further from what we originally started out," she said.

Sablan also inquiring whether GDOE set funds aside for the Faneyaken Chamoru Medium Immersion School. Won Pat says the condition of the facility being eyed contributed largely to its absence in the budget, saying, “The tiles are already popping, the roof tiles are falling, paint is coming off the wall—they saw that there is just no way that they’ll be able to get that school ready by the summer or the opening of the school year.”

However, not all hope is lost, as Won Pat assured GDOE is looking at other cost-effective options.

In the meantime, GEB chair Dr. Judith Guthertz urging Won Pat to share plans for the immersion school soon, in addition to a solution to end double session schedules before an upcoming education town hall meeting.

“We do have a viable plan, but the problem is, we just need to work with faculty and staff and other school principals in the surrounding areas. It’s not a big problem with DPW—I already had a conversation with the deputy, and she already indicated an area to open even here—of course, more students need to come here. So, we’re about done, really; it’s just now informing stakeholders," she said.