Despite reservation, Tenorio signs Bill 437

Guam - It's what lawmakers are referring to as the answer to most of DOE's millions of dollars worth of facility woes - Bill 437 was signed into law.

"We're going to make good on the promise that education is the highest priority. And this measure will make that a reality once the changes are made," said Acting Governor Ray Tenorio. "It's my honor to sign Bill 437 into law." He signed the bill Monday afternoon, but not without reservations. According to Tenorio, amendments must be made before the new law, which was authored by Senators Judi Guthertz, Aline Yamashita and Rory Respicio, can work for the island's 31,000 school children.

Senator Respicio said, "I know that the acting governor signed the bill with some reservations, saying that the funding source has to come from DOE, but in it of itself is premature given that the General Fund fund the Department of Education. So for whatever reason, the Administration had some concerns. I want to say that I'm very pleased that the Administration was instrumental in guiding us through that bill and the legislative process."

The bill provides $139 million in financing to fund repairs and renovations to all Department of Education schools, a figure identified by a Sodexo's Facilities Capital Action Plan in 2010. Bill 437 also provides $3 million to repair Untalan Middle School in Barrigada so the Wildcats can make a homecoming by School Year 2013-2014.

"If I were the new superintendent coming into DOE, I would be so happy," noted Senator Judi Guthertz. "This bill provides the governor the financial tools to identify a mechanism to fix all the schools at the same time - all the schools on Guam, not just one at a time, but all of them. And I think the real winners are the children of Guam, the teachers, the school employees, the administrators of our public school system, and our parents."

What's next? Guthertz says the Guam Economic Development Authority will work with DOE and the governor to come up with bid specifications. She anticipates that Bill 437 will boost the economy once it comes into full effect.

The acting governor said he will outline his technical problems with the measure in a letter to the Guam Legislature at later time.

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