by Krystal Paco

Guam - Month-to-month we've reported they've pushed their opening date due to a lack of location. But now the Guahan Academy Charter School may be at risk of losing $600,000 in federal grant money because they've yet to open doors.

At today's table talk meeting with the Department of Education, Senator Aline Yamashita expressed concern Guahan Academy may lose the money if they don't locate a school site by the end of this month.

Meanwhile, DOE has yet to turnover part of their budget to the charter school. "I think we've all learned the reasons why it's taken us this long to get here. I think we also know some of the changes that need to be made in the law. That being said, Vince [Leon Guerrero] I had a brief conversation just yesterday about this about the list of students they submitted to superintendent [Jon] Fernandez. It needs to be reviewed and scrubbed and based on that and law the $5,500 per students really needs to be turned over."

Officials raised concerns that the charter school may be losing enrollment due to prolonged opening. As we've been reporting, the Guahan Academy Charter School is the first charter school approved by the Guam Academy Charter Schools Council over two years ago.

Although the charter school has expressed interest in using the CoreTech facility in Tiyan, the building's fate is also up for discussion as DOE Central Offices may make the move there once Untalan Middle School renovations are complete and the Wildcats return to their renovated campus.

Guahan Academy Charter School officials have yet to respond to KUAM News for an interview.