by Krystal Paco

Guam - Over two years ago the Guahan Academy Charter School received the green light to open doors as the island's first charter. That green light may turn red in a matter of days.

Month-to-month they've pushed their opening date due to a lack of location, and now the Guahan Academy Charter School is at risk of losing thousands in federal grant money. GACS spokesperson Therese Arroyo Matanane tells KUAM over $100,000 in consolidated grants are in jeopardy come their March 31 deadline. In addition, $600,000 in federal grants awarded to GACS over two years ago is also at stake as federal agents are concerned GACS has yet to meet expectations, mostly due to a lack of a school site.

Matanane says GACS officials have been working tirelessly to identify a school site. Searching north to south considering all options.

But as we've been reporting, officials have struggled with identifying a location that meets zoning requirements as well as overcoming their limited budget. Earlier this fiscal year the Guam Legislature appropriated $5,500 per student from the Guam Department of Education budget - a thousand less than they requested.

Meanwhile, DOE superintendent Jon Fernandez submitted a letter to committee chair on education Speaker Judi Won Pat on Monday withdrawing his support for GACS.

In his letter, he states he cannot authorize the allocation for the $5,500 per GACS enrollee from the GDOE budget as defined in Public Law 31-233. Fernandez states he's concerned for GDOE's share that currently serves 31,000 students this school year. "I believe that it is unwise to contemplate deductions from the GDOE budget, especially as we begin to seek resources to cover the impact of increased utility rates, cover the costs of a master facilities plan, improve school security, upgrade sports facilities, and renovate aging school buildings - all ideas that i believe the education committee is willing to support."

He adds GACS failed to provide a proposed funding outlook for their Fiscal Year 2014 needs to the Guam Education Board to be included in GDOE's FY2014 budget request submitted to the Guam Legislature earlier this year.

In addition, GDOE could not validate GACS' list of enrollees resulting in GDOE requesting an updated list complete with valid applications for enrollment completed by a parent of enrolling student.

Fernandez pleads that the legislature take into consideration other obligations GDOE is committed to including funds to pay overdue salary increments and meritorious bonuses as well as oncoming cuts to federal programs in light of sequestration.

Ultimately, although Fernandez has been a longtime advocate for charter schools and understands GACS' challenges at opening the island's first charter, he cannot authorize the transfer of funds from GDOE to GACS.

We should note that if the Guam Academy Charter School loses the consolidated grant money, the over $100,000 may be reallocated for other GDOE uses.