DOE asks for air conditioning, despite protest

by Krystal Paco

Guam - The Every Child is Entitled to An Adequate Education Act mandates that public school classrooms maintain sensible temperatures no greater than 78 degrees, but that's not the case at Simon Sanchez High School.

Currently two 7.5-ton A/C units at the Yigo campus are beyond repair, leaving the library, the counselors' offices and the nurses offices at temperatures up to 84 degrees. While the invitation for bid for the purchase of 1,500 A/C units for schools islandwide is being protested, DOE is hoping the OPA's office will allow the purchase of individual units to cool things down at Simon Sanchez in order to come into compliance with the mandate.

DOE's request to the OPA was made April 29 with protesting company J&B Modern opposing the motion May 1. J&B questions DOE's ability to repair the A/Cs as well as purchase A/Cs on island to relieve the emergency situation at SSHS.

A hearing has been set at the OPA's office on May 14 at 9am.