The Guam Education Board and Department of Education are scheduled to appear back before senators in April to continue fighting for their $365 million Fiscal Year 2021 budget request.

During round 1, however, GEB Chairwoman Maria Gutierrez made sure it was known that education officials don't have the time to appear before every single senator to defend their numbers. Gutierrez said they're following protocol in submitting their budget to their oversight chair, the chairperson on Appropriations, and to the speaker. Gutierrez was addressing the request made by Minority Leader, Sen. Telo Taitague.

"So if you want us to visit all of you, I'm sorry because we're also working and I trust Sen. Vice Speaker Nelson, I trust Chairman San Agustin," she said. "So if you're telling us that we should come see you or the superintendent, I'm sorry he's very busy."

"Ms. Gutierrez, I appreciate what your comments are how you feel as chairman of the board but we all have a responsibility, a duty to vote on things that we feel that who need the most money," Taitague said. "Now if the department of education needs this money then they should see each of us senators just like all the other agencies, GVB, attorney general's office the courts they all visit us individually to talk to us about their budget. And if you think that's wrong then I don't know how you're going to get the support of the other senators."

"I go to the speaker, vice speaker who is the committee on education," Gutierrez responded.

"Well you need 8 people to vote on that," Taitague said.

"Well if (children) is the priority, if the students are the priority for all of you, then we don't have to come to each one of you if education is top priority for all of you because its election time, thank you," Gutierrez said.

The GDOE Budget oversight hearing was continued until April 21 at 9 a.m. GDOE's $365 million budget request is a $21 million increase over the current fiscal year. According to education officials, GDOE has faced significant budget cuts resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, and has implemented cost-cutting measures to manage the reduction in resources.