Public schools to undergo maintenance, modernization with Facilities Master Plan

The Guam Education Board recently gave the Guam Department of Education the green light for its Facilities Master Plan. It's been years in the making, according to GDOE Public Information Officer Michelle Franquez.

"It's been a decades-long project that has been in the making. We have worked with the U.S. Department of Interior, U.S. Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and our amazing planners at HFF planners," she said. "And what we are doing is basically assessing the needs of our school system, which will help us figure out how to fund critical projects."

Those identified priorities include roofing and canopy repairs, restroom renovations, HVAC improvements, just to name a few.

The recently approved Facilities Master Plan is in line with the most recent adoption of GDOE's five-year strategic plan, in which one of the focus areas is facilities and maintenance.

With GEB's approval, it allows GDOE to utilize the plan as a primary tool for prioritizing capital improvement projects as well as justifying requests for local funding once federal funds are spent.

This plan identifies approximately $100 million in American Rescue Plan monies will be going towards, such as the modernization needs and much-needed maintenance throughout Guam's public and largest school system.

To view the approved GDOE Facilities Master Plan, visit gdoe.net.