Talks of public school campuses to potentially close for learning and Guam Education Board member Maria Gutierrez is outraged with the process.

“I will assure you, tonight, those who are listening, I am not supporting anything that the community is not going to be satisfied,” she said. 

Gutierrez criticized the Guam Department of Education's planning and notification of input sessions to the community, advocating for more time for teachers, students, mayors, and parents to give input instead of cramming the talks all within two weeks. 

The meeting held in the southern region Tuesday night was the first for the proposed decommissioning of public schools.

Another stakeholder echoed frustration saying they got no heads-up from GDOE about the discussion.

They said, “How are you going to communicate if you’re not putting it out there for everyone to see? The community here? It shows. There’s not a large amount of people here to voice their concerns.” 

Even mayors, like Hagat's Kevin Susuico, questioned why GDOE hadn't engaged with them earlier.  

He said, “We should’ve been included at the very forefront as mayors so that we can help to calm down the uproar from our community that will soon happen because of the closure of schools.” 

And with no official word on which schools will close, talks are already eliciting emotional pleas from those who call GDOE campuses their second home, like Inalahan Elementary School teacher Janice Meno.

“We’re here to advocate for our families and make sure that the right decision is made for our community, for our children–they are our future, they represent us. We don’t want our school to be closed or used for another facility,” said Meno. 

Taking in feedback, Superintendent Kenneth Swanson reiterated it is obvious they must extend time to engage with the community.

The second community input session with the central community is underway this evening.