With a new school year kicking off next week, around 18 Guam Department of Education schools awaiting Public Health inspections may not be able to open their doors for around 12,000 students.

 

It's due to the sunset of a public law that allowed for GDOE schools in the same situation to continue to operate in the previous school year.

Senator Dwayne San Nicolas is making another push to extend the principle of Public Law 37-32 through his Bill 317, which would keep schools operating while awaiting inspections this school year.

“This brings tremendous value to not only our kids, but our communities to keep schools open as much as possible. Of course, I'm not saying there aren't problems with our schools—that’s not what I'm saying. But we have to work toward making them better,” said San Nicolas.

The legislature convened today for an emergency session to discuss the matter, dissolving into the committee of the whole with education and public health officials.

GDOE Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Swanson commented on how the bill would buy Guam DOE more time to come into compliance, further noting a little over half of the 41 schools passed inspections before the end of School Year 23-24. 

“What I need is the same time capacity that we have up until the end of the school year in 24 to continue for one more year. By that time, we’ll be able to get all the schools inspected and begin the cycle of re-inspection for the renewal process,” said Swanson. 

While the DPHSS Division of Environmental Health inspectors said they stand ready to inspect schools, Management Analysts Francine Salas said it’s not guaranteed that the schools will be open. 

Salas said that based on GDOE’s findings, the schools at the bottom of that 18-numbered list have major work to be done. So much that if too much of those campuses are cordoned off, they won’t meet the population requirements.

The emergency session continued at length.