It’s been an ever-evolving situation leading up to what was supposed to be the start of the school year for public school students today.

From the new academic year being postponed by a week to more than a handful of campuses still closed due to pending Public Health inspections, residents like Raymond Ulloa expressed disappointment, saying, “My grand…I guess she’s not going to school this week.”

“My little nephew is excited, and he has to wait,” added Dededo resident Angel Cruz.

A failed bill to reopen those schools and a state of emergency declared for the Guam Department of Education.

“I honestly think that it’s a big task for a lot of the parents. I really do feel for them,” said Guam High School student Enzo Kosko.

The community continues to keep up with the whirlwind chain of events.

Meantime, GDOE plans to access emergency procurement to speed up much-needed repairs in schools.

GDOE Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Swanson said the estimated average cost for those fixes is around $1-million per 18 schools, which GDOE has in unobligated American Rescue Plan funds.

“The intent of using these funds will be—which will be, first of all, to accelerate the whole process of that we have to repair and replenish schools focusing on three areas: one is restrooms, one is air conditioning, and one is lighting–those are the three biggest areas that cause demerits in our inspections,” said Swanson.

The emergency procurement is also seeking to aid Inarajan middle school and southern high school, which both hit a snag in the procurement process.

“The requisition for Southern High School is 24 million, and the requisition for Inarajan Middle School is 20 million. We have set that money aside,” said Swanson.

The Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administration also issued five facts of an emergency declaration and why a declaration will not provide additional help to GDOE.

Meantime, the start of the school year is slated for Aug. 15 for public schools that have passed inspections, as inspections are planned to move forward for those still pending.