With one chapter closing and another beginning, Lyndon B. Johnson and Tamuning elementary, long connected as one family in two separate homes, will officially become one campus next week, as the first day of school brings a full house to the home of the whales.

“Now, this is just an exciting chapter of our lives—basically, just building the foundation for us. We’re all under one roof, we’re going to be able to collaborate a whole lot better as a team and as a community,” said Tamuning Elementary School Principal Carla Augon. 

The move follows LBJ’s official decommissioning, part of the Guam Department of Education’s ongoing right-sizing efforts.

According to Augon, the merger brings Tamuning Elementary’s student population to just over 600.

“We’ve got the addition of Head Start—we absorbed one of the Head Start classes from Chief Brodie. We have two pre-k gate classes, universal pre-k, and special education pre-school. There’s a lot—even up to the last minute today, I even had other divisions asking if we could house them,” added Augon. 

But a full house means maximizing space. The school community, along with facilities and maintenance crews, has been working to reopen nine classrooms that were previously condemned and without air conditioning.

“Now, I have all 9 ACs installed. They are now working on closing out the ducts in the existing packaging units so that it doesn’t provide condensation in the room and any excess leaks. We do have two classrooms that do need to be worked on–gutting out an existing countertop that has been water damaged–so that’s slowly going to happen in the couple of days,” said Augon. 

And starting Monday, additional refurbishment work is set to roll out, including crack and spall repairs, roof coating, exterior door replacements, and restroom renovations. 

All part of the plan to improve the campus environment and boost public health inspection results, as the school currently holds a “C” rating.

“The goal, from what I am told, is to get it done by at least mid-August. Our inspection is in September,” Augon added. 

As the new school year approaches, Principal Augon is extending her gratitude to the community for their support, including supply donations and a welcome breakfast hosted this morning by Tamuning Mayor Louise Rivera.

“A lot of energy going on here–a lot of good energy, a lot of excitement. A lot of our teachers are here on campus, and they’re all just ready to go,” said Augon. 

And if you’re wondering how to help, Augon says one thing they’ll always take is paint.