The Tiyan High School community packed Tuesday night’s Guam Education Board meeting—demanding answers and a voice in the decision-making, amid rumors of a campus closure that board members later denied.

Facing rumors of a possible campus closure, the Titans demanding answers, transparency, and a seat at the table. Angel Sablan, chairman of the GEB, said, “I want to say at this point that there has been no decision to close any school–not even Tiyan.”

Tiyan student Tia Jackson added, “It doesn’t matter if guys haven’t said verbatim that you’re closing down Tiyan High. We can read between the lines.”

Board members reassuring the crowd—insisting there are no concrete plans to close Tiyan to end double-sessions. But Sablan acknowledged that all options must be discussed openly, and welcomed community input to guide a committee’s recommendation. Still, students pushed back.

Jackson continued, “You stated there’s no decision to close down Tiyan High School, yet, in past board meetings, it was definitely implied that a closure is an option, which shouldn’t be discussed, period. Regardless, we have the right to speak about the situation. Mrs. Gutierrez, you mentioned this isn’t a discussion including Tiyan since only JFK and Simon Sanchez are affected. But the proposed solution to end the double session at JFK involved the idea of closing Tiyan High, which is why this meeting concerns the entirety. What’s the point of attempting to find the solution for one school when it’s at the expense of another?”

The board offering a future special session for Tiyan, John F. Kennedy, Simon Sanchez, F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School, and Okkodo communities to speak without time limits—but the crowd insisted on continuing that night. Tiyan educators reminding the board of the school’s unique role as Guam’s only nationally-certified Model Career Academy School.

Dr. Rachel Flores, Academy coordinator, said, “We offer career academies to over 700 students through 12 different pathways. 8 through GCC, and four under GDOE, with a range of unique work-based opportunities. For four years, we’ll be aligned with college/career readiness performance standards in leadership, problem-solving, and time management. These courses aren’t just classes. These are futures being built.

“To be clear, we are not asking for another school to close in our place. Dismantling one engine to fuel another is not the answer.”

The sentiment echoed by students from other campuses, including Trevan Atoigue from JFK, who serves as the vice speaker of Guam’s Youth Congress.  He says he’s shared his campus with Simon Sanchez students since his freshman year. He explained,  “We are not trying to kick out Simon Sanchez High School—we love to share our school with them. I want to also make clear—the 35th Guam Youth Congress is proud to represent the youth of Guam and their voice, and I want Tiyan High School to know that we are standing with you guys and we will stand with you through every fight.”

Meanwhile, three board members pledged they would not vote to close Tiyan if that option were ever on the table. Chairman Sablan noting it takes five votes to make a decision, saying, “I think you can sleep good and rest easy. I could count myself, Dr. Guthertz, Dr. McNinch, and I think I can count Mrs. Fel, who was a teacher at your school. I’m not going to put Mrs. G or Dr. Okada on the spot. But I think when I say you can rest easy, sleep easy, is that I think Tiyan come FY26 will still be Tiyan High School. Whatever happens beyond that, there will have different board members; we don’t know. But I think, as far as this board is concerned, with due respect to all of you that are fighting for Tiyan High School and have the passion for THS, I think the majority of the board members have a passion for THS as well.”

Sablan summing it up the message simply: do not close Tiyan High School—adding, “I don’t think we’re going to go against that.”