Is the Guam Department of Education’s Head Start program in violation of GHURA’s HUD agreement following the closure of Chief Brodie Elementary School? Education officials openly discussed the matter Tuesday night.

GEB chairman Angel Sablan said, “Ever since this issue of the closure of Chief Brodie was put on the table—we have never heard directly from, or, at least I as chair, or none of the board members have ever heard directly from GHURA stating that we would not be in compliance with HUD if we close Chief Brodie and the classrooms there are not used for Head Start.”

The topic coming up during Tuesday night’s Guam Education Board meeting—with GDOE Head Start program director Angelina Lape providing clarity on the matter. “Our superintendent has been in contact with me and our GHURA deputy director, Fernando Esteves. He did clarify that there are a total of 11 classrooms that were built by GHURA during that time. There was a little bit of confusion because there were two classrooms that were built also at that time that looked exactly like the GHURA classrooms—but those were built through FEMA funds after Pongsona," he said.

Lape adding that there is a caveat in the contract stating that after ten years of use, ownership would revert to GDOE—though that contract still needs to be located.

She also explained that chief brodie head start served families in the Tamuning and Lyndon B. Johnson districts. Following the school’s closure, children were reassigned under GDOE's redistricting plan—either to the Juan M. Guerrero or Liguan elementary schools.

Lape assuring the board that no child lost access to Head Start services as a result of the move, saying, “Children can stay in Head Start up to 2 years, so it’s up to parents if they want to finish the one year at Chief Brodie, and they're going to be returning a second year, they’re automatic into the program, the parents would pick which school and let us know which school their kid would be at.”

Lape further clarifying that nine GDOE elementary schools have 11 classrooms constructed by GHURA.

Sablan expressed hopes for a clear resolution to the issue—including avoiding any potential repayment for the two unused classrooms at Chief Brodie.