“We know that we can look forward to Chamoru being strengthened in our schools.” That sentiment setting the tone during this week’s Guam Education Board discussions—as members consider a future for the now-decommissioned Lyndon B. Johnson campus, including the possibility of transforming it into a Chamoru medium-immersion school.

After 51 years of service, LBJ Elementary School was officially decommissioned earlier this year—leaving questions about the future use of the campus. During Tuesday night’s GEB meeting, a clearer vision emerging, with board members expressing support for converting the former school into the Faneyakan Chamoru Medium Immersion School—GDOE's Chamoru Studies Division Program focused on building Chamoru language proficiency through immersion.

GEB chairman Angel Sablan said, “We’ve already given you the commitment—this board, at least, has given you our commitment to find every way possible to make sure that the former LBJ elementary school becomes the faneyakan Chamoru school.”  He added the legal pathway to make that vision a reality is already in place—pointing to Public Law 33-66, which authorizes the Guam Department of Education to lease property within its jurisdiction.

However, Sablan noted that moving forward will require adhering to a formal process. “Requires GDOE to set up a committee for the transfer, lease, use, or anything that we want to do with facilities that are not being currently used by GDOE. So, we’re going to honor that process, but of course, there will be three board members on that committee, and like I said, we’ve already given you our commitment," he explained.

Support for the proposed move also coming from community advocates, including Bob Pelkey, president of the Young Men’s League of Guam—an organization dedicated to preserving and promoting Chamoru language and culture.

“Faneyakan Chamoru represents a critical and timely response to the critical and urgent need to restore Chamoru language use across generations" he stated. "It’s work directly addresses language loss by centering immersion-based learning, community engagement, and culturally grounded instruction.”

Meanwhile, GEB members Dr. Judith Guthertz, Maria Gutierrez, and Peter Alexcis Ada all volunteered to serve on the required committee.