The Guam Department of Education’s Faneyåkan Chamoru Medium Immersion Program has outgrown its current home at P.C. Lujan Elementary School, already operating at full capacity. Now, education leaders are hearing growing calls from the community for a dedicated facility—but is one within reach?

The Guam Education Board has already expressed its support for the future of the Faneyakan Chamoru Medium Immersion School at the now-decommissioned Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School—but the question remains: can the Guam Department of Education afford it?

During a recent GEB meeting, GDOE superintendent Dr. Judi Won Pat said that, when all factors are considered, the cost could reach nearly $2.9 million. “Jimmy Terrier has met with deputy, Dr. Lisa Liwag and myself, and what we did is I actually gave him a scenario in terms of what are the different processes to build a school, design a school, budget a school, all of those things to be considered–and they left of course with the different information based on the budget to kind of guide them with LBJ’s budget," she detailed.

As GDOE continues work on its Fiscal Year 2027 budget, Won Pat weighing whether to seek funding from the Guam Legislature or attempt to work within the department’s existing inventory to identify the 10 classrooms needed—emphasizing that opening a school involves far more than moving into an unused facility.

She said, “When we have a school, you need all the compliments of having a school administrator, a nurse, a librarian, school aides, then there’s utilities that have to be paid.”

Meanwhile, Faneyakan parent Pika Fejeran advocating for swift and formal action from education leaders to allow the program to begin this summer, as LBJ remains dormant, while also committing to help secure in-kind sponsorships to offset moving and operational costs.

“While there will be costs associated with the new campus, many of the costs would be incurred elsewhere if the program were able to grow as intended," she said. "A dedicated campus, however, would provide immeasurable benefits to the current students, teachers, and staff. It would allow new families and students to enroll in the program and would also allow the school to have a greater role in our island community.”

The Guam Education Board ultimately drafting a resolution in support of relocating Faneyakan to LBJ, urging lawmakers to back the effort. 

The resolution will be forwarded to the superintendent.