Guam lawmakers press Department of Education on school repairs, staffing and Sanchez rebuild during oversight hearing

The Guam Legislature’s Committee on Education held an oversight hearing Dec. 19 with the Guam Department of Education to review school refurbishment work funded by American Rescue Plan (ARP) dollars, staffing shortages in special education and classroom positions, delays with heating, ventilation and air‑conditioning (HVAC) work, interim grass‑cutting measures after a contractor withdrew, the rollout of the Smarter Balanced assessment system and several pending audits and construction projects, including the long‑delayed Simon Sanchez High School rebuild.

Committee chair Senator Telena Cruz Tello opened the hearing saying the session would review roughly 15 agenda items that “will guide the direction of the legislature for the next term,” and asked the Department to update the panel on progress and outstanding needs.

Why it matters: Lawmakers pressed the Department on projects that affect school operations, student learning time and safety — from classrooms without air conditioning to multi‑school refurbishment contracts and the continued double‑session arrangement affecting Simon Sanchez High School students. Several items involve federal ARP funding or legal reviews that limit GDOE’s options without new appropriations or separate procurement steps.

Superintendent Jon Swanson (identified in testimony as superintendent) told the committee that twelve campuses are currently included in an ARP‑funded refurbishment package worth about $125 million and that the work must be completed by late February or early March 2026 to meet the ARP grant liquidation deadline. The scope for the contracted schools covers roof and canopy repairs, restroom restoration, exterior doors and electrical upgrades; quoted contract amounts range from about $5 million to $20 million per campus depending on condition.

The superintendent said two campuses originally planned for the package — Southern High School and Inalihan (sometimes cited in testimony as Interrahan) Middle School — were removed after the Attorney General’s office rejected language in the bid package specific to those schools. “The only way we can service them is go back now and let individual contracts for those segments that we can find the funding to do,” Swanson told the committee. He said the Department is seeking other funding and that some restroom work is being done using in‑house crews where possible.

Special education and teacher staffing shortfalls

Tom Babauta, who identified himself to the committee as overseeing special education, reported an active shortage of staff for students who require adult support. “We have a need for 378 students requiring adult support. Currently, we have 285. So that leaves us a shortage of 93,” Babauta said. He added that the Department recently selected 21 special‑education positions for hire but only 10 had been processed through personnel.

Panelists discussed a paraeducator “boot camp” training program being developed with Guam Community College and the University of Guam School of Education to certify paraeducators and…