Guam’s public schools didn’t open on time. It was absurdly predictable— a ready-made, recyclable headline from years past. Only this time, “lack of funds” can’t be the fall guy.
Whatever happened to the Covid windfall that rained down on Guam? Can’t build a new hospital. Can’t open the schools. Can’t keep the power on.
The consistent breakdown of government services confirmed what we have always suspected. Money has nothing to do with the shameful plague of incompetence in government. GovGuam has a surplus of funds and a surplus of excuses.
What’s baffling is that, amid mounting public pressure, the government managed to complete the school repairs and reopen some facilities within an abbreviated period of two weeks after dragging it on for years.
What’s equally perplexing is the status of the Guam Department of Education, which the governor claimed was outside of her turf. Is it the fourth branch of the government then?
It is amusing, though, that education is every politician’s favorite darling during elections. It animates every campaign speech. Then it turns into a hot potato when the promise conks out.
Under the refuge of the Organic Act, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero resorted to Orwellian newspeak in an attempt to absolve herself of blame. She needed absolute power over the department to fix the schools, she claimed.
This pronouncement was absent in her previous speeches.
“There is no mistaking that the promise for our future lies in educating our children in a safe and productive learning environment. Our School Safety Partnership Program will provide actionable steps to improve safety at our island’s public schools. Lt. Gov. Josh and Superintendent Jon Fernandez co-chair this partnership, and our proposed budget will dedicate a half million dollars to ensure that our children are safe in their schools. When it comes to Simon Sanchez High School, we are committed to finally moving this project forward smoothly and quickly so that students and faculty at the Home of the Sharks will benefit from a new and modern educational facility.” State of the Island, 2019
“We made one more promise to our students. Last year, I transferred $1.1 million to fund the next phase in the reconstruction of Simon Sanchez High School, putting this project back on track. Superintendent Fernandez, you are the captain of this ship. And we both can agree that the Sharks have waited far too long for a 21st century Simon Sanchez High School.” State of the Island, 2020
“We are investing millions in school maintenance and facilities. Moreover, we are keeping our commitment to begin construction of the new Simon Sanchez campus before the end of the year.” State of the Island, 2022
Her first term ended. Simon Sanchez school didn’t rise. Schools didn’t get fixed. She pleaded helplessness.
“Along with our proposal to fund school repair and safer streets, we must acknowledge that, while our procurement system is a challenge throughout the government, it can sometimes feel shattered at DOE.” State of the Island, 2023
In the same speech, the blame game and buck-passing started.
“After the passage of President Obama’s stimulus package in 2009, DOE nearly lost $36 million in federal school repair funds because it could not procure contractors quickly enough.
“I have offered acting superintendent Won Pat every tool and resource at my disposal, so that this money is spent and not returned to the feds. And now she needs your help,” the governor told the legislature.
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In the same speech, she set her exit in motion. “Senators, there was a time when the Organic Act and the laws of Guam would have made me clearly responsible for the state of public education in Guam. But that time no longer exists.”
In her State of the Island this year, the governor found another convenient person to point her finger at: “Millions in federal grants potentially lost or at risk— simply because Guam’s chief legal officer - our AG - has chosen to abandon his Organic Act responsibility.”
Parents, students and teachers were again offered hope when Gov. Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio were running for reelection in 2022. We don’t have amnesia. Maybe they do.
In a long statement to Kandit News, the campaign wrote: “Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Lt. Gov. Josh Tenorio are deeply committed to upgrading and maintaining both the physical infrastructure and the personnel who have the sacred responsibility for educating our children. They have been working in coordination with the board of education to support the funding necessary for both the physical structures and the salaries of teachers, which was addressed with a long overdue raise.
“The GDOE School Facility Master Plan has identified and prioritized public schools for capital improvement projects as well as new schools rebuild.
“With regard to the construction of new schools, both Gov. Lou and Lt. Gov. Josh have reported that, together with former superintendent and current interim superintendent of education, we are on track to break ground on the new Simon Sanchez High School after over a decade of delays.
“As for the construction of other new schools, the Lou and Josh campaign reports that it’s the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration’s priority to upgrade and maintain the current school facilities and to undertake an assessment of the actual number of school facilities that are needed to meet the student population on Guam.”
You’ve been had. Campaign promises are always good for laughs, except that they are not so funny anymore.
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