Borja, Lujan ask Navy and National Guard for help at Southern High

Calling on reinforcements, legislative chairs Sens. Vincent Borja and Jesse Lujan asked the U.S. Navy and the Guam National Guard for help addressing the "urgent conditions at Southern High School."

A joint release from the Committee on Education, Libraries and Public Broadcasting and the Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Customs, Utilities and Federal and Foreign Affairs, dated Aug. 14, said the requests come as Tiyan High School has already been shut down, impacting two student populations.

Borja said the site visit to Southern High Aug. 13 allowed him to witness firsthand the conditions at the school, causing him to grow concerned that without "immediate action," similar disruptions could be faced.

"We already have students, teachers and families dealing with the closure affecting Simon Sanchez and Tiyan. We cannot afford to allow Southern High School to become the next school forced to close," Sen. Borja said. "Our first responsibility right now is simple: open our schools, keep them open and make sure our students and teachers have safe places to learn and work."

Borja and Lujan sent separate letters requesting assistance from Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao and Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero in her capacity as commander in chief of the Guam National Guard.

"The senators are asking both the Navy and the Guam National Guard to explore what personnel, technical expertise, engineering support, manpower or other resources may be available to assist with urgent work at Southern High School," the release said.

The senators invited representatives from the Joint Region Marianas, Joint Task Force-Micronesia and NAVFAC to "see the conditions firsthand, meet with school and education officials and begin developing a path forward."

Similarly, the committees requested the governor designate a point of contact for her office and the Guam National Guard to work with the committees and GDOE, as well as determine what support is "lawfully and operationally" available.

Types of assistance the request identified include personnel and equipment assistance and an immediate assessment of urgent school facility conditions, "beginning with Southern High School and expanded to other campuses identified as having significant health or safety concerns."

The senators stressed that the requests for military assistance are not meant to replace the "legal and operational responsibilities of GDOE, contractors or other responsible entities."

According to the release, Borja, as Education chair, met with GDOE leadership, legal counsel, Core Tech and its attorneys, along with representatives from the governor's office, members of the Guam Education Board and the Guam Federation of Teachers Friday morning.

Discussions centered around Tiyan High's failed public health inspection, the subsequent closure, outstanding maintenance and contractual responsibilities, and the deficiency work to be completed on a "clear timeline."

"This is not the time for everyone to point fingers while students are sitting at home," Borja said. "There are contracts, responsibilities, legal questions and maintenance obligations that have to be sorted out, and they will be. But while that process takes place, we need everyone focused on the same objective: getting these schools open as quickly and safely as possible."

Borja emphasized that the path forward must be "transparent," particularly for the teachers, students, parents and families directly impacted by the school closure.

"Families deserve to know what is happening, who is responsible for what, what work needs to be completed and when their children can return to school," Borja said. "That is why we brought everyone into the same room, and that is why we will continue communicating with the public as this work moves forward."

Reader responses