With the Tiyan High School facilities closed, leaving Tiyan High along with Simon Sanchez High School students' education disrupted with no clear path forward from the Department of Education, two legislative committees have reached out to the governor and The Adjutant General (TAG) for their help, noting it's not just the Barrigada campus deficiencies that need to be addressed.
The letter to Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and TAG Brig. Gen. Karin Watson from Committee on Education, Libraries and Public Broadcasting Chairman Sen. Vincent Borja and Committee on Transportation, Tourism, Customs, Utilities and Federal and Foreign Affairs Chairman Sen. Jesse Lujan requested "immediate assistance from the Guam National Guard to address what the committees described as urgent health, safety, maintenance and facility conditions affecting Guam's public schools."
Thursday at 5:34 p.m., GDOE announced the closure of the Tiyan High School campus, which followed a failed Department of Public Health and Social Services sanitary inspection conducted Aug. 12.
While the department did confirm that school busing was canceled until further notice, information about how the two student populations would continue learning through the closure was not identified.
As that situation continues to unfold, Education Committee chair Sen. Vincent Borja, who spoke with Guam News Network Thursday morning, noted he was conducting a site visit to Southern High School that morning in response to concerns his office received from stakeholders.
In the letter calling for Guam National Guard support, Borja revealed that the site visit allowed him to witness the conditions of Southern High "firsthand." The letter described the conditions as "deplorable."
"Students, teachers, administrators and staff should not be expected to learn and work under conditions that compromise the safety, functionality or basic dignity of their educational environment," the letter states.
Borja and Lujan said there's urgency in addressing the "situation" at Southern High but also stressed that the concerns extend to "public school campuses throughout Guam where immediate assistance may be necessary."
Earlier in the day, Borja asserted he would also request assistance from the Guam National Guard to tackle deficiencies at Tiyan High campus.
The letter highlighted that the Guam National Guard has a proven record of being able to respond, "when our island needs it most."
"Whether following natural disasters, during emergencies or in support of the broader community, the Guard possesses personnel, organization, technical expertise, equipment, logistics capabilities and leadership that can help Guam confront difficult challenges quickly and effectively. We believe our public schools now require that same spirit of partnership," the letter states.
Calling it an "urgent mission," the senators pleaded for assistance from the Guam National Guard from Aug. 14 to Aug. 21. The attached Guam National Guard Support Request Form states the request is to "support Southern High with debris removal and minor infrastructure work to address health and safety of students and staff."
Guam News Network reached out to the governor's communications director, John Ryan, who had yet to view the request, but noted a response would be forthcoming.