Senators propose competing plans for unexpected Section 30 funds

The estimated cost of addressing decades of deferred maintenance across Guam Department of Education schools has climbed from $107.2 million in 2022 to $427 million in 2026, and with nearly $20 million in unexpected Section 30 funds anticipated, lawmakers are proposing competing plans on how the money should be spent on school facilities.

Sen. Sabrina Salas Matanane wants to direct the funds toward construction of a new Simon Sanchez High School, while Sen. Vincent Borja proposes using the money as the first phase of a long-term effort to repair deteriorating school facilities across the island.

Salas Mantanane's Bill 358-38 (COR) focuses on constructing the new Simon Sanchez High School using the nearly $20 million advance payment that Guam anticipates receiving on top of the initial $85 million Section 30 request made by the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration to the federal government for fiscal 2027.

“This is money we weren’t expecting when the budget was put together,” Salas Matanane said. “We have an opportunity to put it toward something our community has been waiting years for — a new Simon Sanchez High School.

She said Bill 358-38 could save the government money later.

“If we can put almost $20 million in cash toward Simon Sanchez now, then we should borrow almost $20 million less,” Salas Matanane said. “That means less debt, less interest, and real progress toward finally getting this school built.”

Public Law 38-136, the fiscal 2027 Budget Act has already appropriated $16,377,125 from excess fiscal 2025 General Fund revenues.

The Simon Sanchez High School construction project is back at square one in the procurement process with the Department of Public Works canceling the bidding process in August to restart a new request for proposal.

Simon Sanchez students are currently sharing the Tiyan campus with Tiyan High School following health and safety concerns that resulted in the campus closure.

Borja, the legislature's committee on Education, Libraries and Public Broadcasting chair intends to use the same unexpected funds to roll out the first phase of a long-term commitment to repair GDOE's school facilities.

“For too long, government has governed from one school crisis to the next. A failed inspection. A broken air conditioner. A leaking roof. A school closure. Then everyone rushes to find someone else to blame,” Borja said. “That is exactly the cycle we need to end."

“This Republican majority is choosing a different approach. We are putting real money behind a real plan to deliver safe, clean, functional classrooms for Guam’s children," he added.

He proposed that the first phase address health, safety, sanitation, structural, electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning and other critical deficiencies at GDOE schools.

Borja did not indicate how many phases it will take to undo decades of deferred maintenance, however said, "future phases should be driven by GDOE's facility assessments, with clear project priorities, cost estimates, timelines and public reporting so taxpayers can see measurable progress."

The $427 million figure Borja referenced is based on an Executive Summary report presented by GDOE during the recent oversight hearing that includes Facility Condition Assessment Findings which rated a majority of 38 public school facilities as in poor condition.

Responses from the senators were pending at time of publication.

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