Lawmakers suspend discussion on SSHS bill ahead of FEMA meeting
After having spent nearly all day Monday discussing a measure to appropriate $7 million to the Guam Department of Education for the reconstruction of Simon Sanchez High School, including the leasing of a temporary campus, lawmakers opted to suspend discussions temporarily in light of an anticipated meeting between local officials and representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Thursday.
The existing SSHS campus in Yigo is an aged and deteriorating facility that was brought to a close by damage sustained from Typoon Mawar in May 2023. SSHS students have been sharing the John F. Kennedy High School campus in Tamuning with students from that school under a double session schedule.
Because SSHS was damaged by the typhoon, education officials sought to utilize FEMA assistance to move SSHS students into a temporary campus. This would alleviate the need for double session and also provide a home for students and staff while a new SSHS campus is constructed over a few years.
A 10% local cost share will need to be provided if FEMA approves the temporary campus project, which could involve leasing a facility.
Although the measure discussed Monday, Bill 321-37, proposes to use fiscal year 2024 general fund excess for its appropriation, Lester Carlson Jr., director of the Bureau of Budget and Management Research, told lawmakers that local funding reserved for Mawar-related expenses can be used to cover the cost-share requirement.
Before lawmakers agreed to suspend discussion on Bill 321 until after the meeting with FEMA, they began to tackle some proposed amendments to the measure.
An amendment from Speaker Therese Terlaje would change the funding source in the bill to the funding reserved for Mawar recovery, reduce the appropriation to $3 million to cover the 10% cost share while providing some leeway for GDOE to purchase equipment, and make other changes to the measure's language to reflect updates heard Monday.
"That way, the money in the general fund will be left there while we can still move forward with this leasing project, and it's a win-win," the speaker stated.
Sen. Frank Blas Jr. moved to suspend discussion on Bill 321 as lawmakers addressed Terlaje's amendment.
"While I want to be able to support the amendment, I think there are still a number of unanswered questions in totality about what options are going to be available or what are we going to move on. ... They said it themselves, they're going to be hopefully meeting with FEMA on Thursday. At that point in time, they'll know just what option they're going to be able to take," Blas said.
His motion passed without objection. Lawmakers are expected to return to session Wednesday to discuss other measures.
Government officials have long promised the construction of a new SSHS campus. Last week, the administration of Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero announced the signing of a $7.9 million contract for construction management services for the project. The Department of Public Works procured the service because it doesn't have the staff necessary to perform that kind of technical assistance.
DPW Director Vince Arriola told lawmakers during session Monday that DPW officials are concentrating on the construction management aspect of the project and don't yet have a clear understanding of what the financing will have to be for the actual construction of the school, although earlier estimates were at $140 million to $150 million.
