HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — A legislative attempt to force the administration to return $20 million to the Guam Department of Education for facility maintenance and repairs shouldn’t move forward, according to Superintendent of Education Kenneth Swanson.
Though Guam Department of Education leadership last week told lawmakers they wanted a return of the $20 million, which was moved by the Leon Guerrero-Tenoiro administration toward storm recovery after Typhoon Mawar, Swanson in a statement Monday opposed the latest legislative attempt to try to force that return.
A cohort of lawmakers led by Speaker Therese Terlaje voted last week to freeze the funding for the Office of the Governor in fiscal 2024 until GDOE’s funds are restored.
Swanson on Monday said the “well-intended” effort may slow down the fixing of schools.
Legislative education chairman Sen. Chris Barnett in a written response said Swanson’s “180-degree turn,” which followed a meeting with administration, was a cause for confusion.
Money for GDOE was reprogrammed by the Bureau of Budget Management and Research after Typhoon Mawar in May, with the understanding that the administration would help speed along the purchase of aid for the schools post-disaster. That agreement was the source of much of the controversy, after Swanson told lawmakers that GDOE was waiting on the Office of Homeland Security and Civil Defense – which was handed over control of the funds – to secure a majority of typhoon repair requests just a week before the start of the school year.
Guam Department of Education Superintendent Kenneth Swanson answers questions during a legislative budget hearing Aug. 14, in the Guam Congress Building in Hagåtña.
