Despite ongoing projects within the Guam Department of Education, such as mold mitigation that is still yet to be completed, GDOE superintendent Dr. Erik Swanson issued a statement on Monday to recommend to the legislature to maintain current procurement processes with the Office of Civil Defense and Guam Homeland Security.

GDOE’s work with the Department of Administration, OCD and GHS include projects for the schools’ mold abatement, air conditioning repair and replacement, sewer line replacements and ceiling and floor tile replacement.

“Though causing concern at first, the diversion of the $20 million through the governor’s administration, GDOE has been able to accelerate the procurement process using Department of Administration resources through the DLAN system to execute multiple contracts using portions of the allocated dollars with several million dollars in contracts for important support,” stated Swanson.

The superintendent’s support of the process comes just days after several members of the 37th Guam legislature voted in favor of amendments to force the Office of the Governor of Guam to return $20 million dollars to GDOE.

“While well intended to preserve the purpose of the allocation itself, recalling those funds would stop the procurement process that began in early June and force GDOE to restart the process and accompanying legal reviews setting the timetable back months rather than providing much needed health and safety repairs that are just beginning and are much needed across all schools,” added Swanson. “It takes all of us and our local government agencies from the Legislature to the Governor’s Office to local mayors, Guam Department of Education staff and faculty, parent volunteer groups, military units and private community supporters to make it possible for our GDOE schools to reopen this week.”

Sen. Chris Barnett, legislative oversight chair on education, questioned Swanson on Aug. 14 during the Fiscal Year 2024 budget session on whether GDOE would want the $20 million back. In response, Swanson noted his approval and that it was an accurate assessment at the time.

Barnett also issued a statement on Monday as he indicated his confusion with Swanson and GDOE.

“The release appears to be a complete 180-degree turn from your leadership’s and your many comments on the official legislative record relative to GDOE’s desire to have the $20 million appropriated by senators to GDOE returned to the department,” said Barnett. “You have expressed to senators your displeasure with the reprogramming of education funds for storm recovery efforts for the whole of GovGuam, and that displeasure was reiterated by you several times on both the Legislative floor and in media interviews.”

Barnett further noted Swanson’s frustration with the lack of movement on GDOE’s multiple requests through the Guam Homeland Security/Office of Civil Defense’s DLAN program as the cause for the senators’ amendment to secure GDOE’s $20 million dollars.

“In updates provided by you and your staff, it was said that the bulk of GDOE’s requests for help were flat-out denied or at a standstill,” said Barnett.

Barnett also noted that with his latest information, the project for mold abatement still does not have a contract in place or a completed invitation to bid, despite the request being sent in on June 13.

Barnett then addressed that it was quite contradictory that Swanson is now pleased with GDOE’s progress despite months passing with a lack of progress to show for it.

“Your release states that you are now pleased with the progress of GDOE DLAN requests being ‘accelerated,” said Barnett. “However, at the same time, you are asking the legislature to undo its efforts to return the $20 million because it would ‘force GDOE to restart the process’ and ‘set the timetable back months’ when all the evidence shows that the process is still at the starting point.”

Barnett concluded that he’ll withdraw his support of the return of $20 million to GDOE if Swanson truly believes that GDOE will be better and more efficiently served through the DLAN process.

Krystal Paco-San Agustin, the director of communications for the Office of the Governor of Guam, noted that GDOE’s release speaks for itself.

“They have benefited from expedited procurement for disaster relief and changing that now would force them to restart or cancel the mold mitigation, fencing, maintenance, and repair they are contracting for,” said Paco-San Agustin. “The $20 million in question is being used for these contracts through procurement that is being done by the Office of Civil Defense. If the $20 million has to be sent to GDOE, it means Civil Defense will have to cancel that procurement, and GDOE will then be responsible for the procurement of these contracts and the procurement process will start all over from step one.”

The director further addressed that having GDOE be responsible for their procurement from step one will not make the schools safer.

“It just forces more delay. Some in the legislature are so focused on playing politics they don’t actually realize when they are hurting the students they are trying to help. That can’t be what the legislature intended,” concluded the director.