Muna Barnes gets military to help schools; Lujan and San Nicolas pitch in as well

As public pressure has mounted on elected officials since the school readiness crisis erupted, businesses, concerned citizens, and public officers have been stepping up to “adopt” public schools and pitch in sweat equity and out-of-pocket supplies. Joint Region Marianas, which runs the island’s military installations, and Joint Task Force Micronesia recently accepted a request from Tina Muna Barnes, the legislative vice speaker, for military servicemen and women to volunteer to help schools to pass public health inspections.

“It is my distinct pleasure to inform you that our local military partners have agreed to resume its existing Sister School and Sister Village programs,” Ms. Muna Barnes wrote in a letter to Guam Department of Education superintendent Erik Swanson this past week. The so-called sister school initiative previously was coordinated by former governors as part of the once-annual summer session Adopt-a-School program.

The current governor – Lou Leon Guerrero – revived that program just this past week after she allowed its now six-year hiatus. Governor Leon Guerrero throughout her tenure had chosen to not continue her predecessors’ Adopt-a-School program, which provided public schools with massive support from government- and community-wide resources. That is, until last week.

“While I wish this coordinated effort could have begun much earlier, I applaud our local Department of Defense partners for swiftly and unreservedly answering my call to support Guam’s public-school students, teachers, and staff,” Ms. Muna Barnes continued in her letter to Mr. Swanson. “I have full faith and confidence this military aid will reduce the workload of GDOE employees, and the parents and community organizations who have volunteered their time in order to get all Guam’s public schools open as soon as possible.”

Her colleague, Jesse Lujan, clarified to Kandit that he and his office over the past year-and-a-half have been quietly assisting a number of public schools in different ways. Mr. Lujan provided this information after Kandit published a story reporting which of the island’s senators, governor, and lieutenant governor had personally and physically done anything since 2023 to help public school facilities issues.

“I’ve always believed that our role extends beyond the session halls—it’s crucial that we are physically present and actively helping our schools, as I emphasized during the recent emergency session,” Mr. Lujan said. “It’s important to note that my office’s efforts may not be widely known because we’ve chosen not to publicize them on social media or take photos. We firmly believe that this work should never be politicized. The focus must be on doing what’s right for our schools, regardless of whether it goes viral or not.”

Another of their colleagues, Dwayne San Nicolas, also had his staff member, Isaiah Aguon, clarify that Mr. San Nicolas and staff did personally assist Southern High School in its opening preparations last August.

Senators, the governor, the lieutenant governor, private citizens, businesses, and now the military have been stepping up in the race to open as many schools as soon as possible. As of today, there are 16 public school campuses awaiting repairs and improvements so these campuses can pass public health inspection and reopen.

Here are pictures from Mr. San Nicolas and staff’s August 2023 assistance at Southern High School: