As Wednesday’s legislative oversight hearing on the Department of Education got underway, Sen. Vincent Borja said the Education Committee asked for a complete list of repairs needed in every school.
“Every crack, every leaking toilet, every broken door. Not a list of temporary patches. Not another Band-Aid,” he said. “We want to know what it will take to permanently bring all our schools into compliance.”
Deputy Superintendent Julie Ulloa-Heath presented the results of schools that were assessed, with the exception of F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School, John F. Kennedy High School and the Tiyan campus, which also houses Simon Sanchez High School.
Most of the remaining 34 schools, some of which were built in the 1950s and 1960s, were in poor condition, Ulloa-Heath said.
The total cost to bring all the schools into good condition: more than $427 million.
School officials still hope repairs can be made in time to reopen the Tiyan campus by next week, although there is some disagreement about who is responsible for maintenance and who will pay for repairs.
The government has a lease agreement for Tiyan, and Superintendent Judith Won Pat said Core Tech International, which built the school, is responsible for maintenance. However, she recently learned the building had been sold to a nonprofit.
Core Tech Chairman Ho Eun said his company is responsible for janitorial services, but not building repairs. However, he said his company would make the repairs.
Sen. Sabrina Salas Matanane asked who would pay for it.
“To be honest, I don't know,” Ho said. “But I'll get the job done, and we will ask the attorneys to figure [it] out.”
