The government of Guam needs to build new public school classrooms and facilities, but elected officials need to ensure that the community gets the most of the money spent.

On Friday, Tiyan High School students celebrated the opening of their new gym, which will cost the government of Guam $15.6 million in principal and interest payments, equipment, insurance and maintenance costs. And Gov. Eddie Calvo said he wants to add a field to the campus for football, soccer and track.

The gym was part of a package deal that included the purchase of the Tiyan property for a public school campus. The cost of Tiyan High School breaks down to $821 a square foot, more than it cost to build the new John F. Kennedy High School ($751 a square foot) and far more than the cost to build Okkodo High ($470 a square foot).

Local law authorizes $100 million for a program that would help schools in need of major renovation or construction, and the Guam Department of Education wants a large portion of that to either renovate or rebuild Simon Sanchez High School. The northern high school also is in need of a new gym and other athletic facilities.

Given the government of Guam’s chronic financial difficulties, it’s imperative that elective officials work to ensure that taxpayers get the most bang for their buck with the $100 million project and any future school construction projects.

The model they need to follow in the future should be the one that built Okkodo High and several other public schools; that seemed to make the most out the money spent. This will require smart planning that is completely transparent so that taxpayers know that their money is being spent well, and that the community gets the most out of deal as possible.

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