After passing Public Health sanitary inspections with a "B", C.L. Taitano Elementary School is now aiming for an "A".  It’s a goal the principal at the Home of the Deerlings believes they can reach once the Guam Department of Education’s refurbishment project there is complete.

It’s a massive, multi-million-dollar refurbishment project spanning 12 public schools—with a staggering $10.3 million dedicated to transforming C.L. Taitano Elementary School alone.

Crack and spall repairs are part of this fixed price tag, handled by Core Tech International. 

In this case, spalls were found above ceiling tiles in a condemned classroom.

GDOE capital improvement project program manager Nikolas Cruz said, "So this project went out as an invitation for bid–so there was an x amount of crack and spalls that were identified for C.L. Taitano. Once the contractor identifies anything over the amount we identified for the project, that is when Core Tech, for instance, would do a change order just to repair the cracks and spalls that they identified.”

When extra work like this comes up, the steps that follow include the issuance of a request for information. But how does the Guam Department of Education plan to foot the bill for unforeseen work?

Cruz says that GDOE has a plan in place, adding, “Dr. Swanson, our superintendent, has already allocated an X-amount of dollars–it’s called contingency funds not just for C.L. Taitano, but for all 12 schools. We already know that there are a lot of unknowns. Crack and spall is one of them.”

And it’s not just ceilings—funds are also set aside for unknowns during restroom renovations, another key element of the five-part refurbishment plan. It’s a long-due overhaul that principal Corina Paulino is over the moon about. 

"They (students) are already proud of attending CL Taitano elementary school–but coming on campus knowing there are no more roof leaks, knowing the canopies are all repaired is going to increase their pride even more," she said.

Paulino adding she expects these upgrades to help the school meet safety standards and improve its “B” Public Health rating, saying, “I’m expecting an “A” once these are addressed.”