Guam charter school seeks prompt AG review of its plan to lease abandoned campus in Tamuning

Charter School Council nixes SIFA's plan to offer temporary online classes

SIFA students in their old campus in Tiyan. Photo courtesy of SIFA

By Jayvee Vallejera

The Science is Fun and Awesome, or SIFA, Learning Academy Charter School, is seeking to lease the abandoned Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School facility in Tamuning, but its ability to move in before the school opening depends on the pace of the lease process.

“For the sake of the students, we humbly ask the attorney general to please kindly look into the matter at the soonest his office is able to do so,” said Anthony Jay Sunga, SIFA’s CEO.

At a press conference today, Sunga outlined the steps the school was taking to secure a new campus.  

SIFA also announced plans to provide temporary online classes to prevent any loss of instructional time when it opens its doors for the 2025–2026 school year on Sept. 2. 

The Guam Academy Charter Schools Council, however, remains firm on its position that SIFA cannot offer online classes or remote learning, even temporarily, when it opens the school year in September.

Evangeline M. Cepeda, the council’s chair, said she had repeatedly told SIFA that offering online classes violates the council’s requirements.

“I did state this many times during our meeting with SIFA that we will not resort to online classes, even if it is temporary,” Cepeda said in an email to the Pacific Island Times.

In a message to SIFA, Cepeda urged the school administrators to “work something out” and “find another option,” stressing that “online is not an option for SIFA.”

Cepeda earlier said SIFA has assured her that it has found a physical campus for its students and would not be doing online classes.

Previously located in Tiyan, SIFA specializes in science, technology, engineering and math, otherwise known as STEM.

At today’s press conference, Sunga said SIFA has been operating in an “emergency action mode” to secure a new campus for its students.

The school had initially sought the Chief Brodie Elementary School in Tamuning but has since shifted focus due to landownership issues tied to that property.

SIFA submitted a new request to the Guam Department of Education to lease the Lyndon B. Johnson Elementary School facility, which he said is move-in ready and able to get SIFA up and running for face-to-face classes.

LBJ officially closed in May this year.

SIFA asked the GDOE Superintendent and Board of Education chairman last Friday to lease the LBJ facility.

Sunga said both requests are now pending review by the Guam Attorney General’s Office.

Besides looking for available public spaces, SIFA has also turned its sights to privately held properties. It issued an ad on Aug. 8, inquiring about available commercial spaces and potential campus sites.

The school has secured a satellite office at Tumon Sands Plaza, where it continues to receive new enrollment packets and welcome new students, Sunga said.

SIFA has close to 400 confirmed enrolled students this school year, Sunga said.

At least 14 former SIFA students have reportedly migrated to GDOE schools.

“Yes, there have been student withdrawals,” Sunga said, “but we also have new enrollees and we are looking forward to more enrollees once we have a new facility.”

Sunga said SIFA is optimistic it will open its doors for the 2025–2026 school year on Sept. 2, “depending on the procurement process. We will continue to provide classes online as a temporary solution to prevent any loss of instructional time.

Sunga said this temporary solution will allow SIFA to meet the 180-day academic requirement.

With SIFA and the Charter Schools Council at loggerheads over remote learning, the issue remains open, and it looks like SIFA will have its work cut out to make sure it has a physical campus in less than three weeks.

Sunga assures the SIFA management is in constant communication with the charter school council.

SIFA vacated its Tiyan campus in July after its landlord, Eagle Land Holdings, sued SIFA, alleging it owes over $5.69 million in unpaid rent.

Sunga denied this Monday, saying SIFA is not in debt to its former landlord. He pointed out that the first lawsuit was dismissed on March 14.

A second lawsuit for unlawful detainer was dismissed on Aug. 7, with no back rent, attorney’s fees, or any financial obligation owed as a result of SIFA’s voluntary move-out.

He said these representations were previously made before Guam senators, the education board and the charter schools council.

“Don’t believe rumors,” he added.

SIFA received a full six-year accreditation from the Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges in May. The school is just awaiting its certificate of accreditation.

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