Francis Santos Changed Stance on Tiyan
Governor’s Office Releases Emails in wake of contradictory statements from Education Board Member
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Calvo Tenorio administration wants to set the record straight about statements made in today’s Pacific Daily News from Education Board member Francis Santos.
Santos’ claim that the use of Tiyan did not come from the 2011 Board of Education is absolutely untrue. Below you will find evidence of Santos being the leader of the push to use Tiyan from the board of education–even ordering the Deputy Superintendent of Finance to begin budget preparations for a central high school in Tiyan.
Mr. Santos, in today’s PDN, commented:
“I’m not sure how anyone can say that buying a 50-year-old building is the best use of our taxpayer dollars; it just doesn’t make any good financial sense to do that…”
This new position is a direct contradiction to previous statements made to the Governor, his Chief of Staff, and the Chief Education Advisor. These statements include:
“…the principals strongly recommend using Tiyan as a high school that will decrease the student population at George Washington High School…I hope we can come to a timely decision on the utilization of Tiyan on behalf of our students.”
and
“I have been in discussion with members of the Legislature as to the possible purchase of the Tiyan property. If this is a viable option and our government can find the financial means to accomplish this request, the Board together with DOE management will support such a request.
“…if you need me to make a public statement, I am prepared to do so. We need the Tiyan facility to help resolve several issues facing our department.”
These messages also show that the plan to use Tiyan as a high school campus was not the Governor’s, but the 2011 Board of Education’s idea. The following are excerpts from messages from Santos to the administration that are attached to this release. Note the date of these messages, which is soon after the Governor issued the Notice to Terminate the lease. Emphasis is added to these passages:
Email to Vince Leon Guerrero, Chief Education advisor on March 24, 2011:
Vince,
Further to our discussion, can you please confirm that the Tiyan CoreTech property will continue to be utilized as a high school. We need to coordinate our efforts with the DOE staff and management to properly plan and more importantly find the funds for this venture.
Email to Deputy Superintendent Taling Taitano and Vince Leon Guerrero on March 26, 2011. This details a request to budget the needs for a new central high school in Tiyan:
Taling,
Please prepare a detalied [sic] worksheet:
– Staffing Requirements – Teaching and non-teaching
– Collateral Equipment – please be as detailed as possible
– Contractual – please provide the details
– Text Books
– Is GDOE paying for the utilities?
– Is the Landlord paying for maintenance or GDOE?
– Is this Dining Facility outsourced?
Letter to Governor Calvo on April 18, 2011, inviting him to a roundtable on Utilization of Tiyan:
Dear Governor Calvo:
Hafa Adai! Over the past month high school principals have been developing a plan for utilizing the Tiyan facilities, which are currently being used as an interim site for the JFK High School. Through careful analysis of the benefits to our students, the principals strongly recommend using Tiyan as a high school that will decrease the student population at George Washington High School…I hope we can come to a timely decision on the utilization of Tiyan on behalf of our students.
Email to Chief of Staff Frank Arriola and Vince Leon Guerrero, Chief Education advisor on July 10, 2011:
Hafa Adai Frank,
…It was decided at [a meeting between GDOE and the legislature] that althoughDOE wanted to continue the use of the Tiyan facility, we could not find the necessary funds within our current budget to fund the lease of the school.
Several options for the use of the Tiyan facility including [sic] formation of theCentral High School, moving Untalan Middle School and the transfer of the GW students to reduce overcrowding, continue to be discussed at the management level.
…I have been in discussion with members of the Legislature as to the possible purchase of the Tiyan property. If this is a viable option and our government can find the financial means to accomplish this request, the Board together with DOE management will support such a request.
Frank, if you need me to make a public statement, I am prepared to do so. We need the Tiyan facility to help resolve several issues facing our department.
The aforementioned correspondences are attached for your reference and use.
***
***
