Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In the continuation of the DOE hearing held last week Tuesday, faipule Vesiai Poyer S. Samuelu voiced his disappointment on work being conducted at the Uifa’atali Peter Tali Coleman elementary school.

 “I’ve read the report which states that eighty-five percent of work is completed, but the construction project on the school has been stalled for two years,” said Vesiai. “To my knowledge, the school reports that there aren't enough school buildings for the students.” 

Faipule Vesiai then asked DOE management, “if the school buildings will be completed by the start of the school year or not?” 

Deputy Director Folau Fa’afetai Teofilo said that in speaking with the contracted companies that are dealing with the construction of the new school buildings for the elementary school — there are two different companies being employed — the company responsible for the building in the front told him that “it should be complete by October of this year and the building in the back might take longer, and that DOE’s goal is to have both buildings completed by next year.”

Vesiai communicated his “concerns were that students are jammed packed into the classrooms because of the shortage of rooms, as witnessed during visitations conducted to Pago Pago elementary.” 

He emphasized to the Deputy Director that they should have frequent visitations to the schools in order to hold the contract companies liable because during his last visitation, he observed the employee’s of the company sitting around and they told him, that “there were no supplies such as bricks in order to do any work.” 

Vesiai then thanked Department of Health’s Aileen Solaita for being vigilant in observing damages affecting school buildings and prioritizing the health of students. 

Faipule Larry S. Sanitoa pointed out to Deputy Folau that a long-term maintenance plan should be in place to address the maintenance issues in schools.

“If we add up funds from ESF1, ESF2, and ARPA from the last two years, it would amount to half a billion of federal grants American Samoa received to improve infrastructure and maintenance issues for DOE but we’re still hearing that everything is being rushed before school starts.”

 “I am not questioning DOE’s capabilities in carrying out their work but I think that improvements and changes should be made because after 3 years of this administration, it’s the same problem,” Sanitoa emphasized. 

Faipule Avagafono Tuavao Vaimaga Maiava asked, “Is it possible that maintenance work be conducted when the school year concludes so they can address and repair any and all maintenance issues before the next school year begins?”

DOH Solaita replied, “Initial inspections were conducted on March 27, 28, and 29 and the purpose of said initial inspection was to give DOE ample time to prepare resources and supplies, but after submitting the inspection reports, DOE would state that no work could be done until the school year concluded.

“But after this school year concluded, DOE had to wait until they received the resources and supplies which they just now received in August, with school starting this week.

 “Like I’ve stated earlier, it’s the same problems and now they’re rushing the maintenance work before school starts, but per the head of maintenance, Don McMullin, he states that there are no resources and no workers, and that’s what the roadblock seems to be,” Solaita explained. 

Avagafono then asked Deputy Director Folau for an update on the design phase, that has been stalled for almost 4 years, on the ongoing project for the multi-purpose building at Masefau Elementary. 

Folau stated that “they are waiting for paperwork to go through to Procurement to authorize the contracted company to begin work on Masefau Elementary and that they’re also trying to complete currently ongoing projects, and that they’re trying to initiate construction on Masefau and Afono Elementary so that they can be completed at the same time.” 

Avagafono then interceded that he wanted updates on the design phases for Masefau Elementary, since the bid has been awarded to the contracting company for this project, so that he and the Deputy Director can be on the same page.

He also wanted further information on the notice to proceed, or “NTP” status of these projects but can see that the Deputy Director was unaware in answering his queries. 

Aitulagi faipule Ape Mike Asifoa thanked the DOE management for completing the construction of sidewalks for students in his district, but questioned the company that built the sidewalks. Ape brought up the fact that the sidewalks don’t reach the homes of all students and that it’s an inconvenience to the kids, and that it’s also unfair that the sidewalk leads to the homes of some students and not the other half. 

Faipule Vailoata Eteuati Amituana’i then made a motion, that was passed, to reschedule the DOE hearing due to time restrictions and the fact that the budget hearings for fiscal year 2023- 24 are still in full swing.