Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Department of Education (ASDOE) is facing the possible loss of millions of federal dollars that were to fund 14 construction projects that it says would help mitigate the loss of academic services and student learning due to the COVID pandemic.
The money is from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP), and ASDOE’s request to extend the period of time to complete the projects using the funds has been declined by the federal Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE).
In a letter, dated May 8, 2025, signed by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Assistant Secretary of OESE, Hayley B. Sanon, a list of the 14 construction projects identifies each project, the amount of funds requested to be liquidated, requested liquidation extension date, and the reason for denial.
Reasons for denial are basically two-fold — not providing “direct academic services to students that address learning loss” or “does not directly provide academic services to students”.
The construction projects include two classroom buildings (Leone & Tafuna JROTC) and eight multipurpose buildings (gymnasiums), many of which have already had groundbreaking ceremonies.
The four other projects that make up the 14, include a school lunch warehouse, an ASDOE administration building (the most expensive project at $24.5Mil), the renovation & upgrade of the ASDOE fuel tank station, and a project that allocates funding for the design & construction management for DOE projects.
In some cases, groundwork for project foundations are in progress, with the construction contract awarded, such as the ASDOE School Lunch warehouse project located in Tafuna behind the Tafuna Correctional Facility. The reason for denial for this project states that “creating a new warehouse to improve school meal processes is not a direct academic service to students to address learning loss.”
The letter points out that there is an opportunity to appeal. “As to each decision for which an appeal is sought, please provide additional information to support the contention that the project provides necessary services that directly mitigate the effects of the COVID pandemic on students' education.”
It continues that “your appeal must be submitted no later than 30 calendar days from the date of this letter. Please submit your request to [email protected].”
Ms Sanon concludes, “Thank you for your efforts to ensure that all Federal funds that you administer are used properly to help America's students.”
In public response to the OESE letter, ASDOE Director Maefau Dr. Mary Lauagaia Taufete’e, in an official press release, dated May 15, 2025, said that “this decision is deeply disheartening.”
She explained that “the denial of our extension request, despite our diligent efforts to demonstrate the critical need for these funds in mitigating the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on our students, disregards the unique challenges faced by American Samoa.”
“We will be appealing this decision, as we firmly believe these projects are essential to supporting our students’ educational recovery and well-being.”
The ASDOE director states that “It is important to note that the initial approval for this extension was granted in a letter dated December 16, 2024, from the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE). However, on March 28, 2025, a letter from the Secretary of Education rescinded this approval, requiring all states and outlying areas to reapply for the ARPA liquidation extension, with applications to be submitted on the same day.”
Dr. Taufete’e, according to the press release, further “highlighted“the significant economic repercussions of this decision.”
She states that “this denial undermines our educational initiatives and severely impacts our local vendors and economy.
“The abrupt termination of these projects disrupts ongoing efforts and creates unnecessary hardship for our community.
“There has been no consideration for the financial impact this reversal decision has on local businesses who have supported the education of our students.”
The ASDOE director concluded that they will be pursing all available avenues to appeal the decision, including submitting a formal appeal within the 30-day timeframe, as outlined in the USDOE- OESE letter.
Of interest, a general memorandum 126- 25, dated May 14, 2025, announced that the Director for the DOE, Maefau Dr. Mary Lauagaia Taufete’e “will be off-island starting May 16, 2025.” Her reason for travel is not stated, nor how long she will be away.
BACKGROUND
The ASDOE is not alone in the loss of federal dollars for projects, with the Department of Commerce recently announcing loss of its funding under the Digital Equity Act, which the Trump Administration terminated.
There is also an advertisement currently running in the Samoa News by LBJ Tropical Medical Center announcing that it is issuing a Notice of Cancellation for RFP packages for the LBJ Long Term Care Facility Renovation Project - LBJ25.12 and LBJ Tafuna Warehouse Project - LBJ25.13 “due to the rescinding of project funding source”. The projects were to be funded from the ARP Act. (The announcement does not explain why the funding source was rescinded.)
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