By Trina A. San Agustin
Variety News Staff

SOME students at Untalan Middle School in Barrigada reside in Dededo. Students who reside near the fence line at Chief Brodie Elementary School in Tamuning attend Tamuning Elementary School. All this will eventually change as the Guam Education Policy Board works on redistricting the island to bring students closer to their schools.
With the opening of four new schools and the conversion of J.M. Guerrero Elementary School to a middle school, students will be closer to their schools, according to GEPB chairman Peter Alexcis Ada.
Guam Public School System spokesperson Gerry Cruz said moving students closer to their appropriate schools would also create a smaller learning community at the schools.
“The new schools won’t solve the overcrowding issue, but they will put students in their proper districts. The impact here is to create smaller learning communities in certain areas,” Cruz said.
Cruz cited as an example Price Elementary School in Mangilao which has a current student enrollment of close to 1,000. Some of its students, according to Cruz, should attend Mt. Santa Rosa Elementary School located on the Back Road to Andersen Air Force Base.
Cruz said the island’s central villages are facing problems with population and districting.
“Why should a kid residing in Mangilao go to Augeda Johnston Middle School, when they should really be attending Untalan Middle School?” Cruz said.
The redistricting plan for School Year 2008/2009 will be discussed at 6 p.m. tonight at the GPSS conference room in Hagatna. The public and stakeholders are welcome at the meeting.
Late last year, four separate ground-breaking ceremonies were held in northern Guam to begin construction on the new Ukudu High School, Liguan Elementary School, Astumbo Middle School, and Adacao Elementary School.
In addition, J.M. Guerrero Elementary School will be transformed into a middle school.
According to a Web site that tracks construction progress on the schools, the Liguan Elementary School construction is moving quickly. Last month, the contractor for the school completed installation of the wall panels of the school’s “B Wing.”
These wall panels enclose the school’s library, cafeteria, generator room, and some administrative offices. The roof on the structure began this month as the material needed arrived on Guam last Wednesday, according to the Web site.
Cruz believes that the construction of the Liguan campus will be completed by December 2007. However, Cruz said they will open the schools at one time when the redistricting plan is complete and in place.
According to the Governor’s Office, construction of the new campuses is slated to be completed by the middle of 2008. Gov. Felix P. Camacho was allowed to use U.S. Department of the Interior Compact-Impact funds to construct the schools.
The Government of Guam will now have to pay $6.1 million from Compact-Impact funds every year over a period of 20 years, according to the Governor’s Office.
Other education matters
Also up for discussion in tonight’s regular GEPB meeting is the finalization of the School Year 2007/2008 calendars.
According to Ada, the calendar had the start of the next school year on Aug. 20 or 21. This will not be finalized until the board agrees on the dates.
Education Superintendent Luis Reyes will also present his cost-saving analysis on the hiring and promotion freeze to board members tonight.
“It is called a cost analysis.” Ada said. “It is based on the savings we are looking at but, at the same time, we want to maintain our position on having a hiring freeze. He (Reyes) is going to have to let us know as it is nearing the end of this school year and kids are getting restless so we need to make sure the kids are safe by having personnel in there.”
Also on the agenda is the hiring of a GPSS chief financial officer.
Earlier this month, Pete Tajalle resigned as chief financial officer of GPSS. Tajalle, who cited “personal matters” as a reason for resigning, was hired two years ago by former Education Superintendent Juan Flores.
Frances Danielli is the CFO in the interim, and is being assisted by Felix Calvo.
Also on the GEPB agenda is the first annual State of Public Education Address.
According to Ada, the address will be held at the Tiyan GATE Theater to help save money by using a GPSS-owned facility.