HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Work to improve the educational facilities across the Guam Department of Education is making slow but steady progress as several projects are moving forward.
Good news for parents, teachers and students of F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School, the contract for the refurbishment of the campus is complete, according to the head of GDOE.
Superintendent Kenneth Erik Swanson provided the update to the Guam Education Board on March 19 ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday at 11 a.m.
The ceremony, to be held at the school campus in Yigo, is a milestone that GDOE in a press release Monday promised to be “a momentous occasion for the community, reflecting the collective efforts and dedication to the advancement of education in Guam.”
With safety and well-being paramount, Swanson said, “This commitment is a testament to the resilience and dedication of educators who strive daily to create a nurturing and conducive atmosphere for academic growth and success.”
FBLG, which was built initially as an elementary school in 1976 before being converted to a middle school in 1982, is one of seven aged facilities in dire need of a makeover.
The school was closed earlier this school year after chunks of the ceiling fell.
“The school’s dedication to providing a safe and conducive learning environment was evident when, in October 2022, it proactively closed a section of the campus to assess and address safety concerns in certain classrooms, ensuring the well-being of its students remains a top priority. Thereafter, a step taken to address the repairs in the school was a priority,” the release said.
Final revisions for other school refurbishment project contracts are near completion.
“It’s just a matter of negotiation with the procurement folks and the contractor to make some final language before it goes for ultimate legal review,” Swanson said.
With projects big and small underway, GDOE is also addressing restroom facilities at schools.
Toilets are also getting attention, as Swanson spoke of efforts to address poor restroom facilities.
“All schools have flushable toilets in the ratio necessary for the number of males and females enrolled. We have one campus that has one restroom closed down right now, but that is being worked on. That’s why the portable toilets are there,” Swanson said.
The school he referred to is Agueda I. Johnston Middle School.
Recently, the school’s sixth grade student body organization senator brought the school community together to petition for the removal of portable toilets and call for the repair of the school.
Swanson met with the student and committed to fixing the school and its restroom facilities.
“That school is one of the ones we are going to refurbish. All of that will be repaired and replaced. We are also in the midst of moving (and) excavating … drain lines that are a problem on that campus. Once we get that done, that will open up another restroom and the Porta Potties can go,” Swanson said.
He said that could happen even before the rehabilitation projects begin.
“Nine campuses in all, excluding Simon Sanchez High School, (are) included are in the (capital improvement project) work. … We are renovating (and replacing) all the restroom fixtures at those campuses,” Swanson said.
Cosmetic and structural issues at the nine schools will also be addressed under CIP work.
GDOE is also looking at improvements to facilities that would bring energy cost savings.
“All schools are actively connected to (the) Guam power grid and maintain service, same as our local neighborhoods. We are also working with (the Guam Power Authority to) look further into the best program to put solar panels on our schools so we can reduce our utilities costs,” Swanson said.
He met with GPA officials last week to move that project forward.
The work being done across the school district also addresses concerns of health and safety of the school campuses. GDOE is actively trying to meet school sanitary building codes to pass sanitary inspections as required by law to operate.
“Seventeen schools have current health certificates that’s newly active,” reported Swanson.
GDOE has 41 school facilities.
The entrance sign to F.B. Leon Guerrero Middle School in Yigo is seen Dec. 20, 2023.
