Contract close for new JFK High, but students feel disenfranchised

www.kuam.com
By Michele Catahay
Published Feb 25, 2009

The Department of Public Works is one step closer to awarding a contract to build a new John F. Kennedy High School. While the committee has selected a firm, John F. Kennedy High students remain frustrated with having to deal with double sessions at George Washington High School.
 
"The number one firm to start the negotiations is international bridge corporation," said Larry Perez.  "We're now at a juncture where the selection committee will be coming up with the draft contract whereby the final stages of the negotiations will take place."  DPW's director says a selection committee is currently in negotiations with International Bridge Corporation.
 
The Guam Education Financing Foundation, the company that built the three northern schools, was the committee's second option; the Guam Community Improvement Foundation was their last. Perez says the selection may change depending on how this stage goes. He couldn't reveal the exact cost of how much it'll take to build the new facility, but he adds the contract would have to include items like desks and chairs.

"Collateral equipment will be a negotiated component, definitely it's going to be included...we have to, it's not an option.  And the quantities, the delivery of those in time for the new school year, will be negotiated and will be included," he confirmed.
 
If all goes well, the contract could be penned by April.  "You can expect that we're going to push for a March 8 completion - no later than April 8 - and, of course, in consideration if there's any requirement for legislative action, it should take whatever schedule that will turn out to be," added Perez.
 
Meanwhile, it's been half the school year and students at JFK High still have to share campuses with GW students - at a later session, with less class time.  "When the classes are cut shorter for us, our learning time is not as much as before," said Daniel, one such student.  A classmate, Steve, said, "I think it's okay but it's just tiring. You go home, you still have chores and you're exhausted from a long drive."
 
Although there is hope in awarding a contract soon, one student told KUAM News that he remains pessimistic since everything is going at a slow pace.  "In my thoughts," said the pupil, "I think they're not moving as quickly as they should be. Our freshmen right now (my point of view), they're not going to be able to see and graduate at their own school because of the speed that they're moving at."
 
Another student says school pride has definitely gone down. He's given up hope and believes he won't even graduate at a school he could call his own.  "Honestly, I'm a junior.  I'd love to say that I graduated from JFK, but it's going to be hard to say that knowing that I'm not at my own campus. I kind of feel like I'm not a JFK student. They might as well call us GW students," she expressed.