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Geckos to host double session for Islanders
With a little over two weeks left until the start of the new school year and after weeks of meetings, Guam Public School System Superintendent Dr. Nerissa Bretania Shafer announced the fate of John F. Kennedy High School. "After examining all the recommendations and input from everyone, I have decided that the best option right now is to hold double sessions at George Washington High School," stated GPSS Superintendent Dr. Nerissa Bretania Shafer. During a press conference this afternoon at JFK, the superintendent said at this point, it would be impossible to have the Upper Tumon campus ready to open by August 12.
"As a result of that, we are going to mobilize every effort to ensure that George Washington's facility's are up to shape, that we have all the air conditioners running, that we have all the repairs and citation addressed, and that both George Washington and JFK are provided adequate human resources to ensure that we have enough supervision for 5,000 plus students," she said.
Dr. Bretania Shafer added, "We are also coordinating with bus transportation, Department of Public Works, so that the schedule is developed immediately and that parents are informed about this schedule as soon as possible."
Admitting that holding double session with GW wasn't the best option, nor was it the board's intended outcome, Bretania Shafer said she was left with no other choice as bond funding for capital improvement projects is nearly non–existent and both JFK and Chief Brodie Elementary lack structurally sound classrooms.
Bretania Shafer said that the goal is not to have the double session exceed one year, but JFK faculty members like Neeti Prakash are skeptical, as well as upset, at being driven away from the home of the Islanders. "The last information we received was that it was a possibility, that we could stay here at our home of JFK, and now we are being evicted from our home. And its two weeks before school starts! We're, like, all wondering how we're going to get it all done. Is GW and JFK going to start on time or not? These are the questions I have," Prakash asked.
She went on to state, "All are very important to our teachers here, and the teachers at GW. You know, we're affecting 5000 students." In addition, Dr. Bretania Shafer announced that collateral equipment from JFK will be moved to Okkodu High School and Astumbo Middle School in hopes that this will help get the two new schools open by August 12.
GPSS is still working on scheduling double session for JFK and GW students. We'll keep you posted on that schedule.
KUAM Intern Ciarra Ingles contributed to this report
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