Oceanview Gym renovations to take 6-8 months

by Krystal Paco

Guam - After being condemned more than a decade ago following a major earthquake, Oceanview Middle School's gymnasium will finally see get some repairs. Students should be able to use their new gym, barring any unforeseen circumstances, before the end of the school year.

It's been ten years since Oceanview has had use of its gymnasium. The building was condemned after rusty support beams shifted during an earthquake. Johnny Rivera, president of the school's Parent Teacher Organization, has spent the last three years trying to expedite the building of a new gym. Rivera made several attempts to contact the department of education, even inviting the superintendent to PTO meetings.

"This little gym cannot seem to get done," he said. "It's so sad."

While the school waited for some sort of action to revive the gymnasium, they watched as new schools were built in the north leaving students and stakeholders to feel as if they were being neglected. That's when Rivera decided to take things into his own hands and go directly to the attorney general's office to see why things were taking so long. The AG's Office said the renovations were delayed due to protests that occurred with the previous procurement.

"We know that last year the Office of the Public Auditor said to that it had be re-bid but between then and now the last word I got from the AG assigned to the case was that there was a purchase order cut and they're just waiting for a performance bond so the gym can finally start," he added.

DOE Facilities and Maintenance Manager Billy Cruz confirms the wait is finally over and renovations should be completed before the end of this school year. "At this time it's a go. We issued the purchase order. We're going to be meeting with the contractor, with our construction manager and move forward and get it scheduled," he noted.

The renovations to the Oceanview Gym are anticipated to cost more than $850,000 that's been available in local bond money.