by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Hoping to give some additional time to ensure a smooth opening of the new school year at a new campus, the Department of Education has pushed back the official opening of John F. Kennedy High School by one week. Interim Superintendent Taling Taitano says International Bridge Corporation has given the agency assurances that it will obtain all the necessary permits and the final occupancy permit by the end of this week.

Taitano says the one week delay is simply to ensure that JFK High management has enough time to move all the equipment in and prepare the classrooms. IBC has also provided assurances that the Internet will be available at the campus by late this week or early next week to ensure the student based management system, which handles schedules online, will be up and running in time for the opening of classes.

Teacher orientation is now scheduled for August 15 with students to report for the first day of school on Tuesday, August 16. With the delay, officials are unsure whether there will be enough time to have student orientations before the start of school.