Concern over speeding cars at GW High

by Krystal Paco

Guam - It seems inoperable air conditioners and overcrowding are not the only problems plaguing George Washington High School. Apparently, school administrators at the Mangilao campus are now worried the lack of signage and crosswalks at the entrance of the school may result in someone getting physically hurt.

"Usually we have vehicles that come speeding that have no regard for student safety there's a lot them speeding around this curve and that's a danger area for our students and then the crosswalk being here is another thing and that's why we moved it down there, there is no way they are going to stop in time and they are going to hit a kid," said assistant principal Gaylene Cruz.

A crosswalk that leads into a jungle area and cars speeding through the school zone has Cruz calling on government leadership to act, and fast. "I even jeopardize my staff because they have to stand in the middle of the road, which is very narrow to get our kids to cross and we have people cooperate with us, we tell them to stop and they don't want to stop., they argue with us or yell at us," she said.

Cruz says she's been ringing the alarm on the lack of sidewalks and the need for more signage for the past six years. And it's several car accidents later and close calls for students getting hit by speeding vehicles and even drunk drivers that has her fed up. The same goes for the students like GW senior Milan Phillipe, who told KUAM News, "Since we are walking on the road the cars don't slow down for us and think they own the road even though it's a school zone but they are just flying it and it's a danger to us, too."

Cruz hopes the Department of Public Works and the Mangilao Mayor's Office can assist. Village Mayor Nito Blas said, "What I'd like to ask the safety officer is to write me a letter of concern for all the matters there so I can justify and if I don't get funding from the Legislature, I'm going to see what I can do to do those things."

In the meantime, Cruz says her staff will remain cautious as students arrive and depart from the school. She only hopes that the problem is resolved before a student or faculty member is injured.