Guam - New Department of Education superintendent made two more school visits this morning, this time to some of the island's newer school facilities. Fresh paint, new desks, working air conditioners - that's what Jon Fernandez saw at Liguan Elementary School and John F. Kennedy High School this morning.

"It was a very different kind of conversation and I took that opportunity to talk to the staff and the principals, okay, if we don't have these facilities to deal with let's talk about students and how we're doing serving these students," he said.

Liguan Elementary first opened its doors in 2008 and John F. Kennedy last school year. Both schools were built through lease financing, a method in which a private company leases property from GovGuam to build the school and lease back the school to the government. Fernandez acknowledges that this method of building new schools came with its share of difficulties, including delayed completion of the JFK gym and sports fields, but he vows never to make the same mistake twice.

He said, "These are about lessons learned and what I've seen is Southern; what I'm seeing are these newer public/private partnerships, working with others to build and maintain these properties. I want to know every kink and document every kink so I can look at this going forward," he continued.

JFK students were shy to voice their concerns today. Many admitted not knowing who Fernandez was or what his duties entailed, but he hopes they will reach out to him in the near future, especially through social media like Facebook or Twitter. Fernandez said, "It may not be today that you want to communicate, but I want to find a way for you to voice your opinions especially the high school students and the middle school students who have those opinions but just don't know how to express or have no avenues to do that. I think the trick is that it can't just be done through a student council or one or two representatives from each school.

"We're in a time of technology and democracy - we all ought to have a voice and I want to instill that they have a voice and they ought to express themselves."

Those who spoke=-up voiced concerns on school lunches, ranging from lack of food variety, costly prices, and small portions. Fernandez is working to meet with food contractor Sodexo to discuss these issues as it effects student participation. Fernandez's school visits continue tomorrow at George Washington High School and both Untalan Middle School campuses.