Guam - After termites have been feasting on it for almost a decade, a contract was signed at Adelup this afternoon to finally repair and renovate Southern High School's fine arts auditorium in Santa Rita. And there's more - Governor Eddie Calvo also ordered for the expansion of Okkodo High School.

The school, which has been riddled with maintenance problems since opening its doors but finally it has some progress to report. Governor Calvo signed a $3.6 million contract that will be paid by American Reinvestment and Recovery Act money to renovate Southern High. Principal James Petite said, "The Southern High Dolphins have been without this performing arts center going on for seven years; it seems like its a tragedy that they haven't been able to use that facility."

The work will be done by BME & Son. In the meantime, Governor Calvo said he was waiting for the paperwork to sign to begin the $3 million renovation to Southern High's gymnasium.

And in keeping the governor's directive the Port Authority of Guam has stepped up to the challenge agreeing to help clean-up the campus for the upcoming school year. DOE superintendent Jon Fernandez said, "They say Southern is 'the Jewel of the South', well it's the jewel of our system, where we can start to put the investment back and I hope this is a start of a turnaround."

It certainly started something, because Southern High's not the only school to see some changes. "We've been hearing of the issues of overcrowding in our high schools," said Governor Calvo. "So I've ordered GEDA to initiate the financing and the development and construction for the Okkodo expansion."

The financing for the project was authorized through several public laws, which allows DOE to enter into a long-term lease back agreement with the Guam Educational Facilities Foundation and Iron Bridge Development International II, LLC. According to Calvo, it will cost $21.8 million, which will be allocated from the Qualified School Construction Bond through this leaseback arrangement. GEDA today requested that Fernandez get support from the Guam Education Board to support the Okkodo Expansion Project and the intent to hold the lease and fund the lease payments through the annual appropriation.

DOE deputy superintendent Rob Malay on the Okkodo expansion. "I think it will allow them to house an additional 500-600 students, which is going to be desperately needed in those northern areas, and it will allow the superintendent to assign a task force to possibly look at attendance areas and might provide relief to other schools such as George Washington High School, as well," he said.

As for renovations to other public schools and the building of new ones Calvo thanked Senators Judi Guthertz and Aline Yamashita for authoring public law providing a mechanism for financing and an education master plan, both of which his Administration is working on.