Public school parent feels left in the dark amid evolving school situation

The first day of their last year in high school behind a computer screen. That most likely isn't how many of the senior class at Southern High imagined their school year would start.

“My daughter wants to be in school. I’m about to break down because she’s so sad–it’s her senior year, and she’s going through all this emotional and mental stress,” said a Southern High parent. 

This Southern High mom said her daughter pictured the start of her senior year walking into a classroom and learning face to face. 

“She wants to be in school; she said Mom, we did it! We did it for my junior year–why do they have to shut our school down? Why do they have to close our school,” she added.

And on the day just before middle and high school students are set to begin online classes, this parent from the Home of the Dolphins said she’s been in the dark about laptop distributions, relying only on an alleged leaked message from southern high staff of where to go for pick up. 

“Parents aren’t being notified. You guys aren’t even updating us. You have my email, you have my phone–everything! They’re not giving us any updates,” she said. 

Guam Department of Education Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum Joe Sanchez noted in a public briefing Tuesday that laptops are being distributed based on requests from students.

Officials added hard copy lessons are also available. 

Public Health inspections are underway at the southern campus.

Though no results were released as of newstime, this mother told KUAM she got word that the school may open Friday. 

“Possibly to open Friday? That's impossible! It is impossible! Did they coordinate with DPW for the bus? Did they coordinate,” she said. 

It's questions on top of parents and students left waiting to find out if their campus made the grade and when they will be able to return back to face-to-face learning.