Guam schools ready to open despite jitters
Educators move on as concerns subside over North Korea
Despite North Korea’s recent threats to fire missiles into the waters near Guam, all 41 public schools are set to open Thursday for nearly 31,000 elementary, middle and high school students
“I look forward to a smooth first day of school tomorrow,” Gov. Eddie Calvo said Wednesday before test-driving one of 34 new 60-passenger school buses equipped with surveillance cameras to help improve student and bus driver safety.
Guam breathed a sigh of relief after news that North Korea would hold off on plans to fire missiles near the island. Calvo, Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio and other officials emphasized that it’s business as usual on Guam.
“Now with these buses, obviously, our island is even safer, so I look forward to working with all of you folks, and keep it up. You’re doing a great job,” Calvo said, referring to Department of Public Works school bus drivers gathered at Adelup on Wednesday.
Superintendent Jon Fernandez said there are still air-conditioning repairs and other concerns at some campuses but nothing that will prevent the 41 schools under the Guam Department of Education from opening Aug. 17.
Fernandez reassured parents and others that school staffers are regularly trained and prepared for most types of emergencies. In the first few weeks of school, Guam’s DOE will send out information to parents on emergency preparedness.
He said classroom teacher vacancies have dropped, from about 300 at the start of summer to only a handful early this week.
Glenn Leon Guerrero, Public Works director, said the agency has 160 school buses, 15 of which are under repair. Of the 145 buses picking up and dropping off students for this new school year, 52 are new.
Leon Guerrero said 34 of the new buses came with built-in surveillance cameras.
Public Works is looking at whether security cameras could be installed in the other buses in the fleet.
Leon Guerrero said 11 Public Works employees who recently tested positive for drug use included some bus drivers, but he wouldn’t say how many.
Public Works is waiting for additional drug test results, he said. He said of the 11 who tested positive, some resigned.
Tenorio said an anti-drug program will be launched in the coming weeks.
“We have a drug problem for many years, notwithstanding our best efforts,” he said.
The University of Guam and Guam Community College opened their doors to new and returning students Wednesday.
“We are looking at around 2,400 students, as our enrollment has been fairly steady the past two years,” said Jayne Flores, GCC’s assistant director for communication and promotions.
Alecsandrew Gan, 18, a freshman at UOG, said his first day was a refreshing start, and he looks forward to connecting to students and teachers.