How did the Tiyan Campus (Tiyan High and GDOE Central Office) become what it is now? How did it end up costing $260.3 million by FY 2041?
It all started with a need.
On June 9, 2008, John F. Kennedy (JFK) High School was shut down due to disrepair, old age, poor maintenance, and lack of upkeep. This has displaced its students, teachers, and staff.
Temporarily, JFK shared campuses with George Washington (GW) High School in a double-session schedule.
While measures were in place to rebuild and rehabilitate JFK, the situation in GW High was not at all conducive for the students and teachers alike. October 2008, an emergency measure was enacted authorizing the construction of a new JFK. However, there was no assurance that the permanent JFK campus will be ready for school year 2010-2011. And while the permanent JFK is under construction, the two high schools will have to continue to share GW campus.
JFK needs to temporarily relocated elsewhere so as to decongest GW. But Guam is cash strapped. There is no money for the purpose. Thus, on January 5, 2009, Senator Judith Won Pat (an educator herself) introduced Bill No. 1 (LS) (An Act to authorize tax credit to the Lessors of the temporary location of the John F. Kennedy High School campus). Under the Won Pat’s Bill, GEDCA (Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority) shall promulgate the rules and regulations to implement the Act. The Bill was simple and straightforward.
On March 17, 2009, J. George Bamba who was then the Chief of Staff of Governor Felix Camacho made a written testimony acknowledging the need of Won Pat’s Bill, further adding that even if JFK will be completed, there will still be overcrowding in all secondary public schools serving Northern and Central Guam. Thus, he said, “The bottom line is we need an interim campus not only to serve the JFK community while JFK is being rebuilt, but also to have a campus that will relieve the overcrowding situation.”
Bamba said with the limited funds the government has, it is necessary to authorize the Executive Branch to execute alternative financing methods that would include authority for tax rebates and tax credits as forms of payment for a lease agreement.
And while Won Pat’s Bill is only seeking for temporary relief for JFK and GW, Bamba was not only looking at leasing an interim campus but eventual acquisition of facilities for the Guam Public School System. Bamba would then want the Won Pat’s Bill revised to suit the administration’s proposal.
And this is where it all began.
(-to be continued-)
