GES cries ‘foul’ over proposed relocation

The proposed relocation site for Garapan Elementary School has steep hills and foul odor that could be very dangerous for schoolchildren, according to vice principal Dale Roberts.

He said that, soon after he heard the news of the school’s proposed move to a site on Lower Navy Hill, he immediately inspected the site and found out that it is an undeveloped parcel of land across the Commonwealth Health Center.

“That parcel of land has many attributes that make it a very poor location for a school,” Roberts said, adding that the land is very steep and would require a great deal of ramping to construct amenities that would comply with the American Disabilities Act.

He also said the proposed site is located at the base of an area where a wastewater pump of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. is housed.

Roberts said when the pump breaks down, the foul odor of the wastewater pump wafts to the current location of the school in Garapan.

“So in moving [GES] to that location, the families of GES students can look forward to steep hills, lower-quality playing fields, frequent bouts of smelly air and, of course, ambulance sirens approaching CHC,” he said.

Moreover, GES administration officials complain that they are not even being consulted about the government’s relocation plan for their school.

“To my knowledge, no government official, Board of Education member, or potential lessee has contacted any of the GES PTA officers, school administration, teachers, or parents to get their thoughts on this plan to relocate their children to some ‘better’ location,” Roberts said.

He said no one has brought the idea to the people of Garapan, who would be most affected by the possible change.

GES moved to its current location in 1967. It will be marking its 40th anniversary at its current location next year.

“I am not necessarily opposed to relocating GES, but if it’s going to be done, it should be done with proper input, planning and in the best interests of the families affected by the move,” Roberts said “If it’s to be done, do it for the right reasons. Don’t do it because it looks like easy money. Don’t do it for promises that may not come true. Don’t do it because it will benefit a few, well-connected people.”

GES principal Yvonne Gomez said she was taken by surprise with the news of her school’s relocation late last year.

“In the past, we have been denied a financially sustainable existence. Now the campus we are so proud of with its lush green trees and spacious lawn could be taken from us,” she said.

She said she couldn’t help but feel emotional when she hears news about the relocation, especially the story about a House resolution proposed last month that ordered the MPLA to reserve target land areas for GES at Lower Navy Hill.

If the plan to relocate the school moves forward, Gomez said the government should offer them “something more than a foul smelling, smaller piece of land that poses a walking danger to students, and has little hope for the type of educational facility that needs to be built.”

GES currently has 870 elementary students and has been operating with only $5,000 in operational funds per quarter, $4,000 of which goes to payment for security services alone.