Senators get update on long-delayed Sanchez HS reconstruction

Nestor Licanto | December 19th, 2023

It's been more than a decade since then-governor Eddie Calvo proposed the construction of a new Simon Sanchez high school.

It's been stalled over the past ten years by bid protests, procurement delays and even snail mitigation.

Senator Roy Quinata, a Sanchez graduate, pushed through a bill last year to try to cut through the red tape and allow a private developer to build the school through a lease-back agreement.

Today, Quinata wanted an update. Public Works Director Vince Arriola said the next step is finding a construction manager.

“And so today we have the building design completed, a law authorizing DPW to begin the procurement of the construction, but no CM. Without the services of a qualified CM it would be irresponsible to move forward with any form of construction. DPW does not have the staff to perform these technical services for a project of this importance and this scale,” Arriola said.

He then added, “For our purposes the RFP is essentially completed, to procure CM services, and we hope to have it released soonest pending approval of the Attorney General's office.”

GDOE Deputy Superintendent for Finance Joanne Camacho said some $10-million dollars is awaiting transfer from DOA to DPW for the CM contract, which again is awaiting the AG's approval.

The Yigo school has also been plagued recently by serious disrepair and sanitation issues.

Currently, students are having to attend classes at the JFK campus in Upper Tumon.

Source: https://www.kuam.com/story/50249027/senators-get-update-on-longdelayed-sanchez-hs-reconstruction