Sanchez High could break ground soon

Julianne Hernandez | January 9th, 2024

It's been long overdue and after decades waiting, it seems that soon, the ball will get rolling for the new Simon Sanchez High School (SSHS) in Yigo to be built. 

The Department of Public Works (DPW) sent out a request for a proposal, an announcement for a construction manager, to lead in the construction of the new campus. 

This comes after during a legislative hearing last month, DPW stated that they will take on the project but will move forward once a construction manager is secured. 

DPW Director Vince Arriola said, “This construction of the new Simon Sanchez High School is estimated to anywhere from $120 to $140-million, it’s a lot of money and it’s huge so we’re going to air in the side of caution…The construction manager, as we envision it today, is not an individual, it’s a firm, will come in and review the present design, the present architects drawings  and look at it for compliance and of course with code.”

He also added, “There’s been a lot of talk of the school population is decreasing so are we building a school for 2,200 students or building a school for 1,600 students it’s a big difference.”

In the rebuild, he did not want a repeat of the mistakes later noticed whenever Southern High School was constructed.

“I remember when we had the South Pacific Games, back in ‘99, we spent a lot of money to get that school up to spec so it can be part of the South Pacific Games. We did the track, we did the field, we did the pool and everything and look at where we are today,” Arriola said.

According to the RFP documents, the total cost to bring in a firm to serve as a construction manager will be about $7-million. 

Arriola continued, “That’s our cost estimate on what it’s going to take to get a construction manager to come on board from now to review the designs, the specs, come up with estimated costs, to assist us in putting the bid together for the construction and to take us through construction.”

Arriola said if all goes well without any issue, it will only take about two to two and a half years to have the high school ready for occupancy. 

However, even with the release of the RFP, Sanchez High alum Senator Roy Quinata still has some reservations. He's long been pushing for the school to be built since he first came into public office a year ago. 

Sen. Quinata said, “It's been a long time struggle, even the classes before me. We still continue to fight for it being rebuilt. I understand that we've been having some difficulties procuring and all the legal battles…Once upon a time, it was transferred from GEDA to GDOE and then now I transferred it back to DPW to get the procurement process done.”

Despite the hurdles, he still considers it a win for the school and promises present and past sharks they’ll be back on their campus. 

“I think it is a milestone but my milestone my major, groundbreaking is all I really want to see the ribbon cutting and having the next generation have a new school new facility and a new campus,” Sen. Quinata added.

Although the RFP was just released yesterday, Arriola said three companies have already shown interest, giving the director hope that the project will start soon.

DPW will also be working with local architectural firm Taniguchi Tuth Makio architects who have designed the new Simon Sanchez campus.

Source: https://www.kuam.com/story/50309847/sanchez-high-could-break-ground-soon