City officials recently requested the State-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to consider allowing the use of the facilities of the closed John Hay Elementary School as an extension of Jose P. Laurel Elementary School at Scout Barrio for the increasing number of enrollees in basic education from the neighboring barangays.
Under Resolution No. 605, series of 2023, local legislators stated that there is a need for the BCDA to consider allowing the use of the facilities of the closed John Hay Elementary School for similar purposes or as an extension of the Jose P. Laurel Elementary School to allow students to have easier access to basic education, especially those coming from the various neighboring barangays of Scout Barrio and for the same to be maximized in providing quality basic education to the youth.
Earlier the body considered a letter dated June 30, 2023 of Ms. Jeannette T. Lacana, principal of the Jose P. Laurel Elementary School, to city officials stating their strong support for the proposal of the Schools Division of Baguio City for extension classrooms making use of the John Hay Elementary School building since it is the nearest school to their institution to accommodate additional learners coming from adjacent barangays, thus, the need for additional classrooms as the school has no excess rooms for the said purpose.
Also considered by the council is a letter dated July 22, 2023 of Ms. Marie Carolyn B. Verano, Schools Division Superintendent, Department of Education–Cordillera Administrative Region, to Baguio City Rep. Mark Go recommending the use of the John Hay Elementary School building as an extension classroom for Jose P. Laurel Elementary School.
Another communication that was considered by the council is a letter dated September 25, 2023 of M. Diana T. Ortiz, president, Scout Barrio Homeowners Association, to the local legislative body bringing their plight relative to one of their community facilities in Scout Barrio, the now closed John Hay Elementary School, reiterating that the installed community facilities shall be for the common use and benefit of the residents.