Tiyan High fails sanitary inspection, prompts GDOE closure

The Guam Department of Education has confirmed the Tiyan High School campus that serves Tiyan High and Simon Sanchez High School communities is "closed until further notice."

Tiyan High School failed its sanitary inspection, according to Sen. Chris Barnett, the author of the law that enforces compliance with the Department of Public Health and Social Services sanitary building codes for all Guam Department of Education schools.

Sen. Barnett told Guam News Network that Tiyan campus received "51 demerits" following an inspection of the facilities Wednesday.

"This is why we raised the standard for our schools and students — to protect them from having to go to school in unsafe and unsanitary conditions," he said.

GDOE confirmed the immediate closure of the school at 5:34 p.m. on Thursday, citing the closure would remain effective "pending correction of deficiencies identified in the recently release Department of Public Health inspection report."

The news comes amid concerns from the two school communities over conditions at the school confirmed by the legislative chair of the Committee on Education, Libraries and Public Broadcasting, Sen. Vincent Borja, who toured the campus Wednesday, Aug. 12.

While hosting the two school populations on the Tiyan High School campus has just begun with the new school year Aug. 10, Borja said his office was flooded with concerns that prompted a meeting with stakeholders ahead of the site visit.

On site, he noted the presence of public health inspectors reportedly conducting the sanitary inspection. Thursday morning, hours before the results, he said, "I'd be shocked" if they passed with anything higher than a "D."

Borja confirmed witnessing firsthand failing ACs, backed-up showers, clogged toilets and sewage leaks, which he called unacceptable.

"More than four or five toilets were clogged up, at least from what I saw, the leaking. We walked into the cafeteria, the AC was barely working and it wasn't like maybe 20 students compared to like if it was lunchtime," Borja said. "When there's 16 students in the shower, it tends to back up because it's a lot of water going on at one time. They say that's acceptable. That is not acceptable. That's not sanitary. I wouldn't want to do that. Why would I expect students to do that?"

Behind "years of lack of maintenance," Borja said confusion between GDOE and Core Tech International (CTI), the contractor, over who's responsible for what, led to "band-aid fixes" and the conditions at Tiyan High today.

CTI Chairman Ho Eun confirmed that his team met with the GDOE Thursday over the scope of maintenance for the Tiyan High School contract, telling Guam News Network that the contractor is open to discussions with the department.

In response to a request for comment regarding the alarming situation at Tiyan High School, Eun said the meeting with GDOE "clarified what is within the scope of the maintenance contract and what is not."

Borja asserted that ACs and bathrooms, including plumbing and leaks, are "a Core Tech problem," based on his understanding of the contract.

Eun told Guam News Network that "Core Tech will try to complete its scope as soon as possible."

"In the meantime, GDOE may release the PO (purchase order) with the payment schedule for GDOE's scope, and CTI will accelerate the tasks upon receiving the PO," Eun said.

Sen. Borja noted that the increased strain on the school's infrastructure by the two school populations has uncovered the issues. He also noted a team from Core Tech was on site Wednesday addressing facility concerns.

Eun, meanwhile, pointed toward the presence of a disconnect between GDOE and Core Tech in the process of relocating SSHS students to Tiyan High.

"GDOE has not notified Core Tech of the transfer of the SSHS students from JFK HS to Tiyan HS campus yet. Once GDOE informs Core Tech of that, the parties can address any issues or additional scope of services," Eun said.

Borja reported that GDOE's facilities and maintenance have been working to address the facility needs but must stay within their scope included in the contract. He said the contract needed to be revisited.

When asked, Eun said, "If GDOE finds the need to expand or modify the scope of services, Core Tech is pleased to discuss it with GDOE."

Guam News Network reached out to GDOE for comment on providing notice to CTI about the relocation of students and the impacts of the relocation on existing lease agreements for Tiyan High and John F. Kennedy High School, which hosted SSHS students for several years through a modified lease agreement to utilize the facility.

A response from GDOE was pending as of publication of this article.

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