The Tiyan High School campus remains closed following the first phase of re-inspection but according to the Guam Department of Education, the continued closure does not constitute a passing or failing inspection.
On Monday, GDOE spokesperson Damen Michael Borja explained “there’s no demerit count since it’s a reinspection.”
The Tiyan campus, which houses Tiyan High School and Simon Sanchez High School, was closed on Aug. 13, after failing its renewal inspection with 50 demerits, a "D" grade.
Department of Public Health and Social Services Division of Environmental Health building inspectors assign demerit values for violations, and the total becomes the school’s inspection score. To pass a normal inspection, a school facility must not exceed 40 demerits, or a “C” grade. A score above 40 demerits result in a “D,” or failing, grade.
Last Friday, during a press conference, GDOE officials confirmed the first phase of the reinspection was conducted that same day. The results were received Monday afternoon.
"Tiyan High School's sanitary permit remains suspended until all cited violations are corrected. The department is working to address the outstanding items so that the permit can be reinstated as soon as possible," Borja said.
While Won Pat said there was visible improvement at the campus and was hopeful to return students to in-person learning before December, she also acknowledged that Friday that work to address deficiencies continued. At the time officials also said that unlike a normal renewal inspection, variances cannot be requested for a re-inspection of a closed school campus.
Guam News Network files show that variances would have allowed GDOE one year to address the respective violations before they counted toward noncompliance.
Monday evening, Won Pat reiterated the Tiyan campus reinspection result "is neither a pass or fail." She told Guam News Network, "they want us to fix several issues then reinspect. Variances aren’t allowed. However, areas needing more work are cordon off such as the second floors of buildings A, B, C, D and E as Core Tech International seal roof cracks, replace ceiling and floor tiles."
GDOE has not shared how the continued school closure would affect returning Tiyan High School and Simon Sanchez High School students to in-person learning, however, Borja said, "Plans for instructions will continue as status quo for the remainder of the week."
Both student populations are following asynchronous instructional schedules involving hard-copy packets and Google Classroom. Once back in the classroom, the students will follow a double-session schedule.
Borja also said Grab-and-Go meal distribution for Tiyan and Simon Sanchez high schools will continue at the Barrigada Mayor’s Office and Yigo Gymnasium, respectively.