by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Department of Public Health's Jim Gillam says of the closure of Untalan Middle School due to numerous violations, "An inspection started at 2pm this afternoon and finished at 4:30. As a result of the inspection, we advised the administration of the school that Untalan will be closed." He added, "The total as of 430 was 50 and I believe that's the final total and it takes 40 to close the school. Well, you know, if you recall that the inspection we did a Simon Sanchez, it's pretty much those kind of things - the leaky roof, toilet facilities that are not in good order, ponding water, backed up sewage, poor ventilation, poor lighting, just really a dilapidating conditions in the classrooms."

Various issues and factors resulted in the inspection including a student who was injured after walking on the sidewalk that had ponding water and mold buildup. "We had some calls from people in the community but governor's chief of staff had asked if we could change our regular schedule of inspections and go ahead and take a look at Untalan and given the community input already, we just couldn't ignore and had to do it," Gillam says.

"I feel badly about losing the instructional days but against the safety of the children I just can't trade that."