Mold in classrooms, cafeterias shut down, and rats caught in traps.

All eyes are on the conditions of Guam Department of Education campuses as the new school year pushes full steam ahead.

Still, health inspections are going at a slow rate, now at one school per week.

Department of Public Health and Social Services Division of Environmental Health Management Analyst IV Francine Salas says it’s to give them more time to clean up.

"We changed the approach in collaboration with GDOE to focus their resources and ours on one school a week," she said. "That being said, because allows for a more proper inspection than for us to go there maybe our inspectors will go there and cite all these things because facilities and maintenance didn't have a chance to get to it."

GDOE schools have until the start of the next school year to come into compliance.

But with just eight public health inspectors to inspect not just 41 public schools, but all health-regulated establishments, the health agency is looking to hire two to three retirees.

That includes DEH public health officers, environmental health specialists, public health inspectors, and environmental technicians.

"They would contribute, as far as I know, they have the knowledge of the way in which the division conducts the inspections," Salas said. "They would be a really quick way to go and do inspections, versus hiring someone new who requires training, requires understanding, requires all different kinds of orientation."

Recently passed legislation allows the temporary hire if there is a critical need that arises.

With GDOE leadership hoping to have inspections completed by April of next year, Public Health is doing what it can to meet that deadline.

"As Dr. Swanson quoted in the news that he hopes to have all the schools inspected and passed inspections by April 2024," Salas said. "So we are moving in that direction. GDOE presents to us what school is ready for the next week and we move forward with that."

GDOE spokesperson Michelle Franquez said 11 GDOE schools have been officially inspected, two have been paid courtesy visits, and one is currently undergoing inspections. Six schools got a passing grade.

Up for inspections this week is C.L. Taitano Elementary School.

Salas said after this inspection, 26 schools are left on their list. She hopes retired health inspectors will join the effort.

"These individuals would come on board for specifically school inspections," she said. "Just to help augment our need for that particular area. So we welcome them to come on board and we’ll be happy to see them."

Interested applicants can contact admin assistant Terry Barcinas at (671) 922-2541.