Since the enactment of Public Law 37-4, the Department of Public Health and Social Services’ Division of Environmental Health, has been working with the Guam Department of Education in conducting compliance inspections of the island’s public schools with minimal disruption to the children.

DPHSS has agreed to conduct the inspection only upon notification from GDOE that a school is ready to be inspected.

This approach would allow for GDOE’s limited facilities and maintenance staff to focus on a few schools at a time in preparation for the DPHSS inspection.

However, so far 19 schools were not ready for inspections, and with the upcoming 2024-2025 school year quickly approaching and the sunset of Public Law 37-32, which authorized GDOE schools to continue to operate while it awaits DPHSS inspections for SY 2023-2024, the following 19 GDOE schools may not be able to open by next week:

Maria Ulloa Elementary School
Marcial A. Sablan Elementary School
Astumbo Middle School
Juan M. Guerrero Elementary School
Chief Brodie Elementary School
Ordot Chalan Pago Elementary School
Upi Elementary School
Machananao Elementary School
P.C. Lujan Elementary School
Okkodo High School
J.Q. San Miguel Elementary School
Capt. H.B. Price Elementary School
Finegayan Elementary School
Daniel L. Perez Elementary School
V.S.A. Benavente Middle School
Southern High School
Jose Rios Middle School
Inarajan Middle School
George Washington High School

In compliance with P.L. 37-4, the Department’s DEH inspectors will begin the inspections of those public schools that have yet to be inspected, regardless of whether that school is deemed ready by GDOE.

Thus, DPHSS has developed the above list of the inspection order of the 19 GDOE schools.

Bill 317-37, would allow GDOE to continue to open these 19 schools for SY 2024-2025, but while it has had a public hearing, it has yet to be placed on the session floor. Thus DPHSS will proceed to conduct school inspections as planned.

DPHSS would like to remind the public, that without the passage of Bill 317-37 the 19 schools that were not ready for inspection will be unable to participate in school preparation activities, or the start of school instruction, as it is not a permitted school until an inspection has been conducted by DPHSS and the school has passed inspection.