After having to migrate away to Dededo for some time, the Fanihi at D.L. Perez Elementary schools are finally spreading their wings and returning home.

The northern school is gearing up to welcome students back to campus Wednesday morning after officially passing Public Health inspections.

“We are just so excited to welcome everybody back home tomorrow–it has been quite a journey that has taken over a year to even get our school prepared for a day like tomorrow,” DLP Principal Dr. Darlene Roberto said.

It’s a winding journey that started off with turbulent skies for the fruit bats–as the school, built back in the 1960s, initially raked in a failing self-inspection grade of 60 demerits.

Not wanting to leave the Fanihi hanging, the school community swooped in to try and change that.

“The staff, the faculty, and our families have been working so hard–painting all the time, water blasting, cutting the grass,” said Roberto.

The Guam Waterworks Authority, part of the Governor’s SORT, further supported the school with its plumbing, electrical, and carpentry needs.

Roy Chargualaf, with GWA’s facilities and maintenance division, leads a crew of eight members who are finishing repairs ahead of opening day.

“We rebuilt about 11 of the school’s boys and girls restrooms, we rehabbed a bunch of doors, toilets, window fixtures, screens, electrical, area lighting, some of the electrical outlets that were not properly functioning and tried to do the best we could,” said Chargualaf.

And despite best efforts to work through a shortage in materials to fix a school in its golden years, the DLP principal admitted there’s still work to do.

“We are going to continue to ensure that our Fanihi are always ready to fly,” said Roberto.

DLP's passage of Public Health inspections now brings the tally of schools pending sanitary inspections to six.

Meantime, Benavente Middle and Upi Elementary School inspections are underway this week.

Education officials said there is ongoing discussion on possibly combining Juan M. Guerrero and Chief Brodie Elementary Schools.