Superintendant Jon Fernandez
Classes are cancelled for all Guam Department of Education schools on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, in order to allow for post-typhoon recovery efforts at campuses throughout the island. All 12-month school-based and central office employees are to report to work Wednesday.
Administrators and staff began post-typhoon assessments at schools Tuesday afternoon. Based on these assessments, a large number of schools are working to address significant debris on campus, water leaks, flooding and power outages. Classes are anticipated to resume on Thursday, allowing time for school administrators, staff, cleaning vendors and food vendors to ensure campuses are safe and ready to open.
“We are working hard to get our schools open for our kids, however, due to the impacts of Typhoon Mangkhut, additional time is needed for GDOE and our partner agencies to make repairs,” GDOE Superintendent Jon Fernandez said. “We will be working throughout today and tomorrow to prepare our campuses and to ensure the safety of our students and employees before welcoming our students back to class.”
Fifteen GDOE schools served as primary shelters for displaced individuals and families throughout the duration of Typhoon Mangkhut, sheltering over 2,100 individuals, 44 percent of whom were children. Following the declaration of COR 4 Tuesday afternoon, all 15 shelters were closed as displaced individuals were transitioned to Tier II shelters at village gyms.
“I want to thank the numerous GDOE employees that helped manage almost a full 48 hours of shelter operations. Thank you also to all the community partners who assisted with the sheltering efforts, including the Guam Police Department, Department of Public Works, Office of Homeland Security and Civil Defense, and Mayors’ Council of Guam,” Fernandez said.
“We are keeping our students and families in mind, as we know many of them have suffered losses throughout the storm. We will continue to pray for them and for our entire island’s recovery.”