Guam school inspection flags new violations amid pending action on previous citations
By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Government inspectors found new violations during the latest site visit at Tiyan High School, adding to the previous list of infractions that remain uncorrected.
"Based on the conditions observed during the follow-up inspection, Tiyan High School's sanitary permit remains suspended," the Department of Public Health and Human Services said.
Officials said the suspension will remain in effect until the violations cited by the Division of Environmental Health have been satisfactorily corrected.
The sanitary permit status of Tiyan High School also applies to Simon Sanchez High School since both schools share the campus, the department said.
During a follow-up inspection on Sept. 10, the department's environmental team found that the areas flagged during the Aug. 12 site visit remained in the same condition.
Ceilings are not kept clean and in good repair at the C Building first-floor hallway.
Four exit doors are not self-closing, which may allow pests to enter.
The boys’ restrooms in Buildings B and K have obnoxious odors.
DEH also identified additional violations not cited during the Aug. 12 inspection, such as damaged fire extinguisher casing on the second floor of Building K and obnoxious odors in boys’ and girls’ restrooms in Building E.
The follow-up inspection was requested by the Guam Department of Education.
During the site visit, inspectors found personnel from Core Tech International working in areas that the school had not identified as closed or cordoned off, including several classrooms and areas both inside and outside the Throne, also known as the gymnasium.
DEH inspectors also observed that ceiling tiles were still being replaced and that painting work remained ongoing in some areas.
The follow-up inspection was conducted to assess whether previously cited violations had been corrected and to determine whether the school had satisfied the requirements necessary for reinstatement of its sanitary permit.
DPHSS said it acknowledges that Tiyan High School has taken corrective action on several of the violations identified during the Aug. 12 inspection.
Specifically, previous violations related to floors, temperature and humidity, lighting, drinking fountains, handwashing sinks, and shower rooms were observed to have been corrected.
During the follow-up inspection, the following areas were observed to have been cordoned off, properly signed, and self-condemned by Tiyan High School.
These areas are not to be used until they have been inspected by DPHSS:
Amphitheater
Pavilion
Outdoor basketball and volleyball courts
Building F
Building G
Second floors of Buildings A, B, C, D, and E
Front-side arena of Building H
While recognizing the efforts undertaken by GDOE and Tiyan High School to address the identified deficiencies, DPHSS said it must apply the same public health standards consistently to all health-regulated establishments and make permit determinations based on conditions verified through inspection.
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