By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
MAJOR structural damage at Tanapag Middle School and Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School has heightened concerns over reopening public schools, with initial reports from the ground recalling the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Yutu.
Dozens of public school buildings and facilities were severely damaged or destroyed by Yutu in 2018, unleashing destruction on Saipan and Tinian not seen in more than 80 years.
Assessment teams continued inspecting campuses Thursday as the Public School System moved closer to completing islandwide damage evaluations, with Education Commissioner Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho joining onsite visits to affected schools.
At Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, the roof of a newly built modular classroom structure was blown away by Super Typhoon Sinlaku. Several other facilities were also severely damaged.
At Tanapag Middle School, Camacho met with school personnel who were also assessing the extent of the damage. Initial reports obtained by Variety indicate multiple campus structures sustained damage.
Separate assessment teams have been inspecting public schools across Saipan and Tinian throughout the week. Their reports are expected to be submitted Friday.
Camacho said he will meet Monday with the school district’s key management team to determine how the academic calendar will proceed as PSS moves toward the final weeks of School Year 2025–2026.
“It is going to take some time to put these structures back together and make them function as intended before Super Typhoon Sinlaku hit,” Camacho told Variety.
School buildings, classrooms, roofs, and covered walkways at both campuses sustained extensive damage.
FEMA briefing planned
Camacho said he is expected to brief the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Office of the Governor once facility assessments are completed Friday.
“The extent of damage initially assessed at these two schools indicates that these structures are unusable, unsafe, and unfit for use by our students and staff,” he said. “This is the current state of our two schools.”
The briefing is expected to include recovery coordination, reconstruction of destroyed facilities, and repairs for schools that sustained lighter damage.
Cleanup support offered
Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho has reached out to offer assistance with debris removal, according to the education commissioner.
Cleanup operations, expected to begin next week, will depend on final assessment findings and safety clearances from PSS teams coordinating with relevant agencies.
“We have government partners who have come in offering support to help us begin this long process of ensuring our public schools resume while protecting the safety of our students and staff,” Camacho said.
No rushing reopening
Pending final reports, Camacho said initial inspections of the two campuses show recovery will require time and coordinated work.
All schools were directed to submit their own damage assessments Friday.
“When you are rushing students back to classrooms under these conditions, they are being exposed to danger, unsafe and unhealthy environments, and they are not going to learn,” the education chief added.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
