The governor said that after 63 years, it is with sadness that the walls, which once enclosed the classrooms of tens of thousands of students, must be torn down. “But the decision is for good reason,” he said. Clearing the school buildings destroyed by Super Typhoon Yutu seven years ago will provide space for safer, healthier, and more modern classrooms, Apatang added. He acknowledged that the old buildings hold irreplaceable memories, but they will be replaced with facilities designed to serve thousands of future students.
Apatang thanked the Federal Emergency Management Agency for awarding disaster recovery assistance for the demolition and construction of the new campus. He also recognized the Public Assistance Office, the Public School System, contractor CJ Innovation, local government agencies, and Special Advisor for Policy and Programs Kimo Rosario for their work on the project.
Apatang also expressed gratitude to parents for their patience during the long wait for the new campus and recognized the contributions of members of the Guam National Guard, who helped with recovery and cleanup after Typhoon Yutu, including at Hopwood Middle School.
Commissioner Camacho commended the school’s principal, vice principal, teachers, administrators, and all staff who ensured that students continued to thrive despite the old buildings’ conditions. “We know how much this means to all of us,” he said. He added that the demolition will make way for a beautiful, modern campus.
BOE Chairman Ogumoro-Uludong said it was an honor to join the ceremony and looked forward to the promise of a new facility for generations to come. “Today marks not an end but a transformation. We demolish the old structure not to erase the past, but to make way for a modern, safe and inspiring campus that honors Hopwood’s legacy and equips our students to meet 21st-century demands,” he said.
Michael Jang, vice president of FSM Recycling Saipan Inc., the demolition contractor, promised, “Our company will do its best to ensure student safety and build a proper foundation before the construction of the new school that CJ Innovation, PSS, and the Office of the Governor have provided.”
Principal Borja noted that next month will mark the seventh anniversary of Super Typhoon Yutu. “To say that we at Hopwood Middle School have been waiting for this moment is an understatement. Yutu may have destroyed these buildings, but it did not destroy our resilience and determination to educate our students,” he said.
He added, “This new campus project is not just an investment in Hopwood Middle School. It is an investment in preparing future productive members of our community who will bring positive change to the CNMI.”
