By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
THE demolition of the old school buildings at Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood Middle School was completed on Thursday, paving the way for the construction of a modern campus.
During a bi-weekly cabinet meeting on Friday, Special Advisor for Policy Programs Kimo Rosario provided Gov. David M. Apatang with updates on projects funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the CNMI Public Assistance Office for the Public School System.
Rosario reported that the demolition of Hopwood’s old school buildings, heavily damaged by Super Typhoon Yutu in 2018, was completed on Oct. 16, 2025. This, he said, paves the way for the construction of a $21.5 million new campus made of innovative construction materials. The project is expected to be completed by Aug. 6, 2026. The contractor is CJ Innovation Co. Ltd.
Rosario also informed the governor that the Zoning Board has approved Hopwood’s application for conditional use. After obtaining other required permits from regulatory agencies, such as the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, the Public School System is now waiting for FEMA’s approval on Environmental Historic Preservation for the Hopwood project.
The governor asked Rosario and other members of the cabinet to provide the public, through the media, with the latest updates on government projects, programs, and services.
Rosario also provided updates on other FEMA-funded projects for CNMI schools. He reported that contracts have been awarded for the William S. Reyes Elementary School auditorium and Building C construction projects; San Vicente Elementary School, Oleai Elementary School, and Koblerville Elementary School campus-wide rehabilitation and bus shelter projects; as well as the construction of Da’ok Academy. These projects will now move to the permitting phase and issuance of notices to proceed so that groundbreaking activities can follow.
Rosario emphasized that, in addition to creating robust school infrastructures, these federally funded projects will result in increased grant expenditures and stimulate construction activities and revenues for the CNMI.
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.
