THE Public School System will begin site inspections of all school facilities across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota this week as it moves into the recovery phase following Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
Commissioner of Education Dr. Lawrence F. Camacho said the school district aims to complete its initial campus assessments within the week, laying the groundwork for debris-clearing operations scheduled to begin next week.
The two-week timeline set by Camacho focuses on ensuring that school facilities and learning environments are safe and ready for the return of students and staff.
“This process is critical to making sure our campuses are secure and prepared for the resumption of learning,” Camacho said.
PSS is conducting the inspections in coordination with key local and federal partners, forming a multi-agency effort to carry out a comprehensive assessment of school infrastructure across the islands.
Camacho said the coordinated inspection and cleanup effort is a necessary step to restore normal operations and ensure campuses meet safety standards before reopening.
In 2018, PSS undertook a similarly large-scale recovery effort following Super Typhoon Yutu. Multi-agency partners worked alongside the school system on extensive groundwork, including campus-to-campus assessments, building inspections, debris removal, and site cleanup.
As the largest autonomous government entity in the Commonwealth, PSS serves more than 9,000 students across elementary, middle, and high school levels on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. The system employs approximately 1,500 personnel.
Its facilities include classrooms, cafeterias, libraries, administrative buildings, and other learning-centered spaces that support daily instruction and student services.
