PSS extends class suspension to April

The Public School System has extended the suspension of classes until March 31 because over 200 students and PSS staff have recently returned from Guam and need to be self-quarantined.

In an interview with Education Commissioner Dr. Alfred Ada, he said that after meeting with all school principals yesterday, they came to the decision to extend class suspension until the end of March and resume classes on April 1.

Ada said, however, that suspension is still subject to change until PSS feels it’s safe for students and staff to return to school.

“This coronavirus situation keeps changing so we’re just dealing with what’s here right now,” he said.

Ada explained that the suspension extension is to provide ample time for students and staff who recently returned from Guam and other COVID-19 infected areas to self-quarantine and determine whether they were infected or not.

“Between now and March 31, that is enough quarantine time, 14 days, for all the travelers who traveled off island last week for competition,” he said.

This decision came following the recent COVID-19 outbreak in Guam that was announced last Sunday.

“I had to make a brisk decision to be on the safe side. My mindset is to be more conservative and be more careful and cautious. I’d rather critics criticize however they want but I want to make sure we are safe. Right now, the people who didn’t travel, we want to feel safe. That’s why it’s a lot of preparing to combat [this] and to feel safe that’s why we decided that we’re going to extend the suspension,” Ada said.

Currently, discussion is ongoing on how PSS can implement distance education for the remainder of the school year as part of their contingency plan in response to COVID-19. Distance education is basically online classes.

Ada said he will meet with the Board of Education today to discuss the contingency plan he and his staff came up with yesterday in response to COVID-19 that he and his team have prepared.

PSS is urging students and staff who are under self-quarantine to practice good hygiene like washing hands often and sanitizing hands.

PSS is also urging social distancing and staying home for the time being since it is still unsure whether COVID-19 has already penetrated the island.