ASAN, Guam (August 20, 2026) - Commander William C. McCool Elementary/Middle School will remain closed until further notice due to continued maintenance and repair efforts on the school’s air-conditioning system.
Rear Adm. Brett Mietus, commander, Joint Region Marianas, convened leaders from JRM, Naval Base Guam, the Department of War Education Activity, and Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Marianas on Thursday to discuss the system’s status, review troubleshooting efforts, and evaluate the path forward for repairs and instruction.
Following assessments of the current challenges, leaders determined the school will transition to virtual instruction until the air-conditioning system meets requirements to re-open classrooms.
“We are disappointed and frustrated for our families,” Mietus said. “Our teams are working tirelessly to further diagnose the problem and developing courses of action to get the classrooms cooled so that our students can return safely. We will continue to communicate our progress to keep our families informed.”
NAVFAC Marianas and NBG leadership is working toward a firm diagnosis to resolve the cooling issue. Technical teams will continue troubleshooting the system and assessing conditions inside the building.
“We understand that this is not an ideal situation for our families, and we will continue to work closely with installation leadership to see this issue resolved as soon as possible,” said Dr. Jacob Sherwood, DoWEA Pacific West District superintendent. “The health and safety of our students and staff remain our highest priority.”
Parents and guardians should continue monitoring email, Everbridge and the school’s official Facebook page for the latest information regarding school schedules and operations.