Survey: Improving Schools is Priority for Kahului and Puʻunēnē

Justin Woodson, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Osher

Residents living in the Central Maui District expressed concerns for improving schools, in a survey sponsored by District 9 Representative Justin Woodson.

Woodson announced the findings in a press release saying, “While we have been able to bring much needed resources to improve the schools in our district, much more needs to be done.”

In the announcement, Woodson said he remains focused on addressing the  “prolonged delay” of the eight classroom expansion project at Maui Waena Intermediate School.

“We were successful in bringing together all the key players including the mayor, the county permitting division, the architect, the contractor, Maui Waena Principal Jamie Yap, and Department of Education representatives to identify and eliminate obstacles to the start of construction. According to the Department of Education, ground breaking will start soon and I will continue to monitor its progress,” he said.

Woodson, who represents the Central Maui district that includes Kahului, Puʻunēnē, the Old Sand Hills area, and Maui Lani, is also a member of the Finance Committee.

He said that in that capacity, he was able to improve district schools by working with fellow lawmakers to secure several funding appropriations in the state budget including: $2.5 million for the design of a new Central Maui Middle School; $300,000 for the design of a weight training and wrestling rooms at Maui High School; $450,000 for the design of an expanded band and choir room at Maui High School; $278,000 for the re-roofing and ramp installation at Lihikai Elementary; $100,000 for converged network infrastructure at Pōmaikaʻi Elementary; $1.488 million for renovations and repair of air conditioning units at Maui Waena Intermediate; and $43,000 for the re-roofing and replacement of the gym floor at Maui High School.

The state House also worked to secure a $50,000 grant-in-aid for funding of the Maui High School Band’s participation in the 2015 Tournament of Roses Parade to take place in Pasadena, CA.

Woodson said he is also working with the Board of Education to implement legislation to create more effective learning environments for both students and teachers.