$87 Million Released for Public School Improvements

By Maui Now Staff

Governor Neil Abercrombie announced the release of more than $87 million for capital improvement projects aimed at improving facilities at public schools across the state.

The funding includes nearly $11 million to meet the needs of schools nearing enrollment capacity, including an allocation to fund a classroom building at Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary School on Maui.

“In addition to investing in our educational infrastructure and the welfare of our keiki, these projects will create jobs in our growing construction industry,” said Governor Abercrombie in a press release statement. “This is a wise investment of state funds,” he said.

The governor released the following list of projects included in the funding release:

• $36.46 million: to improve and maintain facilities and infrastructure at schools statewide.  The funds will continue to address the state’s backlog of repair and maintenance projects, which now stands at $265 million. Projects include general improvements, electrical upgrades, playground equipment repair, and other school renovations.
• $15.07 million: for planning, design, construction and equipment for program support.  This includes new or temporary facilities, improvements to existing facilities, ground and site improvements, equipment and appurtenances to schools, and for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and gender equity.
• $14.9 million: for design, construction and equipment to improve instructional spaces such as science labs, special education classroom renovations and classrooms for classroom and learning environment parity. Equity projects also include energy improvements relating to heat abatement in classrooms.
• $10.95 million: for construction and equipment to support projects at schools nearing their enrollment capacity or are short of classroom space.  This includes funding for general classroom portables at four schools, and a classroom building at Nāhiʻenaʻena Elementary School on Maui.
• $5 million: for an eight-classroom building at Waimea Middle School on Hawaiʻi Island.  The building will include science classrooms and labs, computer labs, a faculty center, teacher planning spaces, a conference room and offices.
• $1.52 million: for the design, construction and equipment funds to renovate Building B at Kīlauea Elementary School on Kauaʻi for additional administrative office space. The building was constructed in 1940, and housed the school cafeteria until completion of a new cafeteria in 2009. Currently, the facility is used for storage as there are no utility hook ups.
• $1.1 million: for design, construction and equipment for a new band room, and renovation of an exiting room for use by the Hawaiian Studies program at Washington Middle School.  According to the governor’s office, the existing band room does not meet guidelines for the number of students participating in the program.
• $900,000: for design to expand the cafeteria at Castle High School on Oʻahu.  The building dates back to 1950 and the current size meets less than two-thirds of the recommended space for a school with a population of 1,200 students.
• $714,000: for slope stabilization at ʻEleʻele Elementary School on Kauaʻi.  The project will replace the existing stone retaining wall along the west school property line, and provide drainage improvements to address rain water runoff.
• $300,000: for a football field and the replacement and renovation of bleachers at Kahuku High & Intermediate School on Oʻahu.
• $200,000: for the design and installation of air conditioning at various buildings at Lincoln Elementary School, on Oʻahu.