State: Repairing
schools will cost
$241 million
About one-third of all public
Part One: Where the money goes
schools need more than
$1 million for fixesBy Crystal Kua
Star-BulletinThe unpatched cracks in the sidewalks at Kaewai Elementary School in Kalihi remind state Rep. Dennis Arakaki of how repairs at schools in that area tend to fall through the cracks.
Arakaki said, "If their (students') school isn't getting attention, you can't expect them to have pride in their school."
Kaewai Elementary is one of several schools in Kalihi with $1 million-plus in back repairs, according to a list compiled by the department responsible for maintaining Hawaii's public schools. Kaewai's total is $1.9 million.
According to the list of pending major repair and maintenance projects kept by the Department of Accounting and General Services, about one-third of all public schools in the state have more than $1 million in back repairs. It totals $241 million in projects.
Arakaki (D, Kalihi Valley) and others believe that socioeconomic conditions play a role in why Kalihi schools are often forgotten.
The older schools just happen to be in the inner city where many low-income and immigrant families live. An additional factor is that the departments of Education and Accounting and General Services don't have the financial resources to retrofit or repair.
"When you put all those factors together, you have schools deteriorating," Arakaki said.
"The parents as a whole ... they don't complain a lot. They are sort of satisfied with what they have or don't know the process on how to get these issues resolved."
Arakaki said because many of these parents are in the lower-income bracket, they are busy trying to earn money, making it difficult to get them to attend PTA meetings or organize them for fund raising.
"Poor schools are not getting money," said Rep. Bob McDermott (R, Aliamanu, Foster Village). "Those are the kids who can't afford private school and we send them to hot schools with no air conditioning."
Radford High School, which brought attention to repair and maintenance issues in the spring, ranked 11th in a list of 20 schools in the state with the highest dollar amounts of repair and maintenance projects.
More with less
McDermott, whose district includes Radford, said he is not surprised by Radford's ranking. But he believes the Department of Education is trying to do more with less and that lawmakers need to come up with more funds.Some officials say "pork," money lawmakers direct to their own districts, plays a role in how some schools receive funding.
Many lawmakers get funding for projects through bills for special appropriations.
The DAGS repair and maintenance list also shows:
All but a handful of public high schools have more than $1 million in pending repair and maintenance projects, some with a multimillion-dollar backlog. The 10 schools with the biggest backlog are high schools or schools with a high school on campus.
Setting priorities
James Richardson, DAGS's Central Services Division chief, said the backlog is a compilation of unfunded major projects submitted by schools or DAGS inspectors.The list sets the priority for funding for the next six years.
Projects with the highest priority are those that deal with health or safety issues such as upgrading a fire alarm system or termite treatment, he said. Although DAGS makes suggestions on which items should be handled first, Richardson said the schools have the final say over what they want done.
Each year, after the Legislature decides how much operating funds to allot for school repairs, the amount is divided among the school districts through a formula that looks at factors including the number of schools in a district, a school's age and enrollment.
This year, seven school districts will divide $9 million in major repair and maintenance funds. But the Honolulu district alone has $67 million in pending repairs.
Aging school buildings and a lack of funding are the main reasons given for the amount of backlog statewide.
Richardson said high schools are expected to have more backlog than intermediate or elementary schools because high school students are much harder on the facilities and the schools are much bigger. High schools with multimillion dollars worth of backlog appear to be older schools, he said.
The Honolulu School District had the highest dollar amount in the state, but that's expected because Honolulu has the most schools and some of the oldest schools in the state, officials said.
But to some it was a surprise to see a number of Maui schools with multimillion-dollar repair and maintenance projects pending. Maui's $37.9 million backlog total puts it in third place among the seven school districts, surpassed only by urban Honolulu and Central Oahu Districts. Its enrollment, however, is about three-fifths of those areas.
Old schools
Maui Deputy District Superintendent Elizabeth Hoxie said she believes the age of its buildings is the main reason why the backlog list shows the Maui School District -- which include Molokai and Lanai -- with a high dollar amount.She pointed to Lahainaluna -- the oldest American school west of the Rockies with a building erected in 1928 still being used -- receiving attention recently for being the only school in the state to be rated unacceptable in the school inspection program.
"They are just in need of constant care," Hoxie said.
But others offered other possible reasons for Maui's situation.
"I think they're harder to reach," said Lester Chuck, Department of Education facilities chief.
Lanai High and Elementary School Principal Pierce Myers said the remoteness of Maui District schools -- such as Lanai's, the schools on Molokai and those in Hana -- can make for highcosts.
Exception to rule
Don't use age as an excuse when talking to Herbert Watanabe."I'm aware that of all the schools in the state, I think we on the Big Island have the best-kept schools," said Watanabe, a retired Department of Education business specialist from the Big Island who is now on the Board of Education. "We could not let it rot away in hopes of getting money for new schools."
Compared with Maui, the Big Island has more schools and higher student enrollment. Watanabe said the Big Island also has more older wooden buildings to upkeep than elsewhere in the state.
Chuck said the Big Island School District has a reputation for having well-kept buildings.
The numbers bear that out: The Big Island's per student dollar amount of pending repair and maintenance projects is $1,168, below the statewide number, and no Big Island school made the top 20 list.
State Rep. Dwight Takamine (D, North Hilo, Hamakua) said he also knows of the reputation of Big Island schools and that their philosophy -- keeping up with maintenance -- is something the rest of the state should look at.
By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Head custodian Raymond Belaski looks over a drain
that was built to relieve the flooding near the administration
building at Manana Elementary School in Pearl City.
Manana school
By Crystal Kua
makes comeback
Star-BulletinA dust bowl and mud pit became a paved parking lot.
Balding patches of eroding red dirt have been transformed into a green play field.
Classrooms that once flooded in heavy rains are now high and dry.
The transformation of Manana Elementary in Pearl City since 1991 has shown that schools can improve their buildings and grounds even in tough economic times by using volunteer help and staying on top of maintenance.
"It's the little things," Principal Candace Yamauchi said.
The school has found ways to get things done without having to wait for funding, Yamauchi said.
This philosophy has carried the school from an unacceptable rating of 6, the lowest possible score, during the 1991-92 school year to a perfect score of 18 this past year in the Department of Education school inspection program.
"What I see is an effort to look to the school like their home," said state Rep. Noboru Yonamine, (D, Pearl City Highlands), who was on the school inspection team that gave Manana the high marks.
Yonamine was also on the inspection team that gave Manana low marks a few years ago, and he sees much improvement today.
"The maintenance crew is very much in touch with the situation," Yonamine said. "You can see the landscaped campus. On the inside of the classroom, teachers are very diligent about keeping it clean. Equipment is in good condition, the classroom is warm and shows a lot of work and care."
Yonamine also credited Yamauchi for getting projects done around the campus despite the money crunch.
Yamauchi is quick to give credit to the school's staff, including custodians, who have been on top of maintenance projects.
"On (the) repair and maintenance list for work orders, schools always have to stand in line," Yonamine said. "But on the other hand, you can't wait too long."
Sen. Andrew Levin (D, Kau, South Kona) said some inspection teams may feel pressure to give their schools favorable ratings even though the condition at the school may not warrant the marks.
"It's really counterproductive," said Levin, co-chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Radford High School parents lamented that the school inspection program did not accurately pick up deficiencies that independent inspectors discovered.
But in its ninth year, the inspection program, which uses volunteer community inspectors, accurately reflected the progress Manana made.
Health and safety were concerns with the vacant lot that staff once used for parking.
Nearby residents used to complain about the red dust that cars kicked up. On rainy days, the lot would turn into a mud bog, which was also a health concern. A paved parking lot solved that problem.
A Boy Scout troop hoping to do a good deed installed an irrigation system to help the school solve an erosion problem at one of its playgrounds.
The school also has received assistance from the military in painting projects.
Runoff during heavy rains caused classrooms to flood at times, but a simple and relatively inexpensive drainage solution helped fix that.
State Sen. Carol Fukunaga (D, Makiki, Tantalus), co-chairwoman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said a partnership with business or other groups is one way financially strapped schools can get help. The Legislature could assist by finding ways or incentives to make it easier for schools and community groups to link up, she said.
The following are the 20 Hawaii public schools with the highest dollar amounts of back repairs. The top 20
Amount of Number of Repairs/ School repairs students student 1. Farrington High $10,108,000 2,500 $4,043 2. Baldwin High 9,131,488 1,721 5,305 3. Leilehua High 4,056,000 1,878 2,160 4. Lahainaluna High 3,979,445 892 4,461 5. Kailua High 3,913,000 1,075 3,640 6. Lanai High/Elem 3,884,298 683 5,687 7. Kaimuki High 3,786,000 1,505 2,516 8. Castle High 3,684,000 1,951 1,888 9. McKinley High 3,056,000 2,008 1,521 10. Maui High 3,052,396 1,656 1,843 11. Radford High 2,769,000 1,410 1,964 12. Molokai High 2,469,826 833 2,964 13. Dole Middle 2,422,000 808 2,998 14. Roosevelt High 2,339,864 1,532 1,527 15. Kahuku High 2,194,000 1,912 1,147 16. Kalani High 2,120,000 1,216 1,743 17. Scott Elementary 2,104,000 688 3,058 18. Pearl City High 2,042,000 2,182 936 19. Aiea High 1,948,000 1,425 1,367 20. Kamehameha III Elem 1,918,600 657 2,920Source: Department of Accounting and General Services.
School -- Number of projects -- Amount Repairs by school
Honolulu District I
Aina Haina -- 44 -- $847,000 Ala Wai -- 43 -- 1,090,000 Aliiolani -- 24 -- 616,000 Anuenue -- 18 -- 319,000 Honolulu District Office -- 11 -- 228,000 Hahaione -- 43 -- 711,000 Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind -- 30 -- 874,000 Hokulani -- 29 -- 627,000 Jarrett Middle -- 30 -- 842,000 Jefferson -- 25 -- 790,000 Kahala -- 44 -- 1,032,000 Kaimuki High -- 101 -- 3,786,000 Kaimuki Middle -- 51 -- 1,508,000 Kaiser High -- 42 -- 1,111,000 Kalani High -- 73 -- 2,120,000 Kamiloiki -- 15 -- 283,000 Koko Head -- 51 -- 1,084,000 Kuhio -- 30 -- 624,792 Liholiho -- 9 -- 296,000 Liliuokalani -- 26 -- 766,000 Lunalilo -- 14 -- 498,000 Manoa -- 47 -- 1,068,000 Niu Valley Middle -- 75 -- 1,612,000 Noelani -- 21 -- 670,000 Palolo -- 26 -- 634,000 Waialae -- 18 -- 556,000 Waikiki -- 21 -- 627,000 Wailupe Valley -- 8 -- 126,000 Washington Middle -- 42 -- 1,203,000 Wilson -- 34 -- 656,000Honolulu District II
Central Middle -- 47 -- 1,087,000 Dole Middle -- 75 -- 2,422,000 Farrington High -- 192 -- 10,108,000 Fern -- 21 -- 418,000 Kaahumanu -- 24 -- 659,000 Kaewai -- 61 -- 1,914,000 Kaiulani -- 25 -- 1,111,000 Kalakaua Middle -- 65 -- 1,543,000 Kalihi -- 46 -- 1,884,000 Kalihi Kai -- 59 -- 1,359,000 Kalihi Uka -- 19 -- 681,000 Kalihi Waena -- 47 -- 1,117,000 Kapalama -- 33 -- 889,000 Kauluwela -- 21 -- 368,000 Kawananakoa Middle -- 45 -- 1,704,000 Lanakila -- 40 -- 1,134,000 Likelike -- 9 -- 107,000 Linapuni -- 11 -- 171,000 Lincoln -- 52 -- 1,525,000 Linekona -- 2 -- 87,000 Maemae -- 44 -- 1,056,000 McKinley High -- 90 -- 3,056,000 Nuuanu -- 77 -- 1,075,000 Pauoa -- 16 -- 269,000 Puuhale -- 18 -- 415,000 Roosevelt -- 54 -- 2,339,864 Royal School -- 16 -- 388,000 Stevenson Middle -- 34 -- 1,529,000Central District
Aiea -- 27 -- 673,000 Aiea High -- 41 -- 1,948,000 Aiea Inter. -- 18 -- 604,000 Aliamanu -- 47 -- 959,000 Aliamanu Inter. -- 39 -- 836,000 Hale Kula -- 55 -- 1,347,000 Haleiwa -- 38 -- 1,151,000 Helemano -- 25 -- 495,000 Hickam -- 47 -- 1,233,000 Iliahi -- 20 -- 686,000 Kaala -- 39 -- 699,000 Kipapa -- 48 -- 768,000 Leilehua -- 113 -- 4,056,000 Makalapa -- 20 -- 384,729 Mililani High -- 28 -- 761,000 Mililani Mauka -- 8 -- 131,000 Mililani Uka -- 77 -- 744,000 Mililani Waena -- 29 -- 446,000 Moanalua -- 46 -- 747,000 Moanalua High -- 63 -- 1,450,000 Moanalua Inter. -- 16 -- 299,000 Mokulele -- 15 -- 311,000 Nimitz -- 17 -- 634,000 Pearl Harbor -- 63 -- 1,598,000 Pearl Harbor Kai -- 17 -- 423,000 Pearl Ridge -- 16 -- 314,000 Radford High -- 80 -- 2,769,000 Red Hill -- 21 -- 584,000 Salt Lake -- 20 -- 601,000 Scott -- 46 -- 2,104,000 Shafter -- 18 -- 378,000 Solomon -- 34 -- 341,000 Wahiawa -- 23 -- 402,841 Wahiawa Inter. -- 55 -- 1,523,000 Waialua -- 37 -- 487,000 Waialua High & Inter -- 29 -- 1,370,000 Waimalu -- 50 -- 1,218,000 Webling -- 15 -- 485,000 Wheeler -- 47 -- 1,169,000 Wheeler Inter -- 18 -- 887,000Leeward District
August Ahrens -- 73 -- 1,507,000 Barbers Point -- 31 -- 661,000 Campbell High -- 33 -- 1,590,000 Ewa -- 24 -- 593,000 Ewa Beach -- 30 -- 835,000 Highlands Inter. -- 57 -- 1,003,000 Holomua -- 6 -- 154,000 Honowai -- 39 -- 756,000 Ilima Inter -- 39 -- 988,000 Iroquois Point -- 54 -- 715,000 Kaimiloa -- 9 -- 67,000 Kaleiopuu -- 7 -- 188,000 Kamaile -- 9 -- 200,000 Kanoelani -- 33 -- 625,000 Kapolei -- 4 -- 28,000 Leeward District Office -- 1 -- 40,000 Lehua -- 14 -- 506,000 Leihoku -- 46 -- 653,000 Maili -- 46 -- 843,000 Makaha -- 52 -- 1,145,000 Makakilo -- 23 -- 598,000 Manana -- 18 -- 325,000 Mauka Lani -- 30 -- 205,000 Momilani -- 9 -- 103,000 Nanaikapono -- 102 -- 1,276,000 Nanakuli -- 13 -- 322,000 Nanakuli High & Inter. -- 30 -- 1,215,000 Palisades -- 15 -- 509,000 Pearl City -- 41 -- 1,119,000 Pearl City High -- 45 -- 2,042,000 Pearl City Highlands -- 16 -- 487,000 Pohakea -- 29 -- 573,000 Waianae -- 53 -- 890,000 Waianae High -- 72 -- 1,327,000 Waianae Inter. -- 31 -- 940,000 Waiau -- 27 -- 420,000 Waipahu Elementary -- 34 -- 682,000 Waipahu High -- 84 -- 1,421,000 Waipahu Inter. -- 22 -- 668,000Windward District
Ahuimanu -- 13 -- 235,000 Aikahi -- 24 -- 603,000 Castle High -- 140 -- 3,684,000 Windward District Office -- 1 -- 25,000 Enchanted Lake -- 31 -- 647,000 Hauula -- 55 -- 893,469 Heeia -- 26 -- 552,000 Kaaawa -- 14 -- 101,000 Kaelepulu -- 10 -- 185,000 Kahaluu -- 19 -- 579,000 Kahuku -- 8 -- 248,000 Kahuku High/Inter. -- 95 -- 2,194,000 Kailua -- 71 -- 1,049,000 Kailua High -- 123 -- 3,913,000 Kailua Inter. -- 38 -- 1,296,000 Kainalu -- 91 -- 1,342,000 Kalaheo High -- 60 -- 1,786,000 Kaneohe -- 48 -- 876,000 Kapunahala -- 22 -- 525,000 Keolu -- 19 -- 348,000 King Inter. -- 66 -- 1,572,000 Laie -- 61 -- 1,092,000 Lanikai -- 13 -- 197,000 Maunawili -- 52 -- 1,085,000 Mokapu -- 76 -- 1,516,000 Olomana -- 31 -- 366,000 Parker -- 36 -- 935,167 Pope -- 22 -- 619,000 Puohala -- 30 -- 515,000 Sunset Beach -- 34 -- 241,000 Waiahole -- 30 -- 478,000 Waimanalo El & Inter. -- 38 -- 1,034,000Hawaii Island District
DeSilva -- 31 -- 776,000 DOE Annex Hilo -- 12 -- 312,000 DOE Annex Kona -- 1 -- 25,000 Haaheo -- 6 -- 122,000 Hakalau -- 4 -- 88,000 Halaula -- 11 -- 279,000 Hilo High -- 48 -- 1,854,380 Hilo Inter. -- 36 -- 1,696,000 Hilo Union -- 39 -- 1,426,000 Holualoa -- 13 -- 211,000 Honaunau -- 31 -- 484,000 Honokaa -- 39 -- 817,000 Honokaa High/Ele -- 9 -- 230,000 Honokaa High/Inter. -- 34 -- 1,814,658 Hookena -- 30 -- 305,000 Kahakai -- 15 -- 339,000 Kalanianaole El/Inter -- 30 -- 1,287,000 Kapiolani -- 21 -- 379,000 Kau High/Pahala El -- 24 -- 614,000 Kaumana -- 12 -- 236,000 Keaau El/Intermediate -- 44 -- 1,172,000 Keakealani -- 8 -- 95,000 Kealakehe -- 32 -- 1,022,000 Kealakehe Inter. -- 20 -- 603,000 Keaukaha -- 24 -- 538,000 Keonepoko -- 18 -- 385,000 Kohala -- 18 -- 458,000 Kohala High/Inter. -- 25 -- 872,000 Konawaena -- 21 -- 672,000 Konawaena High -- 23 -- 572,000 Konawaena High/Inter. -- 26 -- 621,111 Konawaena Inter. -- 23 -- 334,000 Laupahoehoe High/Ele. -- 25 -- 860,000 Mountain View -- 35 -- 845,000 Mountain View El/Inter. -- 11 -- 210,000 Naalehu -- 38 -- 455,000 Paauilo El/Inter. -- 28 -- 861,000 Pahoa -- 54 -- 621,000 Pahoa High -- 60 -- 1,300,830 Waiakea -- 54 -- 1,493,000 Waiakea High -- 62 -- 1,516,200 Waiakea Inter -- 57 -- 1,399,500 Waiakeawaena -- 38 -- 1,000,500 Waikoloa Elementary -- 4 -- 68,000 Waimea El/Int -- 41 -- 1,091,000Maui District
Baldwin High -- 233 -- 9,131,488 Haiku -- 43 -- 608,000 Hana High/El -- 18 -- 454,000 Iao -- 35 -- 525,999 Kahului -- 51 -- 828,500 Kalama Inter -- 27 -- 618,912 Kamehameha III -- 137 -- 1,918,600 Kamalii -- 2 -- 31,000 Kaunakakai -- 32 -- 526,000 Keanae -- 11 -- 309,000 Kihei -- 41 -- 781,443 Kilohana -- 11 -- 385,000 King Kekaulike High -- 8 -- 197,854 Kualapuu -- 40 -- 704,900 Kula -- 40 -- 770,500 Lahaina Inter -- 48 -- 606,000 Lahainaluna High -- 131 -- 3,979,445 Lanai High/El -- 128 -- 3,884,298 Lihikai -- 119 -- 1,591,750 Lokelani Inter -- 5 -- 89,000 Makawao -- 22 -- 564,000 Maui High -- 130 -- 3,052,396 Maui Waena Inter -- 17 -- 405,188 Maunaloa -- 20 -- 339,000 Molokai High/Inter -- 110 -- 2,469,826 Nahienaena -- 6 -- 56,000 Paia -- 59 -- 817,125 Pukalani -- 34 -- 571,000 Puunene -- 20 -- 351,000 Waihee -- 20 -- 331,000 Wailuku -- 71 -- 1,029,544Kauai
Anahola -- 1 -- 40,000 Eleele -- 14 -- 383,320 Hanalei -- 5 -- 54,000 Kalaheo -- 21 -- 367,300 Kapaa -- 34 -- 651,200 Kapaa High/Int -- 31 -- 1,112,600 Kauai High/Int -- 42 -- 1,369,650 Kekaha -- 14 -- 160,500 Kilauea -- 9 -- 121,338 King Kaumualii -- 10 -- 302,000 Koloa -- 11 -- 92,051 Waimea Canyon -- 12 -- 303,000 Waimea High -- 22 -- 459,600 Wilcox -- 34 -- 611,800
