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Worst schools When Howard Humphreys first became principal at Pearl City Elementary School, he couldn't believe the condition of the classrooms and other facilities at the Leeward Oahu school.
get first repairs
40 schools are in the state's
The list
first phase of attacking its
maintenance backlogBy Crystal Kua
ckua@starbulletin.com"Eleven years ago, this place was a dump," Humphreys said. "Coming to a school in Pearl City, I never thought it was going to be this bad. This was one of the worst schools I had been in."
Since then, school folks, state repairmen and community volunteers have painted, landscaped, installed air conditioners, put in hopscotch lines and erected playground equipment, improving the look and feel of the school.
"We helped to maintain the school as best we could," he said.
But because the school is 50 years old and had been in such bad shape not too long ago, Humphreys said it's no surprise to him that the state has rated the condition of the school buildings as one of the worst in the state.
That rating, however, means that Pearl City Elementary will be among the first 40 schools in the state to undergo complete renovation this spring in all-out attack on back repair and maintenance projects -- last estimated at $640 million -- that will spruce things up and give students a better place to learn.
"Come August, this school will look like a brand-new school," a giddy-sounding Humphreys said.
As part of a six-year project proposed to the state Legislature, the state administration plans to spend about $331 million to renovate classrooms.
The first phase calls for nearly $64 million to renovate classroom buildings at 40 schools across the state this fiscal year.
The continuation of the renovations depends on $255 million in capital improvement funding being approved this legislative session so that an additional 140 schools would be renovated in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, and 42 more schools the following fiscal year.
In 2005 the remaining six schools would be completed at a cost of $8.6 million.
All the schools to be renovated are 19 years old or older.
"This is the most money I've ever seen come to R&M (repair and maintenance). I'm happy about it," said James Richardson, whose division oversees repair and maintenance of state buildings. "I think we're actually seeing improvement in the schools."
To prioritize the renovation of schools, the Department of Accounting & General Services sent teams of surveyors out to the seven school districts to assess the condition of classrooms.
The Star-Bulletin's accompanying ranking of those schools is on a statewide basis, ranked from the highest. The higher the school's rank, the worse the condition of the classrooms.
But the state ranked schools in each district so that each district would have a proportional dollar share of renovations in each phase. For example, in the first phase of renovations, 11 schools are in Honolulu, six in Central, three in Leeward, four in Windward, seven on the Big Island, six from Maui and three from Kauai.
That means some schools in one district may have a higher score than schools in another district but may still have to wait until the next phase to be renovated because they fell below the cutoff line.
For example, Maili Elementary in Leeward Oahu had a higher score than Roosevelt High School in Honolulu. But because Roosevelt ranks highest in the Honolulu district, it will be renovated in the first round, and Maili will be renovated in the second round.
Richardson, chief of DAGS' central services division, said that if his division went strictly on a statewide ranking, a district could possibly get no schools renovated during the first round of renovations and some may get too many
Spreading the wealth among the districts was the fairest way to go, he said.
"Otherwise, I would get a lot of grumbling," Richardson said.
Besides Pearl City Elementary, another Leeward district school, Waianae Elementary, also scored 70 out of 72 in the DAGS survey, the highest score among all the schools.
Five more Leeward schools follow close behind.
Four of those seven Leeward schools at the top of the rankings are in the district represented by Democratic state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa, who said that Leeward schools have been shortchanged in the past.
"I think the ways the state has appropriated their money in the past ... the Leeward area has been neglected the most," Hanabusa said.
Pearl City Elementary's Humphreys wouldn't argue with that.
His school has dim lighting that goes back half a century when the school opened, louvers that won't close tightly so dust comes through and buildings that have never seen a new coat of paint.
At the time Humphreys became principal, Pearl City Elementary was on the verge of shutting down to make room for a new school at Waiawa, he said.
But when Waiawa project didn't materialize, the school began to do maintenance projects here and there whenever funding became available or when volunteers pitched in.
But the comprehensive classroom renovations planned for March through May will transform the school, he said.
"This is a very major undertaking," he said. "The teachers are just jumping for joy. The parents that are aware of it, they can hardly wait for August (when school opens next year)."
Humphreys said that not only will the school look, he expects student learning and pride will also improve.
For example, after air conditioning was installed in classrooms to counter highway noise and dust problems, the school soon after saw student standardized test scores go up and discipline problems go down.
"With this project, it's going to be phenomenal," he said. "Even the students, they are very aware of what's happening. It makes them proud."
Hanabusa said the fact that the Leeward district also has some of the best-looking schools in the state, such as the schools in Kapolei, shows that in the Leeward district things are about to change.
"It's catch-up time," she said.
Hanabusa, Senate vice president and vice chairwoman of Ways and Means Committee, said the Senate is committed to passing school repair and maintenance funding the state administration is requesting.
"Unless we put in a huge chunk of money, we will never catch up," she said. "If we do all of these, we should be able to catch up hopefully sooner rather than later."
The list includes 228 schools that are 19 years or older, or 87 percent of the schools in the state. The worst get the most
The Department of Accounting & General Services sent out teams to survey the conditions of classrooms in these schools in order to come up with a priority list.
A separate team of surveyors was assigned to each school district.
They looked at the condition of nine areas: exterior paint, interior paint, classroom floor, windows, cabinets, chalkboard, light fixtures, termite damage repairs and restrooms in classroom buildings.
They rated these areas on the following scale: 8 for significant damage, 7 for damaged, 6 for deteriorated, 5 for poor, 4 for satisfactory, 3 for fair, 2 for good, 1 for excellent.
The highest possible score is 72. The higher the score, the worse the conditions. The list also includes the estimated cost of the project.
The Star-Bulletin's ranking of those schools is on a statewide basis, ranked from the highest.
But in determining which schools would be renovated first, the state ranked schools in each district so that each district would have a proportional share of renovations in each phase. Forty schools are funded in the 2001-02 fiscal year. Those are marked with an asterisk (*).
Rank School Score Estimate 1. Pearl City Elementary* 70 $1,510,000 2. Waianae Elementary* 70 $2,320,000 3. Waianae High School* 67 $1,821,000 4. Maili Elementary 66 $1,764,000 5. Makaha Elementary 65 $1,556,000 6. Barbers Point Elementary 64 $1,550,000 7. Ewa Elementary 64 $1,300,000 8. Waimanalo Elem. and Inter.* 62 $2,156,000 9. Lahainaluna High* 62 $2,392,000 10. Roosevelt High* 61 $2,668,000 11. Pearl City Highlands 61 $1,510,000 12. August Ahrens 61 $2,662,000 13. Kailua High* 61 $3,028,000 14. Aina Haina Elementary* 60 $1,222,000 15. Highlands Intermediate 60 $1,856,000 16. Castle High* 60 N/A 17. Kapaa High* 60 $2,916,000 18. Kapaa Elementary* 60 $900,000 19. Kalaheo Elementary* 60 $694,000 20. Washington Middle* 59 $1,800,000 21. Waipahu Elementary 59 $1,450,000 22. Waipahu High 59 $3,700,000 23. Laie Elementary* 59 $1,876,000 24. Kaimuki Middle* 58 $1,159,000 25. Kawananakoa Middle* 58 $1,972,000 26. Ewa Elementary 58 $1,100,000 27. Kauai High 58 $3,548,000 28. Waimea High 58 $2,528,000 29. Manoa Elementary* 57 $1,910,000 30. Palisades Elementary 57 $1,020,000 31. Jarrett Middle* 56 $818,000 32. Central Middle* 56 $1,400,000 33. Hale Kula Elementary* 56 $2,146,000 34. Waimea Canyon 56 $2,052,000 35. Wilcox Elementary 56 $2,530,000 36. Kailua Intermediate 55 $2,080,000 37. Niu Valley Middle* 54 $1,730,000 38. Aiea High* 54 $2,652,000 39. Haleiwa Elementary* 54 $1,500,000 40. Kahuku High andInter. 54 $3,418,000 41. Kalihi Elementary* 53 $1,000,000 42. Haiku Elementary* 53 $1,158,000 43. Farrington High* 52 $578,000 44. Palolo Elementary 52 $1,790,000 45. Aiea Intermediate* 52 $1,518,000 46. Aliamanu Intermediate* 52 $2,466,000 47. Kainalu Elementary 52 $1,730,000 48. Radford High* 51 $1,723,000 49. Maunawili Elementary 51 $1,158,000 50. Waiakea Intermediate* 51 $2,012,000 51. Maunaloa Elementary* 51 $654,000 52. Kilohana Elementary* 51 $584,000 53. Makawao Elementary* 51 $781,000 54. Wailuku Elementary* 51 $2,676,000 55. Kailua Elementary 50 $1,540,000 56. King Middle 50 $1,930,000 57. Iao Elementary 50 $1,578,000 58. Lanai High and Elementary 50 $1,662,000 59. Baldwin High 50 $3,416,000 60. Kahala Elementary 49 $1,260,000 61. Molokai High & Intermediate 49 $2,124,000 62. Kalihi Kai Elementary 48 $1,700,000 63. Ilima Intermediate 48 $2,386,000 64. Mokapu Elementary 48 $1,720,000 65. Hokulani Elementary 47 $860,000 66. Waialua High 47 $2,296,000 67. Hauula Elementary 47 $946,000 68. Kahului Elementary 47 $2,402,000 69. Lihikai Elementary 47 $2,432,000 70. Pukalani Elementary 47 $1,304,000 71. Waihee Elementary 47 $1,620,000 72. Ala Wai Elementary 46 $1,350,000 73. Kapiolani Elementary* 46 $742,000 74. Hana High andIntermediate 46 $1,274,000 75. Wheeler Elementary 45 $1,560,000 76. Keolu Elementary 45 $1,000,000 77. Honokaa High andIntermediate* 45 $1,574,000 78. Honaunau Elementary* 45 $970,000 79. Kam III Elementary 45 $1,486,000 80. Eleele Elementary 45 $1,240,000 81. Koloa Elementary 45 $972,000 82. Kekaha Elementary 45 $1,118,000 83. Kilauea Elementary 45 $908,000 84. Liliuokalani Elementary 44 $820,000 85. Kaiulani Elementary 44 $1,050,000 86. Aliamanu Elementary 44 $1,804,000 87. Iroquois Point Elementary 44 $1,972,000 88. Waianae Intermediate 44 $2,288,000 89. Nanakuli High and Intermediate 44 $2,216,000 90. Kohala High* 44 $1,440,000 91. Pahoa High* 44 $1,640,000 92. Kalanianaole Inter. and Elem.* 44 $1,710,000 93. Hilo High 44 $2,960,000 94. Kihei Elementary 44 $2,456,000 95. Kula Elementary 44 $1,098,000 96. Kalani High 43 $2,636,000 97. Stevenson Middle 43 $1,606,000 98. Waimalu Elementary 43 $1,526,000 99. Maui High 43 $3,292,000 100. Aiea Elementary 42 $1,240,000 101. Kalaheo High 42 $2,254,000 102. Paia Elementary 42 $820,000 103. Jefferson Elementary 41 $1,830,000 104. Lincoln Elemenatary 41 $1,358,000 105. Ma'ema'e Elementary 41 $1,334,000 106. Alvah Scott Elementary 41 $1,778,000 107. Wahiawa Elementary 41 $1,828,000 108. Honowai Elementary 41 $1,684,000 109. Lahaina Intermediate 41 $1,482,000 110. Aliiolani Elementary 40 $1,180,000 111. Kaewai Elementary 39 $1,300,000 112. Aikahi Elementary 39 $1,058,000 113. McKinley High 38 $3,416,000 114. Pearl Harbor Elementary 38 $1,768,000 115. Pohakea Elementary 38 $1,254,000 116. Enchanted Lake Elementary 38 $1,380,000 117. Parker Elementary 38 $1,510,000 118. Kaunakakai Elementary 38 $1,354,000 119. Kualapuu Elementary 38 $1,046,000 120. Keanae Elementary 38 $200,000 121. Helemano Elementary 38 $1,400,000 122. Kokohead Elementary 37 $1,386,000 123. Kalihi Waena Elementary 37 $1,440,000 124. Lanakila 37 $1,150,000 125. Mililani High 37 $3,966,000 126. Red Hill Elementary 37 $1,152,000 127. Lehua Elementary 37 $900,000 128. Manana Elementary 37 $922,000 129. Kau High and Elementary 37 $1,880,000 130. Hanalei Elementary 37 $664,000 131. Kuhio Elementary 36 $870,000 132. Hickam Elementary 36 $1,696,000 133. Mokulele Elementary 36 $1,236,000 134. Nimitz Elementary 36 $1,300,000 135. Pearlridge Elementary 36 $1,144,000 136. Wahiawa Intermediate 36 $1,834,000 137. Wahiawa Storefront School 36 $140,000 138. Makakilo Elementary 36 $1,250,000 139. Pearl City High 36 $3,438,000 140. Momilani Elementary 36 $554,000 141. Campbell High 36 $3,606,000 142. Waiau Elementary 36 $1,228,000 143. Puunene Elementary 36 $280,000 144. Lunalilo Elementary 35 $1,360,000 145. Pauoa Elementary 35 $1,340,000 146. Moanalua Elementary 35 $1,312,000 147. Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary 35 $1,400,000 148. Maukalani Elementary 35 $1,108,000 149. Leihoku Elementary 35 $1,552,000 150. Kanoelani Elementary 35 $1,364,000 151. Sunset Beach Elementary 35 $1,008,000 152. Holualoa Elementary 35 $682,000 153. Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind 34 $760,000 154. Kapalama Elementary 34 $840,000 155. Wheeler Intermediate 34 $1,780,000 156. Paauilo Intermediate and Elementary 34 $708,000 157. Mt.View Elementary 34 $1,124,000 158. Kohala Elementary 34 $574,000 159. Waiakea Elementary 34 $1,034,000 160. Hookena Elementary 34 $696,000 161. Wilson Elementary 33 $1,296,000 162. Kipapa Elementary 33 $1,830,000 163. Waipahu Intermediate 33 $2,570,000 164. Kaaawa Elementary 33 $428,000 165. Anuenue Elementary 32 $910,000 166. Likelike Elementary 32 $990,000 167. Kauluwela Elementary 32 $990,000 168. Heeia Elementary 32 $1,168,000 169. Waiahole Elementary 32 $638,000 170. Hahaihone Elementary 31 $1,520,000 171. Fern Elementary 31 $1,190,000 172. Kaahumanu Elementary 31 $1,298,000 173. Iliahi Elementary 31 $1,110,000 174. Solomon Elementary 31 $2,056,000 175. Kaimiloa Elementary 31 $1,326,000 176. Kaneohe Elementary 31 $1,060,000 177. Keaukaha Elementary 31 $948,000 178. Pahoa Elementary 31 $1,184,000 179. DeSilva Elementary 31 $1,054,000 180. Kamiloiki Elementary 30 $1,128,000 181. Waialua Elementary 30 $1,176,000 182. Puohala Elementary 30 $1,110,000 183. Kahaluu Elementary 30 $840,000 184. Konawaena High 30 $2,400,000 185. Kealakehe Elementary 30 $1,314,000 186. Waiakeawaena Elementary 30 $1,646,000 187. Naalehu Elementary 30 $898,000 188. Kaumana Elementary 30 $720,000 189. Waimea Elementary 30 $900,000 190. Waiakea High 30 $2,650,000 191. Waikiki Elementary 29 $870,000 192. Kalihi Uka Elementary 29 $760,000 193. Royal Elementary 29 $760,000 194. Keaau Middle 29 $1,406,000 195. Hilo Intermediate 29 $1,020,000 196. Haaheo Elementary 29 $470,000 197. Hilo Union Elementary 29 $1,256,000 198. Waimea Intermediate 29 $1,090,000 199. Honokaa Elementary 29 $876,000 200. Laupahoehoe High and Elementary 29 $1,088,000 201. Kealakehe Intermediate 29 $902,000 202. Kaimuki High 28 $558,000 203. Makalapa Elementary 28 $1,194,000 204. Mililani Uka Elementary 28 $1,908,000 205. Webling Elementary 28 $990,000 206. Wailupe Valley Elementary 27 $580,000 207. WaialaeElementary 26 $1,050,000 208. Kapunahala Elementary 26 $1,084,000 209. Kaiser High 25 $2,070,000 210. Shafter Elementary 25 $750,000 211. Moanalua Intermediate 24 $1,614,000 212. Salt Lake Elementary 24 $1,506,000 213. Olomana School 24 $40,000 214. Kaala Elementary 23 $1,040,000 215. Lanikai Elementary 23 $536,000 216. Pope Elementary 22 $1,050,000 217. NoelaniElementary 21 $716,000 218. Linapuni Elementary 21 $644,000 219. Moanalua High 21 $2,948,000 220. Liholiho Elementary 20 $960,000 221. Puuhale Elementary 20 $898,000 222. Nuuanu Elementary 20 $944,000 223. Mililani Waena Elementary 19 $1,998,000 224. Kaelepulu Elementary 19 $534,000 225. Ahuimanu Elementary 18 $930,000 226. Linekona 16 $240,000 227. Kahuku Elementary 12 $714,000 228. Leilehua High 9 $408,000 Source: Department of Accounting & General Services