By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Nanakuli residents, from left, Sandie Aken, Walter Kamana
and Rondinette Benerao protest the proposed Nanakuli multitrack
schedule during last night's Board of Education meeting.
Education Board
votes against
multitrack for
Nanakuli school
The system helps relieve
By Crystal Kua
overcrowding, but many say
it disrupts families
Star-BulletinDURING school breaks, Kylie Kaeo enjoys going to the beach with her cousins or being with her brother.
But that would all change if multitrack scheduling came to the Leeward Coast, she said.
"I do not want multitrack," the Nanaikapono Elementary School second grader told the Board of Education last night. "If we go multitrack, I will not be able to spend time with my cousins and may not even be able to spend time with my brother."
The board last night agreed with her, voting 12 to 1 against implementing a multitrack system for a new school in Nanakuli.
But discussion about the school brought to light the desire by some to reexamine the board's policy on multitrack for new and existing schools.
By George F. Lee, Star-Bulletin
Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu, center, state librarian
Virginia Lowell, left, and Board of Education Chairman Mitsugi
Nakashima talk with members of the public at last night's school
board meeting at Kailua Intermediate School, where the subject
of multitrack scheduling brought opposition from some parents.
"I think we need to take another hard look at multitrack," said board member Lex Brodie, who cast the lone vote against the recommendation to exempt the school from multitrack.Board member Keith Sakata, who chairs the board's Support Services Committee, said he believes the multitrack system is a good idea fiscally to relieve overcrowded classrooms, but not for Nanakuli. He said his committee may be looking at the multitrack policy at its next meeting.
A $21 million replacement school, currently called Nanakuli IV, is planned for an area across Farrington Highway from Nanaikapono.
While Nanaikapono has an enrollment of more than 1,000 students, the replacement school is planned for only 750 students.
Nanaikapono is located on a parcel of Hawaiian homes land with a lease of about $600,000 a year.
The lease is scheduled to expire in 2002, when the new school is slated to be completed.
A multitrack system involves students separated into different groups, attending school on multiple scheduling tracks.
While one group is on break, the other groups are in school.
Leeward Coast residents say the multitrack system will cause upheaval in their extended family practices.
Some of these residents chartered a bus to get to last night's meeting at Kailua Intermediate School.
Many in the audience held signs with messages of opposition to the plan.
Rep. Mike Kahikina (D, Nanakuli, Maili, Waianae) and state Sen. Colleen Hanabusa (D, Nanakuli, Waianae, Makaha) testified that they have submitted legislation for an additional $5.1 million to expand the school to accommodate Nanaikapono's student population.
But board members and those testifying said that everyone connected with project must come up with creative solutions in case there's no extra money.
Kamaki Kanahele, president of the Nanakuli Hawaiian Homestead Community Association, said that if Nanaikapono is relocated, groups such as the Kamehameha Schools are looking at possibly taking over the site for a preschool.
Coupled with plans for a nearby multi-purpose center, private, public and community groups could join forces to make all these proposals a reality, he said.
Those opposing the multitrack system included the father of Nanakuli son Salevaa Atisanoe, also known as sumo wrestler Konishiki, who appeared before the board with a message from his son, "Daddy, go fight. Don't give up."
