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Playground gear
may be installed
by prisoners
School equipment overhauls
must be done properly on
a tight budgetHirono to form school repair panel
By Crystal Kua
Star-BulletinThe idea of using prisoners to install playground equipment at elementary schools was tossed around by state lawmakers on the House Education Committee meeting yesterday.
The committee took up a bill to fund playground equipment with a little more than $8 million in long-term construction funds.
The amount comes to about $50,000 for each of 179 elementary schools, Department of Education facilities chief Lester Chuck said.
The measure passed out of committee with amendments and is now headed to the Finance Committee.
The bill was amended to include suggestions made by the Department of Education. The amendments would allow the money to be used not only to renovate condemned structures but also for new equipment, safe ground covering and complying with federal disabilities law.
The Department of Accounting and General Services expressed some concern about the cost of upkeep as well as ensuring that the structures are installed properly.
Education Chairman Ken Ito suggested using prisoners to put in the equipment.A DAGS representative told the committee he did not think schools would want that.
Chuck said the department requires that if members of the community install playground equipment for schools, a manufacturer's representative must supervise the installation to make sure it is done correctly.
Rep. Dennis Arakaki asked Chuck if the same would hold true if prisoners were used to install the equipment. Chuck said it was possible.
The bill was generally supported by all those who testified.
Linda Rosen, co-chairwoman of the Keiki Injury Prevention Coalition, said in written testimony that the funds will go a long way toward reducing playground injuries by having playgrounds comply with safety guidelines.
"Renovating playgrounds to meet safety requirements is necessary to ensuring Hawaii's children have safe play environments that promote their physical, emotional and mental well-being," Rosen said.
Lt. Gov. Mazie Hirono will form a committee within the next several weeks to oversee the repair and maintenance of schools. Hirono to form school repair panel
The repair and maintenance oversight committee will include 10 to 12 people from the business, banking and building trades industries. The group will establish criteria to select school complexes -- schools that feed into a high school -- for a demonstration project.
Gov. Ben Cayetano is proposing using $45 million for each of the next three years for school repair and maintenance to deal with a $240 million backlog of school repairs.
"The key to success lies in mobilizing the community and leveraging our R&M money," Hirono said. "This opportunity will give people the chance to help our schools with their resources, their in-kind contributions and their sweat."
Appearing with Hirono at a press conference announcing the initiative were state Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu and members of the business community.
Star-Bulletin staff
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