Lingle blasts
school neglectShe criticizes the cut in
funds for repairs and warns
legislators about 'pork' projects
Standing outside a decrepit classroom at Kaewai Elementary School in Kalihi, Gov. Linda Lingle lambasted the Legislature yesterday for slashing funds to repair Hawaii's public schools.
She also threatened to withhold money for other school projects funded by legislators that were not on the Department of Education's priority list, dismissing them as "pork."
"Politics has to be taken out of how these moneys have been allocated," Lingle said. "A school like this should not have been allowed to get into this state."
Shifting ground at Kaewai Elementary has buckled sidewalks and cracked walls, forcing the closure of one classroom a few months ago and threatening part of the library that houses computer equipment.
Caution tape cordons off the classroom, yellow paint highlights uneven sidewalks, and a makeshift wooden post bolsters the walkway ceiling outside the library.
Principal Dale Spalding said conditions deteriorated substantially this year at the school, which was built in the 1950s, and money initially budgeted for repairs fell short. Lingle announced the release of $3.3 million yesterday to stabilize the soil, shore up buildings and refurbish them. The money was set aside by last year's Legislature for such contingencies.
Facing a huge backlog of deferred work at Hawaii's public schools, legislators ramped up spending on repairs and maintenance to a record $245 million over the two fiscal years ending June 30. But in the budget just approved for fiscal 2004 and 2005, they cut such funds to $35 million in the first year and just $7 million the next. Lingle had asked for $120 million over two years.
"Given the uncertainties of our fiscal situation, we decided to be cautious," said Rep. Dwight Takamine (D, Hawi-Hilo), chairman of the Finance Committee. He and Senate Ways and Means Chairman Brian Taniguchi (D, Moiliili-Manoa) also said they expect some funds to be carried over from this year.
"There is still a lot of bond money available," Taniguchi said. "There is a lot in the hopper right now. We think the $35 million will keep them busy, and if they do need more money next year, we can take a look at it."
But Lingle said putting off maintenance projects just escalates their cost, and legislators could have raised revenue for repairs by tightening loopholes in the high-tech tax credit law. She also criticized legislators for putting money into new construction projects that are not on the Department of Education's priority list.
"We need to make certain that the projects that the schools feel are most important are the ones that get done, and not reward those legislators who put in their own pork barrel projects in districts where it wasn't a priority," she said.
"If the governor releases money knowing that that's not a priority of the department, it just reinforces that kind of behavior by the Legislature," she said.
Lingle said she plans to consult with legislators and withhold funds from projects she finds are not legitimate.
The DOE priority list ranks projects statewide, based on need, starting with capital improvements needed for health and safety, and new classrooms needed to accommodate growing enrollment. Legislators funded 10 items on the list, but added another $22 million in projects that were not on it, from an all-weather track at Waiakea High School in Hilo to a new cafeteria at Waipahu Intermediate. (See chart.)
Taniguchi said legislators try to follow the priority list, but also respond to requests directly from schools for worthy projects. The DOE's capital improvements project list is weighted toward classroom construction, he said, and some older schools can be shortchanged in favor of "new areas, new schools, new classroom buildings."
"We don't make these things up," he said. "Those are needs expressed to us by constituencies at the school level."
Projects funded by the Legislature that were on the priority list include $25 million to build Maui Lani Elementary School in Kahului and $13 million to begin building Ocean Pointe Elementary in Ewa Beach. Also funded are new classrooms at Waipahu High, Waianae High and Hana High and Elementary and the design of classroom buildings for Nanakuli High and Intermediate School and Mililani High School.
Three projects lower on the list were also funded by the Legislature: design of a new cafeteria for Kilauea Elementary, building renovations at Roosevelt High and a gymnasium for Pahoa High.
Takamine said legislators also showed their commitment to education by restoring funds that had been cut in the schools' operating budget proposed by Lingle, where the impact on schools is "very immediate." They also funded more capital improvement projects on the priority list than she had in her executive budget.
At Kaewai Elementary, fifth-grader Seini Tuitupou joined her classmates in seeking Lingle's autograph, then said she hoped the governor's visit meant her school would soon be fixed.
"Our school is cracking up," she said. "Maybe she can help us."
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Money for school projects
These specific school projects were funded in the 2003-2005 budget approved by the Legislature last week. All expenditures are for 2003-2004, unless otherwise noted. The first 10 projects are on the Department of Education's priority list. Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday she may withhold funding for some of the others, in hopes of redirecting the money to needier schools.
School Project Budgeted Maui Lani Elementary* Construction of new school $13 million Waipahu High Eight-classroom building $4.9 million Hana High and Elementary Six-classroom building $3 million Waianae High Eight-classroom building $4.9 million Ocean Pointe Elementary** Construction of first increment $13 million Nanakuli High and Intermediate Design of eight-classroom building $300,000 Mililani High Design of 10-classroom building $360,000 Kilauea Elementary Design of new cafeteria $300,000 Roosevelt High Renovation of Building A $2.5 million Pahoa High Gymnasium $650,000 Campbell High Electrical upgrade $1.2 million Fern Elementary Replace roofs of Buildings J, B, C $235,000 Honowai Elementary Air condition library $200,000 Kahuku High and Intermediate Renovations and improvements $400,000 Kalihi-Waena Elementary Renovate Building H; relocate library $300,000 Kapalama Elementary Additional parking stalls $150,000 Kawananakoa Middle Music building renovation/expansion $350,000 Lahainaluna High Athletic locker room $2 million Nanakuli Elementary School construction $450,000 Pearl City Elementary Air condition Building C $500,000 Salt Lake Elementary Renovate Bldg. E into more classrooms $520,000 Shafter Elementary Additional parking stalls $90,000 Waiakea High All-weather track; field improvements $2.8 million Waimea Middle First and second increments $2 million Heeia Elementary Expansion of parking lot $180,000 Highlands Intermediate Extension of music building $704,000 Kaimuki High Science Center Building G $130,000 Kaimuki High Athletic field restroom $333,000 Kawananakoa Middle Upgrade electrical/plumbing auditorium $600,000 Leilehua High Convert Room 53 to Tech Center $251,000 Manoa Elementary Electrical upgrade $300,000 McKinley High Expansion of cafeteria $320,000 Moanalua Elementary Eight-classroom building $800,000 Pearlridge Elementary Expansion of cafeteria $950,000 Roosevelt High Air condition Building A $500,000 Waikele Elementary Extension of parking lot $125,000 Waimea High New locker room $800,000 Washington Middle Replace bell system $170,000 Kalihi-Waena Elementary Reroof Buildings A & B $285,000 Leilehua High Eight-classroom building $1 million Waipahu Intermediate New cafeteria $3.2 million * Maui Lani Elementary was budgeted an additional $12 million in 2004-2005.
** Ocean Pointe Elementary funding is for the 2004-05 fiscal year.Source: Department of Education