School repairs lag as slowing economy bites into funding

‘To do’ list for school repair gets longer

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The backlog of projects to fix Hawaii public schools is growing.

The state Department of Education says it would need to spend $412 million to get 261 schools back in shape, up about 20 percent from a estimated tab of $341 million in September 2006.

Officials released the figures yesterday during a legislative briefing during which lawmakers were told the inventory of overdue work will only rise unless the economy improves and more repair money is released.

They attributed the swelling backlog in part to $140 million in funds withheld by the state and the steep cost to upgrade campuses built more than 50 years ago.

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The softening of Hawaii's economy is beginning to show in worn-out carpets, peeling paint, leaky roofs, old windows and desks at Hawaii's public schools.

DETERIORATING SCHOOLS After sharp reductions since 2001, the backlog of projects to repair and maintain isle public schools rose during the past two years with restrictions on state spending. DATE BACKLOG COST Jan. 2001 $720 million Aug. 2001 $623 million May 2002 $701 million Dec. 2003 $703 million April 2004 $666 million Sept. 2004 $468 million Sept. 2005 $525 million Sept. 2006 $341 million Sept. 2007 $370 million May 2008 $412 million Source: State Department of Education

Cuts in state spending to fix campuses have prevented the Department of Education from attacking a backlog in projects that rose some 20 percent to $412 million in less than two years.

And as funding dwindles, the condition of isle schools -- most more than a half-century old -- will only worsen as they require more money to get back in shape, education officials warned lawmakers yesterday during a briefing at the Capitol.

The state withheld $140 million from the total $310 million appropriated for fiscal 2007 and 2008 for overdue school repair and maintenance, said Duane Kashiwai, public works administrator for the Education Department. He said $66 million approved for fiscal 2009 campus improvements and $100 million to refurbish classes might not be enough to reduce the inventory of projects.

"This may hold us steady but it may not," he said after speaking before joint Senate and House Education committees.

State Budget Director Georgina Kawamura said school construction funds were held up because tax revenue came in lower than expected. She said her office has been working more closely with education officials since 2006 so that projects prioritized for safety or health concerns can be completed.

To trim the backlog, in 2001 the Education Department began prioritizing maintenance work at schools older than 25 years. But because of the funding challenges, the estimated cost to tackle the deferred work jumped to $412 million from $341 million in September 2006.

At Enchanted Lake Elementary in Kailua, the first phase of a $1.66 million renovation of all classroom buildings is under way. It will include interior and exterior painting, new whiteboards, tile and carpet, and electrical upgrades, said Ed Masuoka, construction manager for Mitsunaga and Associates Inc.

Statewide, the schools backlog, which reached $720 million in 2001, has slowly declined, but progress has been hampered as annual funding has ranged from $150 million to $35 million.

Senate Education Chairman Norman Sakamoto said he hopes the state will release funds approved by the Legislature this year "so we are not just treading water."

"That will get us back on pace," said Sakamoto (D, Salt Lake-Foster Village).

He also urged educators to seek additional help from the private sector and through the nonprofit Hawaii 3R's, whose mission is to "Repair, Remodel and Restore" schools. The organization, which awards grants to schools that match funds with private contributions and/or volunteers, has saved the state more than $22 million since August 2001, according to the Education Department.

Kashiwai said the Education Department has launched a pilot project through which 22 schools in the Kalaheo, Kailua and Kaiser complexes will get constant roof checks to avoid costly repairs. It is expected to extend the life of 264 roofs by five to 17 years, possibly saving $750,000 in roofing projects that would no longer be needed, he said.