STAND. COM. REP. NO. 291

                                   Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                     , 1999

                                   RE:  S.B. No. 1639
                                        




Honorable Norman Mizuguchi
President of the Senate
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education and Technology, to which was
referred S.B. No. 1639 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN EMERGENCY APPROPRIATION FOR
     KAPOLEI HIGH SCHOOL,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to make an emergency
appropriation for the construction of the first increment of the
new Kapolei High School.

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the
Department of Education, the Hawaii State Teachers Association,
the Hawaii State Parent, Teacher, and Student Association, the
Villages of Kapolei Homeowners Association, the Estate of James
Campbell, Information Services, Senator Brian Kanno, and two
concerned individuals.  

     High school students living in Kapolei must currently
commute ten miles to Campbell High School.  Your Committee finds
that Campbell High School is currently facing multiple problems
due to overcrowding from the influx of Kapolei students.  

     Although it is apparent that a high school in Kapolei must
be constructed, the Department of Education testified that
groundbreaking for this construction should begin in March, 1999.
This would allow the school to open to its first ninth grade
class in July, 2000.  With Kapolei Middle School opening on July,
1999, to grades six, seven, and eight, students from Kapolei

 
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                                   STAND. COM. REP. NO. 291
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Middle School will be able to attend Kapolei High School in July,
2000.  Both the high school and middle school in Kapolei are
designed as "schools of the future", with an aligned curriculum
and programs.  By making Kapolei High School available to
students in July, 2000, students at Kapolei Middle School will
have an uninterrupted educational process.

     Your Committee is aware of the current financial situation
of the State and realizes the impact this emergency appropriation
will have on the budget.  Because of this, your Committee finds
further discussion on this measure is warranted.  The Committee
believes additional information from the Department of Education
regarding any problems caused by a delay in construction of
Kapolei High School would be an important consideration in
discussions with the Committee on Ways and Means. 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Education and Technology that is attached to this
report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose
of S.B. No. 1639 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and
be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Education and
                                   Technology,



                                   ______________________________
                                   DAVID Y. IGE, Chair

 
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