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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
135 |
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TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
REQUESTING EACH COMPLEX WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO STUDY THE AIR COOLING NEEDS OF THE SCHOOLS WITHIN THE COMPLEX AND TO REVIEW THE FEASIBILITY OF USING ALTERNATIVE AIR COOLING METHODS SUCH AS FANS, HEAT REDUCTION, INSULATION, AND ENERGY EFFICIENT INDIVIDUAL AIR CONDITIONING WALL UNITS.
WHEREAS, students need to have the most conducive, comfortable learning environment in order to achieve the educational standards set for them; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that a physical learning environment that is free of unnecessary distractions from heat or outside noise is crucial to student learning; and
WHEREAS, given Hawaii's tropical environment and heat, many classrooms need to be equipped with air conditioning or alternative air cooling methods; and
WHEREAS, as each complex gains a greater role in managing schools within its jurisdiction, it is important to engage the complex in the analysis and prioritization of projects; and
WHEREAS, despite a tremendous backlog of repair and maintenance items and the need for new schools and facilities, it is important to include air conditioning costs as part of each complex's priority list of critical budget items for the Department of Education (DOE); and
WHEREAS, the DOE has projected that the provision of necessary air conditioning to each school and school complex will cost $1,000,000,000 over the next five years; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, the House of Representatives concurring, that each complex within the DOE is requested to study the air cooling needs of the schools in the complex and review the feasibility of using alternative air cooling methods such as fans, heat reduction, insulation, and energy efficient individual air conditioning wall units; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that as part of the study, each complex is requested to include information on:
(1) The utility and maintenance costs for the proposed air cooling methods;
(2) Information on any electrical upgrades that may be necessary for each school;
(3) A projected total cost;
(4) A timetable for implementation;
(5) Prioritization of the needs for cooling that differentiates the needs of buildings and classrooms within each school; and
(6) Mitigation measures that address solutions spanning from one classroom, one floor, or one building to several buildings that does not assume mitigation for the entire school; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the DOE is requested to submit a report of the findings and recommendations of each complex to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of Education and the Chairperson of the Board of Education.
DOE; Air Cooling; Study