THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	63
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ALLOW VACANT CLASSROOMS TO BE USED BY CHARTER SCHOOLS.

WHEREAS, Act 14, Special Session Laws of Hawaii 2008, required the Department of Education to submit annual reports identifying vacant classrooms for conversion into early learning facilities; and

WHEREAS, the Department has identified in its December 2009 annual report that eighty vacant public school classrooms are available; and

WHEREAS, these eighty classrooms are located in various public elementary and middle schools on Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai; and

WHEREAS, these classrooms are at schools such as Aliiolani Elementary School, Kalihi-Kai Elementary School, Wahiawa Middle School, Waianae Intermediate School, Kailua Intermediate School, Kapaa Middle School, Haiku Elementary School, and Keaau Middle School; and

WHEREAS, the report also indicates that it would cost approximately $7,204,000 to convert these eighty classrooms for early learning uses; and

WHEREAS, there is increased demand for public charter schools and a lack of public charter school facilities; and

WHEREAS, there were over 2,800 students on waitlists who were unable to enroll in public charter schools during the 2008-2009 school year due to a lack of adequate capacity to accommodate them, according to the Charter School Administrative Office; and

WHEREAS, some public charter schools do not have conventional classrooms and must use tents, shipping containers, trailers, and other make-shift structures as classrooms; and

WHEREAS, the need for public charter school facilities is as important as the need for early learning facilities; and

WHEREAS, some of the eighty vacant classrooms may not be located in areas where early learning facilities are in demand, but may be appropriate locations for public charter school classrooms; and

WHEREAS, the cost of converting vacant classrooms to early learning facilities are likely to cost more than providing the vacant classrooms for public charter school use; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Education prioritize a portion of the eighty vacant classrooms for use by public charter schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education and the Charter School Administrative Office shall coordinate and allow the use of vacant school classrooms by public charter schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a list of vacant classrooms to be set aside for public charter schools be prepared promptly and this list be provided to the Twenty-Fifth Legislature before it adjourns in May 2010; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Department of Education and the Charter School Administrative Office.

OFFERED BY:	_____________________________
	BY REQUEST

Report Title: 

Urging The Department Of Education To Allow Vacant Classrooms To Be Used By Charter Schools