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THE SENATE |
S.C.R. NO. |
43 |
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TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012 |
S.D. 1 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
ENCOURAGING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO CONSIDER UTILIZING PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES FACING CLOSURE AND REUTILIZING VACANT PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO KUPUNA-RELATED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES, THEREBY AVOIDING UNDERUTILIZATION AND POSSIBLE CLOSURE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES.
WHEREAS, the Board of Education and Department of Education are charged with determining whether certain public schools in the State should be closed or otherwise consolidated; and
WHEREAS, the procedures for closure and consolidation of public schools require the Superintendent of Education to appoint a task force to study the possible consolidation and make a report and recommendation to the Board of Education; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 302A-1151.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, the Department of Education is already required to give reasonable consideration to making public school facilities available to charter schools when the Department considers closing any particular public school; and
WHEREAS, rather than closing schools based upon low student enrollment, portions of these schools could be repurposed to serve the community in other ways; and
WHEREAS, public school facilities being considered for closure and vacant public school facilities could be used for community services such as aging and disability resource centers, senior centers, and other kupuna-related programs; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-sixth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2012, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Board of Education and Department of Education are encouraged to consider utilizing public school facilities facing closure and reutilizing vacant public school facilities to support the needs of the community, including but not limited to kupuna-related programs and services, thereby avoiding underutilization and possible closure of public school facilities; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education and Department of Education are encouraged to consider a flexible policy that allows school campuses to be better utilized based on the changing demographics and needs of the community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education and Department of Education are encouraged to consult with the neighborhood boards and other community organizations to identify opportunities to use all or a portion of public school facilities for services and programs that benefit the community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, Executive Secretary of the Neighborhood Commission Office, and Director of the Executive Office on Aging.
Kupuna Caucus; School Facilities; Senior and Community Services