HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

180

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2016

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO FURTHER DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PLAN TO ADDRESS OVERCROWDING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN KAPOLEI, EWA, WAIPAHU, MILILANI, AND PEARL CITY.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Kapolei, Ewa, and Waipahu are some of the fastest-growing communities on Oahu and in the State as a whole; and

 

     WHEREAS, large numbers of young families with school-aged children are moving to Kapolei, Ewa, and Waipahu because of the relatively more-affordable housing in these areas; and

 

     WHEREAS, student enrollment is projected to increase at public schools in Kapolei, Ewa, Waipahu, Mililani, and Pearl City; and

 

     WHEREAS, when overcrowding at public schools occurs, it adversely affects both teaching conditions for teachers and learning conditions for students; and

 

     WHEREAS, because of overcrowding, there are reports of public school teachers who must teach classes that are startlingly large in size; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education is developing a plan to construct new school and classroom facilities at some of the areas affected by student overpopulation; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature appropriated $10,000,000 as a lump sum to the Department of Education to address overcrowding in public schools; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2016, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Education is requested to further develop and implement a plan to address overcrowding in public schools in Kapolei, Ewa, Waipahu, Mililani, and Pearl City; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to include in its plan input from the Hawaii State Teachers Association and state legislators representing Kapolei, Ewa, Waipahu, Mililani, and Pearl City; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit a report with a summary of its plan and its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than December 20, 2016; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education and Superintendent of Education.

Report Title: 

Department of Education; Overcrowding; Public Schools; Kapolei, Ewa, and Waipahu