STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3166

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.C.R. No. 143

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Eighth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2016

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 143 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE EQUIPMENT NECESSARY FOR A FULL-SERVICE CONVENTIONAL KITCHEN AT KEAUKAHA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND TO PROVIDE NECESSARY POSITIONS TO OPERATE THE KITCHEN,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to request that the Department of Education provide equipment and personnel necessary for a full-service conventional kitchen at Keaukaha Elementary School.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from Keaukaha One Youth Development, Keaukaha Community Association, Keaukaha School Parent Teacher Association, sixty-eight individuals, and a petition signed by more than two hundred thirty individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Education.

     Your Committee finds that the Department of Education completed the construction of a new cafetorium at Keaukaha Elementary School to replace the aging cafeteria and kitchen that had previously existed.  During construction, food service personnel and functions were moved to other schools in the complex area.  Although the completed cafetorium facility has all the necessary infrastructure in place to support a full-service kitchen, the school lacks kitchen equipment and necessary staff.  Meals for students at Keaukaha Elementary School must be brought in from other schools, which results in frequent delays and insufficient meals for students.  Your Committee further finds that your Committee on Ways and Means recently added appropriations to the fiscal year 2016-2017 budget for capital improvement projects related to kitchen equipment and facilities in public schools.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Noting that the Senate Committee on Ways and Means has added additional appropriations to the fiscal year 2016‑2017 budget for capital improvement projects related to kitchen equipment and facilities in public schools; and

     (2)  Providing that Keaukaha Elementary School should use some of its cafeteria funds to hire additional kitchen staff.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 143, as amended herein, and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means, in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 143, S.D. 1.

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

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MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair