The state Department of Education has extended its closure of the Lahainaluna High School boarding program boys’ dorm, which has been shuttered since Feb. 22 due to staff shortages.

DOE Interim Superintendent Keith Hayashi said in a letter to parents, guardians and community members on March 11 that the closure would be extended to allow for newly hired dorm attendants to be trained but could not offer a timeline for when the dorms would be opened.

Temporary Assignment Principal Lora-lea Grando had told parents in a Feb. 12 letter that the boys’ dorm would be closed until March 20 when school resumed after spring break, though DOE planned to revisit conditions to see if the closure would be extended. The girls’ dorm was not affected.

The DOE said in February that four adult male dorm attendants are needed for the program, but there were two vacant positions and two attendants on leave. DOE did not disclose what type of leave the workers were on.

On Monday, DOE officials did not immediately respond to requests for an update on the dorms and staffing.

The boys’ dorm has 23 students, including three from Oahu and two from Hana. During the closure, students could choose to revert to distance learning, attend school during daytime hours only or reenroll in their originating public school. The program accepts students from out of the Lahaina district.

Hayashi said in the March 11 letter that the DOE shares the sentiment of “deep affection” and “pride” that the Lahainaluna community and alumni have regarding the boarding program.

“We are actively working to bring the program into compliance with established standards and policies,” Hayashi said. “Our goal is to improve the quality of the experience for all boarding students. This takes time. We ask for the community’s patience as we work through various issues to make positive changes.”

He added that the DOE plans to seek input from boarding program stakeholders prior to making any long-term decisions about the program.

He said there will be a community meeting in “the near future” and that details would be forthcoming.

As the issues with staffing have come up, so have allegations of misconduct in the program, including use of illegal drugs in the boarding dormitory, inappropriate use of physical punishment in the form of assigning physical labor to students and hazing of students, the DOE has acknowledged.

DOE officials have said the allegations are being taken seriously and will be investigated thoroughly with appropriate actions taken.

Christine-Kimberly Chung, a boarder in the Hoapili girls’ dorm, and fellow boarder Fiona Amram started a petition a month ago on change.org asking that the boys’ David Malo dormitory remain open.

Chung said she fears the same could happen to the girls’ dorm and then the boarding program in general.

As of Monday afternoon, the petition had nearly 2,000 signatures.

* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.