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The Maui News
The state Department of Education is tentatively planning to bring students back to Lahaina public school campuses after the fall break in mid-October, pending environmental clearances, DOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi announced Tuesday.
"The health and safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority in our plans to reopen campuses," Hayashi said. "This is a very fluid situation and things may still change; however, we know that a tentative reopening timeline will help with planning and bring some stability for our staff, students and families during this very turbulent time."
DOE's fall break runs from Oct. 9-13. An exact date for students to return will depend on each school's phased reopening schedule, according to a DOE news release.
Hayashi made the announcement at a Lahaina school-level staff convening on Tuesday. The DOE is also holding two community meetings today at 9 a.m. at Citizen Church in Kapalua and at 1 p.m. at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's McCoy Theater to get public input and discuss reopening plans.
Three of the DOE's four Lahaina schools -- Princess Nahi'ena'ena Elementary, Lahaina Intermediate and Lahainaluna High -- have been closed since the Aug. 8 wildfires as they undergo environmental assessments for air, water and soil quality, as well as ensuring stable power and sufficient broadband connectivity.
The state Department of Health has installed air quality sensors at the three campuses and will be installing additional devices in certain classrooms. The department is also working with Maui County to evaluate water quality at the schools and has hired a contractor to conduct soil sampling. Before the schools reopen, professional cleaners will be hired to thoroughly clean the schools.
The King Kamehameha III Elementary campus was damaged beyond repair. When the other campuses reopen after fall break, the DOE is planning for King Kamehameha III Elementary students and staff to share a campus with Princess Nahi'ena'ena Elementary. The department is also planning for a future temporary site for the school while long-term plans are being made.
The DOE came under fire during a Board of Education meeting last week as teachers and parents raised concerns over the department's communication with staff and its plans to bus students from Lahaina to temporary sites at Central and South Maui schools. Many said they didn't want students to be separated from their families and community or be driven past the devastation of Lahaina town. Others said they would still worry about safety if they sent students back to the three campuses even after environmental monitoring.
The department has given families the following options as it works to reopen Lahaina schools after fall break:
• In-person learning through temporarily enrolling at designated schools in Central and South Maui. Bus transportation from and to Lahaina will to be provided by the department, with dedicated support staff on board. For more information, visit www.hawaiipublicschools.org/DOE Forms/HIDOE AUG 2023-WestMaui-ParentFamilyUpdate-Enroll.pdf.
• Virtual learning through the State Distance Learning Program, which is currently accepting applications at bit.ly/MauiDistanceLearning. Families may register for the State Kaiapuni (Hawaiian immersion) Distance Learning Program at bit.ly/SKDLPMaui.
Next week, staff at all Lahaina schools are scheduled to be on administrative leave. The department said it brought together school-level staff this week to offer resources and learn how best to support employees.
Principals of the Lahaina public schools and DOE leaders will be available to meet with Maui families and community members during the two public meetings today.
Overflow parking for Citizen Church will be available at the Old Bay Course Clubhouse in Kapalua, formerly Pineapple Grill, at 200 Kapalua Dr. Shuttles will be available from Kapalua to the church.