RES 515 Draft 01 2024-2026 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WHEREAS, Ke Kula `o `Ehunuikaimalino plays a vital role in providing Hawaiian language immersion education and perpetuating `ike Hawaii, making the timely restoration of its facilities especially important to cultural continuity and community identity; and WHEREAS, prolonged disruption to school operations disproportionately affects students and families in rural and underserved communities, exacerbating existing inequities in access to education; and WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii has access to emergency funding mechanisms and disaster response resources that can be deployed to support the timely repair and restoration of critical public facilities, including public schools; and WHEREAS, swift action is necessary to ensure that students, faculty, and staff may safely return to fully functional campuses and resume normal educational activities without undue delay; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI`I that this body strongly urges the Governor of the State of Hawaii and the Superintendent of the Department of Education to prioritize, fund, and expedite the repair and restoration of Konawaena High School, Konawaena Middle School, and Ke Kula `o `Ehunuikaimalino following damage caused by the recent Kona low storm. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that that this body urges the immediate allocation and deployment of available State emergency funds and resources to support these efforts, ensuring that all necessary repairs are completed as quickly and efficiently as possible. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that that the Council requests ongoing communication and coordination with County officials and the affected community to provide timely updates on repair progress and anticipated timelines for full restoration.