HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0871.007 2008-2010 Public Testimony
In support of
Resolution No. 368 — 10
July 21, 2010
Georgiana L. Caravalho
Kohala High School
P.O. Box 279
Kapaau, Hawaii 96755 -0279
Aloha Hawai'i County Council Members:
My name is Georgiana L. Caravalho, Vice Principal at Kohala High School. I would like
to speak in support of County of Hawai'i Resolution Number 368 -10: A
RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO
RECONSIDER THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE KOHALA COMPLEX
SCHOOLS.
My children all graduated from Kohala High and Elementary School when it was a one
campus and housed over a thousand students. I, as a parent, was never pleased with my
children moving into the high school in seventh grade. I felt that it was not age
appropriate for thirteen and fourteen year olds to be thrust into the older world of young
adults. They were at the stage of growth spurts, voice, physical, and emotional changes.
I witnessed classrooms housing two classes teaching different subjects. I observed a
room with more than fifty students with two teachers trying to sustain a quality learning
environment for their subject area. On one side of the classroom was an agricultural
class, and on the other a language arts class. The over crowded classroom imagine is
forever branded in my mind, and the disservice and damage that was done to our Kohala
students at that time, I feel is heartbreaking.
Not only was there over crowding in the classrooms, there was over crowding of students
and traffic on a public road (Honomaka'u Road) that runs through the campus. There
was never enough parking, and no sidewalks along the road. There were cars
everywhere, and two students were killed and two students injured when they were struck
by cars. There is no traffic light at the intersection of Akoni Pule Highway and
Honomaka'u Road. Without the proper infrastructure the traffic chaos will allow unsafe
conditions to grow again.
The opening of the Kohala Middle School at Halaula provided the space needed for these
developing students. It also allowed us to take the sixth graders out of the high school
area of the campus and move them to Halaula as well. On opening day we saw eleven
classrooms filled with students. My classroom was in the cafeteria, so there was already
a shortage of a classroom starting off. It was here that the middle school concept was
implemented. This was a great home for our sixth — eighth grade students to learn and
develop into young adults.
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And develop it did. Today, Kohala Middle School has met the No Child Left Behind
requirement of Adequately Yearly Progress ( "AYP ") for two years in a row, and is now a
school in unconditional good standing. The Kohala High School has met AYP as well.
With this achievement it makes no sense academically or emotionally to take the High
and Middle Schools back into the past. We must continue to strive higher and to move
forward.
Resolution 368 -10 broadens the community support for our North Kohala's children to
learn and grow in a sound learning environment. Our children are depending on your
leadership. I ask for the passage of this Resolution.
Thank you for your kind attention.