The September 11th attack
Attacks cloud military aid to schools
By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer
A military-backed initiative has pumped $10 million in repairs and supplies into Hawai'i schools over the past two years, benefiting at least 84 schools and more than 60,000 students. Now, continuation of the program is in question.
The Joint Venture Education Forum in Hawai'i was formed in 1999 in response to military parents' perception that Hawai'i schools needed help.
Personnel were turning down assignments in Hawai'i to keep their children in Mainland schools, said Cmdr. Jeff Spencer, with the U.S. Pacific Command, who organized and directed the forum through its first two years.
In its first year, the forum secured $5 million from the U.S. Department of Defense for the repair and maintenance of 23 facilities that had a large number of students from military families.
In its second year, $4.5 million went to finance repair and maintenance work at 28 schools, five more than last year. But far more schools were reached with other spending and labor, including $288,000 for book purchases for 50 schools and $112,000 for self-help initiatives in which the military purchased material for small projects at 65 schools and military units volunteered their labor.
Last year, "For the first time we were able to look at schools that were not just high in military enrollment, but all schools," said Spencer.
A remaining $100,000 was earmarked for Hawai'i 3Rs Program, an effort by Sen. Daniel Inouye to involve community volunteers and donations to improve Hawai'i's school facilities.
Following the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States and a call for the military to prepare for action, it is unclear whether Hawai'i schools will receive a third round of support, or if the self-help initiative may suffer cutbacks in manpower as military units that volunteered may be have to be diverted, said Lt. Cmdr. Pete Nette, who is replacing Spencer.
In a meeting last month, participating units were asked to evaluate their ability to continue and report back to the forum.
"Whether it impacts this program will depend on the conflict we might be waging," Nette said, adding that some units may have to leave. "But if the money is there, we're willing to give it up for more self-help projects."
The military self-help initiatives and the forum have created partnerships between schools and military personnel that have bridged the two cultures, said Lea Albert, Windward District superintendent. The projects and regular sessions of the forum have affected education in Hawai'i on many levels, including parent participation, legislative actions and open dialogue, Albert said.
"(The military) are very committed to do everything they can to support public education in Hawai'i," she said. "They are committed to lobbying the Legislature for needs of Hawai'i's children, not just military children. And they are very focused on making sure that DOD funding reaches public schools."
In Windward O'ahu alone, 11 schools have participated or are scheduled for the self-help initiative, receiving about $24,000 to buy paint, fans, ceiling tile, plants and building material, Spencer said. Units from Marine Corps Base Hawai'i are responsible for five projects in Waimanalo at Blanche Pope Elementary and Waimanalo Intermediate & Elementary schools, and in Kailua at Kailua Intermediate, and Kailua and Kalaheo high schools.
Windward high schools' ROTC programs at Castle, Kahuku, Kalaheo and Kailua also received support from the Hawai'i National Guard, to renovate classrooms, fitness centers and rifle ranges, he said. The Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard also have established partnerships with other island schools.
Allen Awaya, U.S. CINCPAC education liaison, said the projects and the military involvement with education have benefited all students. "If we can help the military children and help improve the schools, we can enhance the education of all the students in the state," Awaya said.
Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com or 234-5266.
