Posted on: Friday, April 30, 2004

ISLAND VOICE
Progress made on Pre-Plus

By Lillian Koller and Russ Saito

The state's early education program got off to a slow start but is now moving ahead.

Hawai'i's Pre-Plus program is crucially important, especially for those from low-income families, and the Lingle-Aiona administration has been taking the necessary action to get the Pre-Plus schools back on track as originally envisioned.

Pre-Plus, which was launched in the spring of 2001 as a public-private partnership by the previous administration to help meet the need for early education programs, foundered at the start.

The program first fell under the responsibility of the previous lieutenant governor. While well intentioned, her office was perhaps not the best place to house Pre-Plus, given the scope of the program, as well as the need for expertise in early childhood education, human services, building permitting and construction, and overall project planning and management.

Upon taking office in December 2002, Lt. Gov. Duke Aiona transferred Pre-Plus to the Department of Human Services, which has since been actively working to address the problems that have prevented some schools from opening and resulted in costly delays to the taxpayers.

Contrary to a recent Advertiser editorial, the Lingle-Aiona administration did not eliminate the Pre-Plus coordinator position. In early 2003, the duties of this position were assumed by a DHS employee after the employee who held the position took a different job with the state.

At the time the employee left the program, one Pre-Plus site was open, another was undergoing licensing by the DHS and a third was undergoing final inspection prior to licensing. Construction was under way at seven sites and about to begin on three sites. Seven sites were opened in 2003, and four are scheduled for opening this year.

We cannot change the past missteps that have delayed Pre-Plus from reaching its full potential, but our departments, working closely with other agencies and the private sector, are continuing to move forward on opening additional schools.

Some of the solutions already in the works have been quite simple, requiring a little bit of imagination to overcome unnecessary bureaucracy, and establishing clear lines of responsibility and, more importantly, accountability.

For example, at Jefferson Elementary, where a lack of a phone line has delayed the opening of the school, we are working with the Department of Education's technology coordinator to expedite the installation of a necessary phone line. Here are a few other updates:

• Aiea: The state, the U.S. Navy and the Board of Water Supply are working to provide fire hydrant service.

• Fern: Work has been completed on a sprinkler system. After some final adjustments and finishing up, the state will seek a certificate of occupancy from the county Fire Department.

• Waiau: Work is scheduled to start in May on an access road and a sprinkler system.

• Waipahu: After resolving problems with a fire alarm system, a certificate of occupancy is expected at any time.

Significantly, the modular Pre-Plus building designs have been improved in the process, and the private service providers who operate the facilities have been very satisfied with the facilities, which can accommodate handicapped children if necessary.

We have enough money left to build eight additional facilities. Construction on six is under way, and another two sites are contemplated.

Building the preschools is only part of the early education equation. We also need to ensure that our children, especially those from low-income families, have the basic skills to learn and succeed. To this end, the Lingle-Aiona administration has adopted and implemented, for the first time, quality assurance standards for early education.

With education as one of the Lingle-Aiona administration's top priorities, we will continue to work collaboratively with county and federal governments, the education community, the private sector and parents to provide quality learning environments for all our children.

Lillian Koller is the director of the Department of Human Services; Russ Saito is state comptroller.