Posted on: Thursday, November 11, 2004
Plan for new 'Ewa Beach school advances
By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Education Writer
Plans to build a new school in a rapidly growing 'Ewa Beach subdivision are moving forward, with public comments on a draft environmental assessment invited through Dec. 8.
The Department of Education completed two new campuses this year, and besides Ocean Pointe Elementary, has two others on the horizon: Mililani 'Ike Elementary School, opened January 2004 Nanaikapono Elementary, Nanakuli, opened July 2004 Ocean Pointe Elementary School, expected to open in fall 2006. Maui Lani Elementary, Kahului, will open 2006 or 2007 Middle School, 'Ewa Beach, will open 2008 TO COMMENT A copy of the draft environmental assessment for Ocean Pointe Elementary School is available for viewing at several public libraries, including the Pearl City Regional Library, the 'Ewa Beach Public and School Library, Kapolei Library, the Hawai'i State Library Hawai'i Documents Center, the City Hall Annex Library and the Legislative Reference Bureau Library. Comments on the draft can be submitted in writing by Dec. 8 to Perry White, Planning Solutions, 210 Ward Ave., Suite 330, Honolulu, HI 96814. The new elementary school will be much needed, since most elementary schools in the 'Ewa Beach area are near or over capacity and the Ocean Pointe subdivision alone is expected to draw almost 5,000 new homeowners over the next 10 years.
"They tend to be younger families," said project consultant Perry White of Planning Solutions Inc. "There's a real burgeoning school population."
According to the draft environmental assessment, elementary school enrollment in that area is expected to increase by about 23 percent, or 800 students, over the next six years.
When it opens, the school will be able to accommodate 725 students, although it is not expected to reach full capacity until 2010, according to assistant environmental planner Melissa May, also of Planning Solutions.
If the area continues to grow, the school will have the option of moving to a multi-track year-round schedule, which would allow it to accommodate 966 students.
The $25 million state-funded project will include three classroom buildings, a cafetorium, an administration building, a student services building and a library, as well as outdoor gathering spots, sports fields and playgrounds. All but one single-story classroom building is expected to be finished when Haseko donates the 12-acre property to the Department of Education.
Ocean Pointe Elementary "will defer enrollment that would have gone to another school," said Sanford Beppu, a DOE capital improvements planner. Ocean Pointe residents now attend 'Ewa Beach Elementary, where enrollment last year was slightly over the school's capacity.
Located within the residential area, the school will be bordered by a district park on one side and the entrance road to Ocean Pointe on the other.
Since the school has always been included in the plans for the subdivision, the state Department of Accounting and General Services, which is in charge of building the project, anticipates a finding of "no significant impact" to the environment once the environmental assessment is reviewed.
If so, the project will go out to bid next month, and construction could begin as soon as February.
Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.
Ocean Pointe Elementary School, expected to open in fall 2006, will accommodate children from the growing Haseko Inc. subdivision of the same name, as well as neighboring subdivisions.
NEW SCHOOLS
