A new fire inspection system that allows schools to correct violations within 10 days led to only four schools failing inspection this year.

Those four schools — Waialua High, Mokapu Elementary, Ho-noka'a Elementary and Kapa'a High — are addressing their violations, fire officials said.

Letting schools fix the problems led to a 98 percent passing rate — likely the best ever and up markedly from 77 percent last year, according to the Department of Education.

A total of 35 schools were able to correct problems related to exit signs, alarm systems and extension cords.

"For us, this is a success story. The only outstanding violations can be corrected with proper funding," said Honolulu Fire Captain Attilio Leonardi, who chairs the state Fire Council. "Families can rest assured that schools are fire safe."

DOE spokesman Greg Knudsen said the system was changed to be fair to schools, which often can fix problems easily.

"Many of the problems were minor," he said. "The purpose isn't necessarily to bust the schools but to promote safety."

School grounds, facilities and equipment also did well in annual safety inspections conducted by 1,500 volunteers at the 256 schools in the state last fall.

Only Aliamanu Elementary and Konawaena High were found unacceptable this year due to structural and other problems, and total school renovations at both sites already have been funded, according to Gary Yasui, school inspection program specialist.

The volunteers gave 122 schools "very good" ratings; 132 were rated "acceptable."

The volunteers, including parents and community members, rated schools on grounds, building exteriors, building interiors, furniture and equipment, safety and sanitation. Schools were also asked to complete restroom assessments, and next year's survey will make restroom inspections mandatory.

The school inspections were called into question after a ceiling at Kailua Intermediate collapsed in January, months after the school received a "satisfactory" rating.

Rae Loui, assistant superintendent in charge of business services, said the DOE is working to improve the technical measures for the surveys.

While the budget will not allow the department to put certified inspectors on every team, schools are being asked to recruit volunteers with technical skills, such as parents who are engineers, to assist with the inspection process.

In addition, once problems are identified the department will send in its own experts.

Yasui noted that the problems at Kailua Intermediate would not have been obvious just by looking at the ceiling. Now, all schools with plaster ceilings have been identified, and inspection teams have been trained to look for signs of possible problems.

Twenty-one schools were rated "unacceptable" in one or more categories, and those schools are required to develop action plans to correct the problems.

The most common need for improvements include exterior and interior painting, termite infestation, leaking roofs and gutters, drainage, aging furniture, worn carpets, walkways and sidewalks, restrooms, railings, drinking fountains, classroom lighting, fire alarms and program bells and overall aging facilities.