"Maintaining and improving the facilities our students, faculty and staff utilize each and every day, remains a critical priority of my administration" said Governor Lingle.

The following projects are planned for Big Island schools:

i Pahoa High & Intermediate School: $7,400,000 will be used to design, construct and provide equipment for a new gymnasium. The school currently shares a gym with the County. The design phase started in January 2007 and construction is scheduled to be completed in April 2009.

i Kalaniana'ole Elementary & Intermediate School: $3,585,000 will be used to design and construct air conditioning for buildings A, B and D, which includes the school's library, administrative offices, classrooms and multipurpose rooms. The funds will also be used for related electrical work throughout the school. The project designs started in January 2007 and construction is scheduled to be completed in July 2009.

i Honoka'a Elementary School: $924,468 is allocated to design and upgrade the school's electrical system, which will support the school's computer and technology equipment needs. Construction is expected to start in December 2007 and is scheduled for completion in August 2008.

i Hilo High School: $250,000 in design and construction funds will be used to provide air conditioning and electrical upgrades to Building F to improve ventilation. The building, a 75-year-old wooden structure, is used by the school's student services coordinator and behavioral health specialists. Construction is scheduled to begin in November 2007 and be completed by the end of March 2008.  An additional $1,100,000 will be used for the design and construction of a new gymnasium. The gymnasium will also serve the community as an emergency shelter. The current gym was built in 1937. The design plan is scheduled to begin this month and construction is expected to be completed in December 2009.

i Honaunau Elementary School: $780,000 in design and construction funds will be used to upgrade the school's electrical system, in order to support the school's computer and technology needs. Construction will begin in December 2007 with completion in August 2008.

i Na'alehu Elementary & Intermediate School: $735,000 is allocated to build and construct an additional 59 parking stalls on the campus. The school presently has 11 parking stalls, including six stalls for staff, four for visitors and one handicap accessible stall. The construction start date is December 2007 and scheduled completion is July 2008.

i Waimea Middle School: $1,000,000 will be used to design an eight-classroom building, which will include two science and computer resource classrooms, four general education classrooms, a student services coordinator and assistant office and a faculty center.  The building will replace Building N at the school. The design phase is scheduled to start in July 2007 and be completed in May 2008.