HONOLULU, Hawaii – The Senate Ways and Means Committee passed a whole bunch of education related bills on Thursday.

One bill would develop a cooling master strategy and comprehensive study for the public schools. Teachers and students have been clamoring for air conditioned classrooms. Charter Schools would get a boost from bills appropriating funds for facilities projects and allowing the state public charter school commission to request the issuance of general obligation bonds, the proceeds of which would go to design and construction of school facilities. Also, school athletics would make a comeback under SB3083. A senate press release has more:

SB2424 SD1: RELATING TO AIR CONDITIONING
Requires the department of education and department of accounting and general services, in consultation with the Hawaii state energy office of the department of business, economic development, and tourism and the Hawaii natural energy institute of the University of Hawaii, to develop a cooling master strategy and comprehensive study for the public schools and to report findings to the 2015 regular session of the legislature. Appropriates funds.

SB3083 SD1: RELATING TO SCHOOL ATHLETICS.
Appropriates general funds for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the school athletics program of the department of education. Authorizes additional coaching and assistant coaching positions for fiscal year 2014-2015 for the school athletics program.

SB2516 RELATING TO FACILITIES FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS
Appropriates funds for the state public charter school commission to allocate to charter schools for facilities projects based, in part, on the need and performance of the charter schools. Requires annual reporting to the legislature.

SB2517 RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS
Authorizes the state public charter school commission to request the issuance of general obligation bonds from the director of finance and to allocate the proceeds for the design, planning, construction, repair, and maintenance of public charter school facilities. Creates a working group to determine criteria for and to prioritize the allocation of general obligation bond proceeds to the public charters schools. Specifies that public charter school facilities funded through the proceeds of general obligation bonds are owned by the State. Requires the state public charter school commission to report annually to the legislature. Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds to the state public charter school commission. Repeals on June 30, 2024.

Ways and Means Chair David Ige

“Hawaii’s keiki are our greatest resource and it’s important that we give them every advantage for a better future,” said Senator David Ige, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, in the media release. “To do that, we need to invest in every aspect of their education from academics to athletics to their learning environment.”

These measures will go to the Senate floor for third reading and if approved will move to the House for consideration.

Status of bills represent up-to-date information via State Legislative website

SB2424 SD1 – RELATING TO AIR CONDITIONING

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SB3083 SD1 – RELATING TO SCHOOL ATHLETICS

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SB2516 – RELATING TO FACILITIES FUNDING FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS

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SB2517 – RELATING TO CHARTER SCHOOLS

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