MEDIA RELEASE

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has released $9.3 million to the Department of Education (DOE) for capital improvement projects (CIP) at four public schools on O‘ahu.

The Governor released a $7,800,000 lump sum appropriation that the DOE plans to use for ongoing classroom renovations at Kaimuki High School, Lunalilo Elementary School and the Hawai‘i School for the Deaf and the Blind.

In addition, Governor Lingle released $1,500,000 for drainage improvements to the football field and track at Leilehua High School. The project includes installing a new track surface to help protect the football field from dirt, debris and flooding. Currently, the field and track flood and get muddy when it rains, creating potentially unsafe playing and practice conditions. The Governor previously released $3,500,000 in design and construction funds in 2007 and 2009.

These projects are among those targeted by the Administration as part of a capital improvement plan launched in December 2008 to accelerate public infrastructure and construction to stimulate the economy and create jobs. Since the CIP plan was launched, the State has successfully opened bids for, awarded contracts for or started construction on 702 capital improvement projects, totaling $1,683,363,188.

Earlier this month Governor Lingle announced the release of $17,250,000 to the DOE for capital improvement projects (CIP) and new construction at public schools on Maui, Lāna‘i, Hawai‘i and O‘ahu. The project funds included $8 million to acquire land for a new high school in Kihei, Maui; $8 million for the construction of a new six-classroom building at Lāna‘i High and Elementary School; $1 million for the design and construction of a new gymnasium at Hilo High School; and $250,000 for the construction of two portable classrooms at Webling Elementary School in ‘Aiea.

“It is important that we continue to focus on improving and modernizing our school campuses to create better learning environments for our students,” said Governor Lingle. “At the same time, we remain focused on accelerating public construction projects to stimulate the economy and create jobs in the construction sector and related industries.”