It’s been about 10 years since a Volcano charter school has seen any renovations.
It’s been about 10 years since a Volcano charter school has seen any renovations.
But all that is about to change with the recent release of $618,000 to the Friends of Volcano School of Arts &Sciences from Gov. Neil Abercrombie.
Daryl Smith, chair of the school’s board, said Monday that Abercrombie released the funds on April 2.
Smith said the money will be used for the planning and design phase for construction of 15 new classrooms, a multipurpose facility and bathrooms on the school’s campus located at Haunani Road in Volcano Village.
He said the additions are needed.
“Right now, the kids are studying in tents. It’s not a good environment where we are, but it’s an excellent school,” he said.
When Smith started working with the board a few years ago, he said the pursuit of funds for new facilities was a challenging task.
“We had to prove that we were viable and that we could build the school, and the funds were not the only funds we were after,” he said.
Originally, the board applied for a loan with the state. Board members planned to borrow $2.6 million, but since the state released $618,000 for the project, Smith said the board will end up borrowing $700,000 instead.
“Everybody’s pretty excited about it,” he said about the project.
Ardith Renteneria, the school’s education director, said she was pleased with the community’s support over the years.
“We’re really appreciative and the community has been really good about writing letters in support of the project, sending petitions and emailing legislators,” she said.
Renteneria said they’re still waiting for approval of certain permits before construction can begin, but she hopes to get the ball rolling within the next year.
State Rep. Richard Onishi, representing areas in Hilo, Keaau, Kurtistown, Volcano, said he’s been working with Smith to secure funding to help the school with the initiative, and was happy to hear that money had been released for the project.
“It’s good news for the community,” he said. “This is the first step in the process of building the school.”
He said he’s been supportive of the project since the beginning.
“It’s important, especially for that area. There isn’t another school there and it’s problematic for people in that area,” he said.
Construction of the new facilities will occur at the old Keakealani Outdoor Education Center, where the school holds a 60-year lease from the state Department of Education.
Renteneria said the multipurpose building will be used for lunch, an indoor play area, theater and the new classrooms will be used for lots of activities including an art classroom, a science lab, a Japanese room and a Hawaiian culture and music room.
The Volcano School of Arts and Sciences serves 188 students in grades K-8.
Smith said that he has more than 140 individual volunteers, and 13 contractors have volunteered to help with construction.
Email Megan Moseley at mmoseley@hawaiitribune-herald.com