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Wahine soccer team gets new energy from an old source.
By Sean Aronson
The soccer team plays two more games in Maui before the New Year. In 2009, they will be at home for just two games – January 9th and 10th against Baldwin High. Home games are played in the field behind Kaunakakai Elementary School. Friday games begin at 3:30pm and Saturday games at 10 am. Come out and support your team.
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At Aka`ula, students are encouraged to see the world.
By Sean Aronson
Two other Molokai elementary schools also will be studied for consolidation.
By Sean Aronson
It is official – Maunaloa Elementary School will be reviewed for possible consolidation in the coming months.
After much speculation and confusion, State education officials announced this week that Maunaloa is among the schools being considered for consolidation. The Molokai school is part of a list that includes more than 20 schools in the islands. Two other elementary schools – Kualapu`u and Kaunakakai Elementary Schools – were grouped with Maunaloa in the announcement.
The Board of Education has grouped schools together that share geographical areas in order to study them as a system. If Maunaloa were to close, it is likely students would be transported to Kualapu’u or Kaunakakai, according to Board of Education members.
Community Shows Strength Over Threatened School
By Sean Aronson
Children and adults alike brought passion and conviction to a community discussion over the future of education on Molokai. While there was no official agenda, the issue at the top of everyone’s list was the prospect of Maunaloa Elementary School closing.
The Maunaloa community has coalesced over the issue, not wanting to endure another blow to their already hard hit community. Recent activism has included sign holding throughout town, and petition-signing at local businesses. The actions were prompted by the news that Maunaloa Elementary School will be considered for a consolidation effort if it’s determined that the school meets the criteria set forth by the State guidelines.
Molokai’s girl’s volleyball repeats last year’s achievement.
By Sean Aronson
Following on the heels of their first Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Championship in nearly a decade, the Molokai High School girl’s volleyball team finished fourth at the State Tournament in Honolulu.
It was the second year in a row their season ended with a fourth place. This impressive feat was accomplished without a single senior on the team - all of the players will be back for next year.
“We were shooting for third place to better last years finish, but we just couldn’t get there,” said Head Coach Matt Helm.
The Farmers were a #2 seed going into the tournament based on the strength of the MIL and their success in last year’s tournament.
Helm credits the team’s visualization exercises prior to the State tournament with preparing his girls. He said they spent the week and a half after the MIL practicing lightly and focusing on not being intimidated in Honolulu.
Despite their preparation, Helm said the team came out a little ‘shaky’ in their first game against University High, dropping the first set before recovering and winning in five sets. The next day, the Farmers faced Word of Life and battled hard in each set, but lost in three sets to the eventual State runner-ups.
On the last day of the tournament, the girls played Kailua for third place in U of H’s Stan Sherriff Center. On the big court, the Farmers just barely lost the first set and ultimately succumbed in the second.
But the season was still a major success according to Helm.
As for next year, Helm said, “I want the girls to think about being competitive not only in the MIL, but in the state as well.”
Helm also stressed that the entire team, from coaches to players, grew both on and off the court. “We overcame a number of challenges and are better people, not just athletes,” said Helm.
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Maunaloa students Kekoa and Taylor wait for their parents after school last week. Like teachers and parents, the children hope their school is not on a consolidation list come December. That would mean long bus rides and another major loss to this already hard hit community.
By Sean Aronson
On the heels of Molokai Ranch closing its operations, the community of Maunaloa is preparing for what could be yet another hardship. If the Hawaii state Board of Education (BOE) approves plans making it easier to consolidate small schools in Hawaii, it could lead to the closure of Maunaloa Elementary School.
The potential change comes as the state faces a projected $1.1 billion deficit by the end of 2011. Lawmakers are turning to the BOE to cut as much as $69 million from its 2009 budget. The Hawaii public school system is already $24 million short this fiscal year.
But community members say they will not go down without a fight.
“We’re just not gonna stand by,” said long time resident and parent John Yates. “We’ll do anything we can to fight this.”
Parents and concerned community members planned a sign-waiving event this past Tuesday to drum up awareness and support.
Maunaloa Elementary School surfaced in an Associated Press article last week as one of a handful of schools the state is considering consolidating to save money.
The state Department of Education (DOE) insists that no such consolidation ‘list’ exists, and that the plan merely gives the state superintendent more control over the decision making process.
The new law would erase some of the bureaucratic obstacles in the consolidation process. Specifically, it would eliminate the mandate of selecting and overseeing a task force to determine the feasibility of closing or consolidating a school in a particular community.
No school in Hawaii has been closed in more than 20 years, in part because of this cumbersome process, according to the Department of Education.
But with large budget shortfalls expected, officials are desperate to find new ways to cut costs, according to DOE spokesperson Sandy Goya.
The prospect of consolidation comes despite Maunaloa students improving dramatically on state tests, having now complied with all targets on the Adequately Yearly Progress for the No Child Left Behind report.
“This is not rewarding the kids for achievement,” said Maunaloa Principal Joe Yamamoto.
Yamamoto took over the once failing elementary school 10 years ago and credits the staff and community for the improvements.
“The personnel should be proud,” he said.
Upon hearing of the possible consolidation, Yamamoto called a staff meeting to inform them of the news. He will be creating a task force to address the issue. Topics to discuss include where the Maunaloa kids would be transferred to and what would happen to his staff.
The next closest school is Kualapu’u Elementary School, but it is a public conversion charter school and does not fall under the state system. Yamamoto said the children would have to be bused 16 miles to Kaunakakai Elementary School.
That would most likely mean less parental involvement and higher transportation costs to teachers and staff, according to Yamamoto.
He said the lack of control is what bothers him most. They have to prepare a budget by December and have doubts about the money actually being allocated.
“It’s frustrating,” said Yamamoto. “It takes away from our priorities, which is the kids.”
According to the measure, which will be voted on December 4 by the BOE, the amendment would streamline the consolidation process while still allowing for public opposition.
It states, “The opportunity for the public to provide input is preserved by the requirement that the Board direct the superintendent to … conduct a public hearing in the affected school community and to provide the Board a summary of the testimony offered at the public hearing.”
Manualoa residents have heard those promises before and are not easily convinced.
In the meantime, teachers and parents are left to ponder the possibilities.
“It worries me a lot,” said Kalani Garces, a 21 year resident of Maunaloa with two kids at the elementary school, “I just got a new house.”
Community members are urged to sign petitions of support for the Maunaloa School at local businesses.
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