Gov. Linda Lingle on Thursday released another $2.6 million to cover higher construction costs for a new cafeteria at Kilauea Elementary School. The funds supplement $4.5 million Lingle released to replace a cafeteria built in 1940 and deemed too small
Gov. Linda Lingle on Thursday released another $2.6 million to cover higher construction costs for a new cafeteria at Kilauea Elementary School.
The funds supplement $4.5 million Lingle released to replace a cafeteria built in 1940 and deemed too small by school administrators and parents.
In 2005, Lingle released another $635,000, mostly for design work, said Russell Pang, the governor’s chief of media relations.
The new building will accommodate more students to keep up with population growth on the North Shore. The school has an enrollment of nearly 330 students.
School principal Fred Rose said the new building will be an asset.
“It will allow us to have school-wide assemblies and provide another place for community meetings,” he said.
Rose said the new building could be used as a shelter for dispensing emergency supplies, food and services after a disaster.
Department of Education planners previously considered leaving the old cafeteria at its current site, and putting the new building elsewhere on the school grounds.
A start date for the construction has not been set, but Lingle said the cafeteria should be completed by October 2007.
The funds for the project are part of $25.9 million Lingle has released for new buildings and renovated projects statewide, including $11 million to replace large cesspools at some schools, including eight on Kaua‘i.
