LIHU‘E — Classes started for hundreds of students in Kaua‘i public schools on Monday. Although the middle schools and the high schools won’t see full enrollments until later this week — Monday was an orientation day for freshmen — the
LIHU‘E — Classes started for hundreds of students in Kaua‘i public schools on Monday.
Although the middle schools and the high schools won’t see full enrollments until later this week — Monday was an orientation day for freshmen — the public schools opened their doors with each school’s kindergarten classes operating on modified schedules.
School crossing guards were out early at Elsie Wilcox Elementary School in Lihu‘e, keeping an eye out for traffic while getting students and their parents safely across Hardy Street.
Principal Terry Proctor was on the sidewalk greeting returning students and parents of students entering school for the first time.
“Things are going pretty smoothly,” Procter said. “People have been coming in to check out the lists on who their teacher is going to be and where the classrooms are located. We’ve had the lists up for about a week and people have been getting familiarized with the campus.”
William Arakaki, the Kaua‘i Complex Area superintendent, said the first day of classes went pretty smooth with the principals making the necessary adjustments at their respective schools.
Enrollment dropped from the 2009 start of school, but 23 new teachers have been added to the teaching corps. There have also been three retirements, Arakaki said.
He was happy with the fact that of the 23 new teachers, 20 of them are from Kaua‘i — either having gone through school here or are living here. Two of the new hires have ties with Hawai‘i, coming from a Neighbor Island, or having grown up in Hawai‘i, and just one teacher is out-of-state.
He said the projected enrollment for the 2010 school year is at 9,222. The 2009 school year ended with an enrollment of 9,228, noting the projected number is six less than what the year ended with.
“All elementary schools are open today,” Arakaki said. “The middle schools will be at full enrollment by Thursday after working with individual classes between now and Thursday. That has been tradition over the years.”
Arakaki said the three high schools had classes for freshmen-only on Monday, but will have everyone else back in class starting today.
Overall, Arakaki said the enrollment in the school system decreased from last year, a testament to people moving off-island due in part to the current economic situation.
Procter said enrollment at Wilcox School was at 925 students compared to 911 students at the start of the 2009 year.
“We are a school that grows through the year,” Procter said, noting that by the end of last school year, enrollment had reached 960 students.
“We should be growing again this year.”
Staff changes
Nellie Caberto, assigned as the acting principal at Waimea High School last year, is the new principal for Menehue students, Arakaki said.
Caberto will be joined by Mae-Lynn Ikeda who is the acting vice principal at Waimea High School.
John Takekawa is the acting vice principal at Kaua‘i High School and Lisa McDonald moves to the King Kaumuali‘i Elementary School as the temporary vice principal.
Billy DeCosta has been named to replace Cheryl Shintani as the resource teacher at the Koke‘e Discovery Center, Shintani being one of the retirees from last year, Arakaki said.
Susan Olson has been named the comprehensive student support system resource teacher, moving up from Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, and Charlene Esaki has been put on as a half-time complex area resource teacher focusing on mathematics.
Joining Shintani as a retiree, Barbara Baker and Billi Smith will be missed in the education arena.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com.
