Proposing a secondary school

KILAUEA — More than one proposal is in the works for a middle and high school on Kauai’s North Shore.

Independent architect Skylar Brown says the North Shore needs a place for secondary education. He has included that need in his vision for a public charter North Shore High School and a public aquatic center.

He says the school he envisions is a tuition-free school that would cost an estimated $15 million to build.

The Kauai North Shore Community Foundation has also been working on a concept for a public charter middle school and high school. The cost of that project hasn’t been determined.

“We’re working on the philosophy and vision for it right now,” said Melanie Parker, foundation charter school steering committee chair.

The foundation has been working on a community-based vision for the school for three years.

They’ve secured a 99-year renewable land license for eight acres in Kalihiwai donated by Joan Porter and fundraising initiatives are in the works.

Kapua Chandler and Jennifer Luck, who have held talk story sessions on the project, said the target opening date for the school is between 2021-2023.

“We’ve been having these small group meetings and getting input so (the school) is grounded in the community,” Parker said. “We want to create an ag-focused, place-based school grounded in the land.”

The group is preparing an application to submit to the State Public Charter School Commission.

Brown’s proposal touches on many of the same points. However, it doesn’t include a middle school. Instead, Brown has included a public aquatic center in his proposal, with a half-Olympic sized pool.

Both proposals focus on getting kids outdoor for learning, an emphasis on idea sharing and hands-on learning.