The state is moving forward with plans to construct a much-anticipated science and technology building that will provide enhanced classroom space for middle school pupils in Waimea.
The 25,177-square-foot building will provide nine modern science classrooms and laboratories for students, according to a draft environmental assessment released Saturday for the $12.7 million Waimea Middle School project.
Students are expected to begin using the Science Technology Education and Math building as soon as fall 2017 if all goes as planned, said Patti Cook, the public charter school’s community liaison.
Approximately $15 million has already been released for the facility and bids were opened in December. A contract is expected to be awarded in the near future and construction is expected to take 400 days.
“This is really the first major capital improvement project for public education in Waimea,” Cook said, also expressing thanks to legislators and the Department of Education. “It’s huge.”
Messages seeking comment from the school’s principal Matt Horne were not returned as of press time Monday.
The new building would be situated between the Malaai Community Garden and four existing portable classroom buildings on the southeast portion of the Waimea Elementary and Middle School campus off Mamalahoa Highway.
Preliminary plans call for four general classrooms, three science laboratories and two computer labs, as well as a teacher planning room, office, student services room, faculty center, conference room, and restroom facilities on both floors, according to the draft environmental assessment. Just the two computer laboratories and two small communication equipment rooms will be the only air-conditioned areas.
The school does not expect an increase in staff or in its current enrollment of 300 pupils in grades six through eight.
According to the document, the project will not have a significant adverse impact to natural or cultural resources, rare or endangered flora and fauna, and water and environmental quality. It also would not affect or curtail uses of the environment or health.
Upon urging by the State Historic Preservation Division, an archaeological assessment was conducted to assess the subsurface environment of the area because the area may have been a historic auwai or irrigation channel.
The assessment, conducted by Haun & Associates, identified a curvilinear depression that could be a possible section of a historic irrigation ditch. Portions roughly correspond to a ditch depicted on a 1915 map of the area, however, it could not be correlated with certainty to a known ditch. The ditch may also be a possible feature of a site complex that includes an extensive late prehistoric to early historic dendritic auwai system crossing the area.
“Based on the findings of the archaeological survey, including the subsurface testing, and completed documentation, the construction of the new classroom building and related improvements will not have an adverse effect on archaeological resources at the project site. The archaeological inventory survey found no further work or preservation is necessary,” the draft environmental assessment reads.
Waimea Middle School faculty, administrators and families, along with the community, have requested the new building for more than a decade. In 2003, the DOE condemned and removed Building N from the campus because of its aged, dilapidated condition. The state agency agreed to replace it with a science and technology building.
The release of the draft document triggered the start of a 30-day comment period. Comments should be sent to Wilson Okamoto Corporation, 1907 South Beretania St., Suite 400, Honolulu, HI 96826.