The state concluded in its final environmental assessment issued Friday that constructing a much-anticipated science and technology building that will provide enhanced classroom space for middle school pupils in Waimea will have no significant impact.
The 25,177-square-foot building will provide nine modern science classrooms and laboratories for students, according to a final environmental assessment released Friday for the Waimea Middle School project. It has received a finding of no significant impact, or FONSI, from the state Department of Education.
Students are expected to begin using the Science Technology Education and Math building as soon as fall 2017 if all goes as planned, Patti Cook, the public charter school’s community liaison, told West Hawaii Today. Construction is expected to last 400 days.
Cook said Friday afternoon that Isemoto Contracting had been awarded the $11.795 million contract to construct the building. Approximately $15 million had already been released for the facility, which officials initially estimated would cost $12.7 million to construct
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.
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.
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.