McDermott calls for special session to address school construction funds

Dear Governor Ige,         May 10, 2016

I am humbly asking that you intervene immediately to call the legislature back into special session to fix the appropriation for Campbell High School.  We are now facing an emergency situation.

As you know, the full $30 million you requested for a new building at Campbell has been cut by more than half to $12 million, not enough to build the facility on time as your original full Design Build Appropriation would have allowed.  In fact, it will be at least 4 years before any students shall walk into a new building at Campbell due to the now phased bid and procurement process; this is assuming a “best case scenario.”

I am disappointed by the performance of our legislature, as they have chosen political favoritism over demonstrable need, your recommendations, and the priorities delineated by the DoE when it comes to school infrastructure.  They have left urgent work undone and the future of thousands of Oahu’s children depend on making this right.

I encourage you to exercise bold leadership to save the full measure that you requested; this will provide some relief to the exigent circumstance that currently exists.  Otherwise we shall be stuck with chaos and an embarrassment in two years.

Please Act.

With much Aloha.

Bob McDermott

State Representative