In response to calls to close or consolidate small schools, education officials are exploring the possibility of creating specialized academic focuses at certain schools to fully utilize facilities.

This week Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed a bill that could have led to the closure or merger of small schools in areas with declining enrollment.

Now education officials are floating other plans that seek to solve the issue of underused school facilities. They include creating schools with special academic focuses, often called "signature schools," according to a recent memo from state Department of Education Superintendent Pat Hamamoto to Board of Education Chairwoman Donna Ikeda.

Specific schools would be hosts to special academic programs, such as ones focused on environmental science, art or Hawaiian language. The plan introduces the idea of broader "enrollment choice," meaning students could attend one of these signature schools regardless of where they live.

"We're looking at the opportunity that underutilized facilities offer to expand educational programs at the schools," said Randy Moore, DOE assistant superintendent of business services.

As an example, Hamamoto's memo floats the idea of launching an environmental education and science center at Koko Head Elementary. The center could be used by surrounding schools, and students from other geographic areas could perhaps petition to enroll at Koko Head instead of their neighborhood school, Moore said.

With signature schools, students would have broader enrollment choice than currently allowed under the DOE's "geographic exceptions," Moore said. Currently students may receive a geographic exception to attend a school outside their district for reasons such as childcare availability or the location of their parent's place of work.

But the signature school proposal would broaden choice to include academic interests, Moore said.

"These are all concepts ... and not definitive. They're all things that could be done," Moore said.

TO BOOST ENROLLMENT

So far the proposal has no timetable, Moore said.

The idea behind the plan is that some public schools have consistently faced declining enrollment.

Smaller schools are often more expensive to operate. That's because the costs at a small school must be spread out among a smaller group of students. Lawmakers have also criticized the fact that underutilized school facilities still must be repaired and maintained.

The DOE's new proposal stands in stark contrast to a bill vetoed by Lingle this week that would have established a commission to suggest possible closures or consolidation of small public schools.

Rep. Roy Takumi, who introduced the bill, said school consolidation made sense in light of shifting populations and the high costs of facility repair and maintenance.

Takumi said the idea of creating special schools doesn't necessarily solve that problem.

"It's not an alternative as much as it complements what the bill would have done," he said.

Takumi said that signature schools would involve displacing students, meaning students would shift from a school with steady enrollment to a school with struggling enrollment.

"If you decide to create a school for fine arts or technology, some of the kids at that school could very well decide to continue at that school. But if a parent decides, 'I don't want that priority for my child,' the child will have to move somewhere else," he said.

NOT A FULL SOLUTION

Education officials admit the creation of signature schools wouldn't solve the whole problem of underutilized facilities on its own.

Currently, the DOE has a process to consider the closing or consolidation of small public schools known as Chapter 38, Moore said. The Chapter 38 procedure includes recommendations from district superintendents, the creation of a task force and extensive public input.

But the last time a public school was closed was in 1987, when students from 'Anuenue Elementary were shifted to nearby Palolo Elementary.

Moore said the current school closure or consolidation process isn't entirely effective. Included in the new plan is a suggestion to review that process.

"(Signature schools) doesn't address closing schools. But we're also suggesting that we look at the reason why it isn't happening and recommend changes that reduce the barriers against considering consolidation," he said.

"Chapter 38 is on the books, but for some reason no schools get closed. There is something that is blocking the process."

However, the idea of signature schools is already receiving praise from principals seeking to have that designation at their school.

Niu Valley Middle is named as a possible signature school with a focus on International Baccalaureate, an elite college prepatory program with an international focus. Principal Justin Mew said he supports the idea of signature schools and the potential for enrollment choice. However, he said the school would be physically limited on the amount of students from outside its district that it could accept.

"Obviously, our first priority would be to the students who live in our area. If students feel that our sort of philosophy and way of thinking is what they want, this would give them that curriculum choice," Mew said.