SR 187: Requesting the Department of Education to establish a framework in the office of facilities and operations that improves responsibility and accountability for monitoring all capital improvement projects and repair and maintenance projects.

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	187
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting the Department of Education to establish a framework in the office of facilities and operations that improves responsibility and accountability for monitoring all capital improvement projects and repair and maintenance projects.

 

 

     WHEREAS, maintaining safe and functional school facilities is essential to student learning and the effective operation of public schools; and

 

     WHEREAS, this critical maintenance is achieved through capital improvement projects and repair and maintenance projects, which represent significant public investments in school infrastructure; and

 

     WHEREAS, improved coordination and clearly defined roles between state offices and complex area leadership can strengthen project oversight and accountability; and

 

     WHEREAS, empowering complex area leadership to monitor projects within their respective regions can improve communication, responsiveness, and timely completion of projects; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Education is requested to establish a framework in the Office of Facilities and Operations that improves responsibility and accountability for monitoring all capital improvement projects and repair and maintenance projects, including by making each Complex Area Superintendent, Business Management Officer, and Administrative Services Assistant solely responsible for monitoring the projects within their assigned complex area; and

 

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the framework is requested to require the Complex Area Superintendent and designated staff to:

 

     (1)  Monitor project progress within their respective complex areas, including the phases of planning, design, budgeting, construction, and project completion;

 

     (2)  Consistently communicate with school and department personnel to ensure all parties are well-informed of ongoing projects, needs, and any developments; and

 

     (3)  Coordinate with school leadership to ensure project needs are addressed in a timely manner; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Facilities and Operations is requested to:

 

     (1)  Retain overall management authority and statewide oversight for all Department of Education capital improvement projects and repair and maintenance projects;

 

     (2)  Coordinate project assignments and responsibilities with each complex area;

 

     (3)  Educate Complex Area Superintendents and school leaders, including principals, on the capital improvement project process; and

 

     (4)  Update its capital improvement project jobs tracker on its public website; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each Complex Area Superintendent is requested to submit a quarterly status report to the Office of Facilities and Operations and the legislators representing their respective districts, which are requested to include but not be limited to:

 

     (1)  The current status of each capital improvement project and repair and maintenance project within their respective complex area;

 

     (2)  Progress on project milestones, including planning, design, procurement, construction, and completion;

 

     (3)  Budget status, including authorized amounts, expenditures to date, and any anticipated cost overruns or savings;

 

     (4)  Identification of delays, barriers, or challenges affecting project timelines; and

 

     (5)  Corrective actions or support needed from the Office of Facilities and Operations to maintain or improve project progress; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Facilities and Operations is requested to review the quarterly reports and provide coordination, technical assistance, and oversight to ensure projects are progressing in accordance with approved timelines and budgets; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to develop and implement procedures that clearly define the roles, responsibilities, reporting requirements, and accountability of the Office of Facilities and Operations and complex area leadership with respect to capital improvement projects and repair and maintenance projects; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027 including:

 

     (1)  The framework developed pursuant to this measure;

 

     (2)  The reporting system established for quarterly monitoring of projects;

 

     (3)  The roles and responsibilities assigned to complex area leadership and departmental offices; and

 

     (4)  Any recommendations for legislative action to improve the delivery and oversight of school facility projects; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of Education and Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Facilities and Operations.

 

Report Title: 

DOE; CIP; R&M; Complex Areas; Accountability Framework; Reports

 

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	187
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

Requesting the Department of Education to establish a framework that places responsibility and accountability for monitoring all capital improvement projects and repair and maintenance projects within each complex area with the Complex Area leadership.

 

 

     WHEREAS, maintaining safe and functional school facilities is essential to student learning and the effective operation of public schools; and

 

     WHEREAS, this critical maintenance is achieved through capital improvement projects and repair and maintenance projects, which represent significant public investments in school infrastructure; and

 

     WHEREAS, improved coordination and clearly defined roles between state offices and complex area leadership can strengthen project oversight and accountability; and

 

     WHEREAS, empowering complex area leadership to monitor projects within their respective regions can improve communication, responsiveness, and timely completion of projects; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Department of Education is requested to establish a framework that places responsibility and accountability for monitoring all capital improvement projects and repair and maintenance projects within each complex area with the Complex Area Superintendent, Business Management Officer, and Administrative Services Assistant assigned to that complex area; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the framework is requested to require the Complex Area Superintendent and designated staff to:

 

     (1)  Monitor project progress within their respective complex areas, including the phases of planning, design, budgeting, construction, and project completion; and

 

     (2)  Coordinate with school leadership to ensure project needs are addressed in a timely manner; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Facilities and Operations is requested to:

 

     (1)  Retain overall management authority and statewide oversight for all department of education capital improvement projects and repair and maintenance projects; and

 

     (2)  Coordinate project assignments and responsibilities with each complex area; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that each Complex Area Superintendent is requested to submit a quarterly status report to the Office of Facilities and Operations, which are requested to include but not be limited to:

 

     (1)  The current status of each capital improvement project and repair and maintenance project within their respective complex area;

 

     (2)  Progress on project milestones, including planning, design, procurement, construction, and completion;

 

     (3)  Budget status, including authorized amounts, expenditures to date, and any anticipated cost overruns or savings;

 

     (4)  Identification of delays, barriers, or challenges affecting project timelines; and

 

     (5)  Corrective actions or support needed from the Office of Facilities and Operations to maintain or improve project progress; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of Facilities and Operations is requested to review the quarterly reports and provide coordination, technical assistance, and oversight to ensure projects are progressing in accordance with approved timelines and budgets; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to develop and implement procedures that clearly define the roles, responsibilities, reporting requirements, and accountability of the Office of Facilities and Operations and complex area leadership with respect to capital improvement projects and repair and maintenance projects; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit a report to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027 including:

 

     (1)  The framework developed pursuant to this measure;

 

     (2)  The reporting system established for quarterly monitoring of projects;

 

     (3)  The roles and responsibilities assigned to complex area leadership and departmental offices; and

 

     (4)  Any recommendations for legislative action to improve the delivery and oversight of school facility projects; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of Education and Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Facilities and Operations.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

Report Title: 

DOE; CIP; R&M; Complex Areas; Accountability Framework; Reports