When the students at Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School arrive for their first day of class Aug. 1, they should plan on seeing a lot of new faces at the head of the class.
The charter school officially takes possession of the existing Laupahoehoe High and Elementary School facilities July 1.
Many of the students will remain the same, but only one of that school’s original teachers has so far agreed to return to work at the new charter school, said spokesman Steven Strauss.
The school received a total of 200 applications for various positions, he said, and has extended offers to a total of 21 teachers, only one of whom declined.
“We will have teachers from Hawaii, some from the mainland, and two from Alaska,” Strauss said. “Some with charter school experience, and quite a few with master’s degrees in education or a related field.”
In addition, he said, the school has extended offers for employment to custodial staff, office staff, service workers and others.
The school plans on offering all of the sports offered previously, and several coaches from last year will be returning.
“Right now, we’re actively searching for a girls volleyball and boys basketball coach, among others,” Strauss added.
Meanwhile, the school has announced its selection of David Rizor as its principal, or director of operations.
The former director of Volcano School of Arts and Sciences, Rizor will begin at Laupahoehoe July 1, one month from the first day of classes.
Rizor responded to a number of questions via email this week, calling the launch of the new school an “exciting chapter for the Hamakua Coast and for education on the Big Island.”
As someone with prior experience at charter schools, Rizor said he intends for his primary focus to be on the students.
