Remote options listed as start of Hawaii school year nears

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HONOLULU — With less than two weeks before the start ofew school year, the state Department of Education has posteda list of about 100 schools that will offer distance learning.

Hawaii public school students return to classes Aug. 3. Twenty-eight Big Island schools will offer distance learning.

Offering online instruction is a shift from last month, when Superintendent Christina Kishimoto said there would be no full distance-learning options.

According to department spokeswoman Nanea Kalani, an estimated 10% of the student population expressed interest via surveys in distance learning, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. She said demand could increase if the pandemic continues to worsen. The highly transmissible delta variant has sent Hawaii’s daily count of new COVID-19 cases into triple digits recently.

Distance learning spots are limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students at schools that aren’t on the list may apply for geographic exceptions to participate in a different school’s online program.

Some parents criticized the state for taking too long to come up with a distance learning plan.

“It’s very disappointing,” Bryan Costa, a parent of a third grade student, told Hawaii News Now. “I can’t say I’m surprised that the state has waited so long to come up with a plan to be transparent.”

Costa doesn’t like that the program at his daughter’s school offers no interaction with teachers, who are only there for grading. But he said he’s more worried about sending her to in-person classes because the 8-year-old has diabetes and is too young to be vaccinated.

Participating Hawaii Island schools are:

EB deSilva Elementary

Hilo Union Elementary

Holualoa Elementary

Honokaa Elementary

Honokaa High & Intermediate

Chiefess Kapi’olani Elementary

Kau High and Pahala Elementary

Ka’umana Elementary

Keaau Elementary

Keaau High

Keaau Middle

Kealakehe Elementary

Kealakehe High

Kealakehe Intermediate

Keonepoko Elementary

Kohala Elementary

Konawaena Elementary

Konawaena High

Konawaena Middle

Mountain View Elementary

Naʻalehu Elementary

Pahoa Elementary

Pahoa High & Intermediate

Paauilo Elementary & Intermediate

Waiakea Elementary

Waiakea Intermediate

Waiakeawaena Elementary

Waikoloa Elementary/Middle

For the full list and more details, visit https://www.hawaiipublicschools.org/Pages/DistanceLearning.aspx