Seagull Will Grow To Meet Parent Needs
By Kerry Miller
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Del.icio.usSeagull Schools will add a new classroom wing to its Kailua campus, signaling that it’s still growing after more than three decades of caring for Oahu children from its Windward base.
“It really supports the needs of the community for early education,” said executive director Chuck Larson, or “Uncle Chuck” as he’s been known to hundreds of Hawaii keiki.“We’ve been there for 35 years, so this is a significant thing.”
The plan is also welcomed by its landlord, Christ Church Uniting, which will have approval over the final design. In a recent bulletin, it assured members that the single story building will be “barely visible” from the sanctuary. Christ Church also has granted Seagull a lease of 15 years on the new wing, which Seagull will maintain for the duration,while the church will realize an additional $1,000 a month from Seagull for its maintenance fund.
“We’re very excited,” said the Rev. Buddy Summers.“Seagull has been operating here for 30 years, and they provide a quality service for a lot of low-income parents. It fits in with our sense that that’s the right thing to do.
“We’re glad we can be a part of it.”
The 1,700-square-foot wing will house two classrooms and restrooms, extending from the present wing to behind the school’s playground structure. The school put out a bid for a contractor last week, and construction should be completed by March 2008.
Part of the funding for the extension came from a $300,000 state grant, and the school plans to raise another $100,000 on its own. “We’re going to look toward the Windward community (for some of the assistance),” Larson noted.
The new classrooms will allow another 40 children, age 3 to 5, to attend Seagull School. Larson is especially excited about the new students, because “there’s such a long wait list"for its program. The Kailua campus also will need to hire more teachers. (Applicants may contact the school at 261-8534.)
Headquartered on the Kailua Road church’s campus, the early education center also operates preschool and daycare facilities in Kapolei, on the Honolulu city hall grounds and at Mauna Lani Resort.
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