I I'm there almost every Monday. So, anytime I can secure money to to bring back to the community center, specifically the the senior center part of it, uh, always happy to do that. Uh, and then the arburetum as well. I'm I'm I hope I don't think I've got an email about the the groundbreaking or ribbon cutting for for that, but happy over the years to have secured funding to help support that project and so so eager uh to see where that that money may go. Uh in closing, I think some of you have met my staff over the years that all but one of them. I staff of four at this point. Uh they're all home but one. Uh Scott's still here, but he's in the midst of hitting refresh on a a budget uh item that we're we're waiting to come in on. Um but Mariana is often with me on Mondays at this the community center in Ashland.
But doing that is not going to help anything. You have to have a leader. If you don't have a leader, everything fails. There was no parent meeting for football. There was no parent meeting for basketball. There was no parent meeting for FFA. My son played football for a day. Actually gave his whole summer. Got hurt for a scrimmage before the league even started, a non-cont scrimmage that turned contact the last two hours of this community event. Then he plays. He doesn't get to do any sports workouts or anything because he's recovering from a broken arm. Makes the basketball team. No, no leadership at the basketball team. No parent meeting, nothing. The only program that we have been a part of at this high school is the baseball program. They're running a hell of a program out there. And I can tell you, even though my kid is young and new and he is coming up from an injury, he is around great people who hold him to a standard.
Um, expanding free bus access would reduce absenteeism, ease the burden on families, and help decrease traffic congestion and emissions around our schools. We appreciate that the goals of this bill are to streamline eligibility, simplify applications, and improve communications with the families. Um, but we do respectfully urge the committee to amend the bill to provide free bus passes for all DOE students. Um, we hope that the universal access would remove stigma, um, prevent gaps, and simplify. Thank you so much for the opportunity. >> Thank you. Okay, let's see. We have two, four, six, seven others that have sent in testimonies in support and one with comments. Um, anybody wishing to testify on this measure? Anyone on Zoom wishing to testify? Please come forward, please identify yourself. >> Aloha, Chair. Um, Vice Chair Kadani, I'm Michelle McCoy with the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. Okay. Uh, we do uh stand in support of this measure um and are asking that uh we look into expanding it to at least the Alice families as well.
It is truly my pleasure to recognize the student who represents the spirit of perseverance and positivity that we look for in all of our students. This student is incredibly bright and capable but what stands out even more than her intelligence is her resilience. This year alone she has faced challenges that would have been difficult for anyone yet she continues to rise above them with determination and grace. What I admire most about this student is her ability to keep moving forward. When things get tough she doesn't stay down. She finds the strength to stand back up and keep trying. That kind of grit is rare especially at such a young age and it speaks volumes about the strength of her character. One of my Soaring Eagle's hobbies includes a wonderful random act of kindness. Some of you may have heard of this where people leave small rubber ducks on someone's car usually on the dashboard or the door handle just as a surprise.
Uh and I know she's with us for our some of our quarterly conversations as well. Never hesitate to reach out to Mariana. Uh Spencer's on my office as my committee researcher. Uh Spencer grew up in Ashland and his family still lives in Ashland. Uh and then Jeff lives in Hopington. uh mostly does uh committee work, but if any of you are ever at the state house, feel free to let me know you're coming. Happy to give you a tour and you can meet some of my my staff in person. So, with that, I will turn things back to all of you in the room. >> Thank you, Rep. Representative Lewis. I appreciate the your cander and and um it's not an easy time for any of us, but uh we appreciate all the work and effort that's being done at this time.
These coaches hold themselves to a standard. If you don't have administration, your teachers, your FFA advisors, if they're not held themselves to an accountability and a standard, and you don't have the administration to make them be accountable for what they do, you're going to find it nowhere. And this school will fail. We need that part to change. Thank you. Hey everybody. Uh, Andrew Gum with the school here, graduated in 2002. Uh, first of all, thank you guys for being on the board. I've been on a board of school district for six years. I know how difficult it can be. Big decisions you guys got to make. All my brothers and all my sister went here and my mom, my aunt, my my uncles, my in-laws, my wife went to this school. So, uh, I have nothing but fond memories of Anderson High School. the Afro Boys.
The prior testifier was saying that across the board um transportation access is very important. Clearly, we're having trouble getting the kids to school. Uh so we would um we we do support uh the access and education starts with transportation and getting there. Mahalo. >> Thank you. >> Anyone else wish to testify? Not members questions. Okay, let me go ahead and start with DOE. How much is a bus or how much does it cost for a student that is not subsidized to >> for school bus? So school bus >> total for the year is about three 300 >> 288 for the year >> 288 for a year which approximately comes up to what per trip and this is this is round trip right >> round trip yeah >> that's how much it costs for the family >> for the family. >> Yeah for the cost for the due is I think 1,600 per student.
No note, no explanation, just a tiny duck staring back at you. Like congratulations, you've been chosen. It's an equal parts confusing and yet delightful and for some people, Kenna included, this is not just a one-time surprise. It becomes a full-blown collection with very high standards for which ducks are worthy of making the dashboard lineup. So tonight I'd like to say congratulations, you've been chosen, Kenna Briley. Wherever life takes you next >> [applause] >> wherever life takes you next, keep believing in yourself, keep getting back up when things get hard, and keep being you. I have no doubt you'll continue to soar. You're welcome. Good evening. My name is Sarah Miglietti. I'm the choir director here. Often times when I choose a Soaring Eagle, um it's a student that I've had the privilege of having for many years because I also teach choir at the middle school.
I'll open up questions from the board members if you have any questions or comments uh for Karen and and Jack >> anybody. >> Wow, this is a first. >> I'm not sure I really have uh much in the way of questions, but I have a couple of I guess editorial um statements. Um, you know, first I do want to uh thank the Senate President. I don't know how many people in this room certainly, but I know probably the Novacowskis remember um the years when Chapter 70 crippled this community that we'd be a million dollars short and indeed we'd be a million dollars short because we only got $750 per student and Hollist and other towns got $3,200 per student. So, um, you went to the state house with that in mind and you've been very successful at that. And so, I I just want to remind people sometimes.
I don't know part you remember the Afro Boys. Uh football games, sports, community involvement, all all sorts of stuff. Bond's memory was beating M Valley Sports. Sorry, I lines in. Yeah, I know. We didn't do it too often. Yeah. So, but uh it's been really nice seeing the school, both schools actually, getting more in record search light for our for our athletes. How cool is that to see our kids actually in the newspaper for our school? That's really nice. Um, I understand has really good programs. We got FFA, a science, math, robotics, great band, hardworking teachers, sports shop. But with all that being said though, where are all the students at these schools? Where are they all going? My kids go to PCO and there's 80 kids who are graduating this year from eighth grade and only four have decided to come to Anderson High School.
1,600 per student and of the 1,600 uh the family pays 288 >> correct >> per per year. Yes. And 1,600 is per student per year. >> Correct. >> And is that the family pays 288 even though they have more than one child? Is it just flat 288? >> I believe so. >> Yes. >> Okay. And that breaks down to how much per round trip. >> How many days in the school year? >> 180. >> So why don't you calculate it and then get back to that. How many students are expected to qualify for free buses under this bill? >> So we have about for just for the whole DOE. I'll give I'll give you the >> this bill because this is if you get free lunch, you get free bus pass, right? This bill is saying that. So how how many students are we additional students?
So sometimes I'll have students up to seven years. Um that's one luxury I have and I enjoy it so much but this year's Soaring Eagle is someone I've gotten to know in just two years. Landon Holt moved to Columbia at the start of his junior year last year. And most people believe that junior year is the toughest year um but combined with moving to a brand new state, some would think it would be even more of a struggle. If it was difficult for Landon you would have never known. Um in fact it seems like he's always been at CHS. Landon has a very easy-going personality and is happy to have conversations with anyone which I found out I think maybe the second day of class that he was in. Um he immediately clicked with our music and our theater department and he found his people pretty quickly.
Um, um, I do want to just, you know, raise and I think we all know some of the major issues, right? First of all, you know what we're facing in this community like so many commun communities across the state in terms of uh, finding money to be able to uh, keep our community what it is today. and um and Senate President knows very well what a great community is because she makes her home here. Um so we appreciate any work that can be done in terms of um getting us financial support and since I've been a member of the select board I have seen um the dollars that you've been able to get um the community and and I thank you for that effort. Um, I also just wanted to touch upon the two big things I think that are on people's minds is, you know, just our utility bills.
And a lot of those kids live this town by 7-Eleven. So, they're not coming to this school district for a reason. Uh, for me, when I walk around the school, I see things that are broken down. Bathroom's broke. Tiles still falling down. The cafeteria, the PAC looks like it could be torn down, re is terrible. We have a program this weekend for the kids to come to from Pico and we're bringing family and parents. What a great opportunity to show them our school and they're going to come into something that's that's falling apart. Um, a lot of things could be happening. I mean, just look at the Facebook page. We have Anderson's Facebook page versus West Valley's Facebook page. Anderson High School's Facebook page looks like it's been done by two-year-old. West Valley is amazing. They got videos, all sorts of stuff. It's like we're not bringing kids into this school.
>> So I'll give you the figures of how many are riding the bus right now. >> Okay. >> So currently we have about 19,000 students riding school bus. Of that 19,000 about 10,600 are free free riders and then 8,300 are paid riders. >> 18 I'm sorry say that again. 8 >> um 8,000 >> oh 8,000 >> 8,300. So total is about 19,000 students who ride school bus. So it's not a lot, >> but we also have the city bus and that one because we're giving free city bus passes to middle school and high school students who reside in the area that's eligible for bus. So that's about 7,000 secondary students have the city bus pass. >> And the cost is what? Cost of the city bus pass is 300 300 per student. >> And what do you folks pay the 300 which is what's the total amount then?
Um I figured out right away that Landon has a deep passion for many things. Music, theater, and film being just a few. He's never shied away from stepping in to lead warm-ups in the choral room or helping out with the bass section when needed. In Anything Goes, another student started speaking in a Scottish accent and Landon replied right away, quick on his feet in the same accent. I went I didn't even know that was going to happen and I asked him and they're like, "No, that was all just off the cuff. He's he's quick on his feet." He's extremely funny. He played an outlaw in our Sweetheart Cabaret this past week. Um he's good with a bubble gun and is willing to do anything when it comes to making people laugh whether in a theater production, our Sweetheart Cabaret, or just in class. Along with that he's willing to put his thoughts out on paper which resulted in him singing his original composition Pluto at last weekend's Cabaret while also playing his guitar in public for the first time.
And, um, I know I think I saw a flash on the news tonight that I think there's a a raise coming for the gas companies where like 8.9%. I think they've had one of the most successful years that they've ever had in terms of uh, profit while, you know, our utility bills are just going through the roof. And I know there is work being done in um the state house and the state by the governor, but of course it takes a long time, right, for those things to happen. And and the other thing and and I just want to thank you both because anytime I've ever reached out to either of you, I have received a response. I have not that's not been the case when I've reached out to the governor. Um unfortunately, I've reached out to her in particular about 40b issues in our community.
We're not promoting it like it should be. Uh it just feels like it's a a lot of lack of caring. And tonight with 6.7, we're going to talk about having combining the schools. You're going to pay a company to come and see what we're going to do, how we should do this. pay paying somebody to come and do that. But our money, talk to us about it. Listen to what we're saying, how it needs to happen. Um, both our schools are great. We can be great again. We just need to get us in the get the word out that we're a good school. And too often we have to turn on the news and hear just no, no, this is happen. This is happening. This is happening. And they're going to Foothill. They're going to upre. They're going to all these other schools. I mean, 80 kids at one school that should be coming here are going to their schools and we should be here.
>> Yeah. For the year. >> Well, total amount you're paying per year per year. >> Oh, it's about 2.1 million. There's about 7,000 kids on Aahu and about 100 on Kawaii. It's already free on Maui and Big Island. So 19,000 writing, 10,000 of them are free, 8,300 pays for that and it costs us 16,000 per student plus the 21 1 2.1 million for city bus passes. >> Correct. The cost per student is 1,600. 1,600. >> Yes. What did I say? >> 16,000. >> Oh,,600. I have 1,6 um and if you were to give everybody a free pass, what would that cost? >> So the free reduce lunch count, there's about 58,000 kids for free lunch. So that's like right now, not all of them even apply to ride the bus, but as far as how many would be eligible, there's about 58,000 students. >> Okay.