HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.C.R. NO.

279

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

requesting the department of education to review how it allocates funding for high school athletic team travel and to explore the feasibility of establishing permanent overnight accommodations on each island for traveling high school athletic teams.

 

 

WHEREAS, interscholastic athletic programs can provide a safe and secure environment for students to experience teamwork, competition, physical development, and personal growth; and

WHEREAS, interscholastic athletic programs can help bridge the gap between academics and life after school by providing students an opportunity to make new friends from their school and the schools against which they compete; and

WHEREAS, interisland travel by high school athletic teams usually requires airfare, ground transportation, and meal allowances for the student-athletes, coaches, athletic trainers, and managers; and

WHEREAS, student-athletes from the three island high schools in Maui county have limited opportunities to travel for interscholastic athletic competition within their own league because the Department of Education has limited funds for transportation and accommodation; and

WHEREAS, student-athletes statewide have limited opportunities to travel for interscholastic athletic competition outside their own league, such as for preseason or state championship tournaments, because the Department of Education has limited funds for transportation and accommodation; and

WHEREAS, there may be Department of Education or other state facilities on one or more islands that would be suitable for dedicated or multiple use overnight accommodations for traveling high school athletic teams; and

WHEREAS, student-athletes from all islands, as much as possible, should have the same opportunities to compete against a broad range of opponents; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Education is requested to:

(1) Review how it allocates travel funding for high school athletic teams between the various districts and schools; and

(2) Explore the feasibility of establishing permanent overnight accommodations on each island for traveling high school athletic teams by acquiring or leasing accommodations or by converting existing Department of Education or other state facilities to dedicated or multiple use accommodations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Superintendent of Education, the Board of Education, and the principal and athletic director of each public high school in the State.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Public School Interscholastic Athletics; Interisland Travel