DOE addresses years of safety concerns about working fire alarms at public schools

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The state Department of Education is addressing years of safety concerns about working fire alarms at public schools.
New data shows a significant improvement across the islands, but there is still a long list of upgrades.
Concerns were heightened back in April when the DOE reported 22 of its schools did not have working fire alarm systems.
This latest report shows the department addressed the most serious issues. However, roughly a quarter of the schools’ systems need to be updated.
It shows Kahuku High School and Sunset Beach Elementary are the last two schools without working alarm systems.
Although progress has been made, parents and educators at those schools are getting impatient.
“It’s very concerning especially even if you look at the surrounding area, a lot of grass is dry, like we have water issues,” said Carlos Mozo, a substitute teacher at Sunset Beach Elementary.
“I think we it boils down to when you look at the big picture of the state, we are just not a priority,” Mozo said.
Despite concerns, some are praising the DOE for their action over the last six months.
“To have the district make this progress is wonderful and we hope this will happen with the rest of the deferred miniatous that we found as well,” said Deborah Bond-Upson, with the group Parents for Public Schools Hawaii.
The DOE report also shows the department’s continued struggle with aging systems.
It lists 72 public schools with fire alarm systems that are working but are 20 years old with no replacement parts — slightly up from six months ago.
“We know that we have a lot of work to do in our school buildings, and the fire alarms are just one discrete problem to look at to see how it goes,” said Bond-Upson.
For schools without properly working fire alarms, there is a manual system in place.
The DOE said it plans to spend more than $20 million over the next couple of years to replace all fire alarm systems.
The full report can be found here.
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