Kohala High School’s new science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) facility was dedicated yesterday in a ceremony with excited students, parents and staff. The new state-of-the-art facility is comprised of four single-story classroom buildings connected by a covered walkway that provides a new physical science lab, biochemistry lab, natural resources lab, two general classrooms and additional office space.
“Kohala High’s new STEM facility will give our students better resources and dedicated space for exploration, experiments and design work,” said Superintendent Dr. Christina Kishimoto. “Modernized facilities will keep our students on the forefront of technology and boost their readiness for college and future careers.”
Achievement in science has been flourishing at Kohala High School. Since 2015, there has been a significant jump of 48 percentage points in the number of Kohala High students meeting or exceeding science standards in state assessments, clearly indicating student engagement and interest in the sciences.
“The much anticipated opening of our STEM complex will create real opportunities to offer integrated experiences connecting science to other content areas and preparing our students for innovative career pathways,” said Principal Janette Snelling. “Our new science labs will help to boost that desire for STEM learning with new technology, learning tools, and hands-on experimentation. We want to thank our students, parents, legislators and our community for their support through this growing process.”
The new four-building cluster adds nearly 13,000 square feet of educational space for the school’s 265 students. Construction began on June 30, 2017, and cost approximately $8.9 million to complete.
