The Maui County Council is taking up a resolution on Friday asking the Hawaii Department of Education to delay the start of classes for public school students across the state by a week to recognize the one-year anniversary of the Maui wildfires.

Most schools welcome students back on Monday, Aug. 5, three days before the anniversary.

By rescheduling the first day of school to Aug. 12, families and teachers can participate in memorial activities in Lahaina and Upcountry Maui, said council member Tamara Paltin, who introduced the resolution. The county has appropriated $500,000 for events marking the anniversary, she added.   

“Not all the learning needs to necessarily be within the classroom,” Paltin said, adding that delaying the start of school would provide teachers and students more time to care for their mental health. 

The teachers’ union has repeatedly raised concerns that DOE did not provide enough counseling and mental health support at schools following the fires. The department did not respond to requests for comment. 

Even if the Maui Council adopts the resolution, it could be difficult for the department to implement such a change without affecting the flow of the new year. Teachers return to their classrooms on July 30, almost a full week before the first day of classes. Some DOE campuses, like Lahaina Intermediate, also have teacher work days scheduled early the following week, meaning students start on Aug. 7.

Robert Livermore, a parent and teacher at King Kamehameha III Elementary, said he supports the resolution and believes the community needs more time to reflect on the past year. After the Lahaina wildfires destroyed King Kamehameha III Elementary beyond repair, teachers and students moved between multiple classrooms and campuses to return to learning as quickly as possible.

“I don’t think anyone is in a hurry to be in a classroom on Aug. 8, especially at our school,” Livermore said. 

Maui County Council Chair Alice Lee said she’s hopeful Paltin’s resolution will pass. Memorial events will likely take place across Maui on Aug. 8, she added, so it would be valuable for all schools on the island to move back their starting dates by a week.

But rescheduling the first day of school could be logistically challenging, said Sen. Angus McKelvey, who represents West Maui. Families might have a hard time finding child care for an extra week, and moving back the school year could affect major events like graduations. 

It may be best to keep campuses open and allow schools to individually decide how to honor the anniversary of the fires, McKelvey said. He would eventually like to see Aug. 8 become a statewide memorial day.

Paltin said she’s also open to other alternatives, such as providing students with excused absences if they wanted to attend commemorative events with their families or closing Maui schools only on Aug. 8 and 9. 

“The main purpose of the resolution is just to say, this is going on, it’s been brought to my attention,” Paltin said, adding that she hasn’t discussed the proposal with DOE yet. “I realize there’s probably more questions than answers out of this resolution.”

The Board of Education typically approves school calendars years in advance. The 2024-25 school year calendar received board approval in fall 2021. 

Hawaii State Teachers Association deputy director Andrea Eshelman said in an emailed statement that adjusting the start of the school year would require BOE approval and consultation with the teachers’ union.

The resolution is well-intentioned but could be difficult to implement across the state, said BOE Chair Roy Takumi. If the department requested the change, he added, the board would likely need to hold an emergency meeting next month.

The department made significant changes to its calendar during the Covid-19 pandemic. Students began the 2020-21 school year nine days later than planned so teachers could receive more training and the department could develop additional health and safety protocols for schools. The decision required agreement among the department, BOE and unions representing teachers, principals and other school staff.

Other charter and private schools on Maui are also considering their plans leading up to the one-year anniversary of the fires.

Maui Preparatory Academy originally planned to welcome students back on Aug. 7. But head of school Miguel Solis said there are ongoing discussions among staff and school leadership about changing the start date. No decisions have been made yet, he added.

At Kihei Charter School, students are still set to return on Aug. 5, said head of school Michael Stubbs. The campus will have a moment of silence for victims of the fire, and teachers may hold in-class discussions about the anniversary, he added.

The school will also support families who don’t want their children to attend classes on Aug. 8 and wish to participate in other memorial events across the island, Stubbs added.  

Despite potential scheduling challenges, it’s important for families to remain together on the anniversary of the fires, Livermore said.

“Hug your kids, hold them close on Aug. 8,” Livermore said. “Think about what we still have and remember what we lost.” 

Civil Beat’s education reporting is supported by a grant from Chamberlin Family Philanthropy.