MEDIA RELEASE

The Innovations Public Charter School will receive a $2.9 million loan from the federal government to add more than 8,000 square feet of classroom space to its Kailua-Kona campus, Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, Sen. Daniel K. Akaka, and U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono announced Wednesday.

Some of the loan funds will also be used to build a soccer field, a covered basketball court and to refinance existing debt.

The award was made under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Facility Direct Loan program. Loans and guarantees are available to public entities and are used to develop essential community facilities in rural areas and towns of up to 20,000 in population.

“For more than a decade the students, faculty, and staff at Innovations have worked together with the community to create a unique, award-winning learning environment. I am very grateful that the administration recognizes their hard work and is supporting their efforts with these much needed funds,” Inouye said.

“This loan from the federal government recognizes the good work of the teachers and staff at Innovations to educate Big Island keiki in a non-traditional environment,” Akaka said. “The school has won numerous awards for excellence and achievement, and with this federal support to expand the campus and refinance debt, I expect to continue seeing great results.”

“Innovations Public Charter School helps students achieve through community collaborations, holistic learning, and high standards. I know that this outstanding school has changed the lives of many students on Hawaii Island. In fact, one of the school’s first graduates was Matt Sylva, who’s now serving as a University of Hawaii at Manoa fellow in my DC office,” Hirono said. “This USDA Rural Development investment will help Innovations expand its campus and ability to impact our keiki.”

Innovations Public Charter School located on the Big Island of Hawaii in Kailua-Kona, opened Aug. 1, 2001. In 2011, ICPS received the Hawaii Charter School of Excellence Award from the Hawaii Charter Schools Network.

The school services 185 students in grades one through eight and offers parents a choice of free, non-traditional public education in a small school environment.

IPCS known for its student centered learning in multi-age groupings, inquiry and project-based focus, thematic integrative curriculum, arts and technology integration, parent participation, and its caring and experienced staff.

— Find out more:
www.ipcs.info