Update #2: The future of ULS for now

My apologies for all the the typos in the initial post. It’s not Keoni. He can type, don’t worry. Something happened when I carried the PDF file across. So it’s something I did wrong, not Keoni. The is and the ts disappeared. I think I’ve caught everything now. Hopefully.

Here is an update from Principal Keoni Jeremiah, Jr. Bow Class of 1989.

UNIVERSITY LABORATORY SCHOOL

A Hawai‘i Public Charter School

1776 University Avenue UHS #3–121, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96822 | Telephone (808) 956–7833 | Fax Number (808) 956–7260www.universitylaboratoryschool.org | info@universitylaboratoryschool.org

February 6, 2023

Aloha Lab School Alumni and Community Supporters,

We want to first thank you for your continued support of the University Laboratory School (ULS). We are incredibly fortunate to have such a great school community of students, families, faculty and staff, alumni, and ULS supporters.

Since the last official communication from ULS, there have been a few updates associated with the University of Hawai‘i’s development proposal for the land that the Lab School currently sits on.

Senate Informational Hearing January 31, 2023

Members of the ULS Governing Board, Administration, ULS Foundation, and alumni, as well as selected faculty and student representatives, attended an informational hearing held on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at the State Capitol. The hearing was called by the Senate Committee on Higher Education to discuss several matters involving the University, including how the proposed development plan would affect the Lab School. University officials stated that they do not yet have an actionable plan to develop the ULS and College of Education area and therefore there was no issue with ULS at this time. They also acknowledged that there is an affiliation agreement between the Lab School and the UH College of Education, correcting what President Lassner had stated in the Senate Ways and Means hearing in early January. The Senators requested the University to begin a line of communication with the Lab School and to be transparent in any future developments that could ultimately affect our school. University representatives pledged to open lines of communication with ULS.

Mānoa Neighborhood Board Meeting February 1, 2023

At the February Mānoa Neighborhood Board meeting, the topic of the proposed land development and its effect on the Lab School was discussed. University representatives and consultants who drafted the Long Range Development Plan (LRDP) for the University were adamant that while the block of land between Dole Street and Metcalf Street is in the plan to be developed into a mixed residential/commercial area, there are no immediate actionable plans to do so at this time. University representatives once again pledged to open lines of communication with ULS.

Moving forward, the ULS leadership team is setting up a meeting with University leadership to get clarity on the University’s future plans and to establish an open line of communication. We believe that this meeting will also provide ULS with the opportunity to reiterate to the University our appreciation for being on the Mānoa campus and our desire to establish a stronger working relationship.

At this time and for the immediate future, ULS will remain at its current location and ULS will continue to do what we have always done–provide a top-tier education to its students. ULS leadership will continue its work to ensure that we will always have a school, whether that be on the University campus or elsewhere.

Although we have received assurances from the University that ULS will have a home in the short-term, the long-term development plans of the University remain a lingering concern for ULS and our community. We ask you to stay engaged and active as a part of our ULS ‘Ohana! Please be on the lookout for future updates on the campus from ULS leadership and separate requests from the ULS Foundation for financial support for our school.

In closing, we want to again express our appreciation to all those who have reached out in support of ULS and our students. It made a big difference and is a true testament to what a small school community, strong in spirit, can do. We know that we can face anything if we do it together. Go Jr. Bows!

Mahalo Nui Loa,

A. Keoni Jeremiah ’89
Principal