Waimea Middle School’s newly appointed Local Advisory Panel (LAP) will hold its first meeting from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., June 25, in classroom K-04. All LAP meetings are open and the school community is welcome to attend. An agenda for the meeting will be posted on the school’s website at www.WaimeaMiddleSchool.org.
The WMS LAP is comprised of representatives of all of the school’s stakeholder groups including: students, family members, certificated faculty, classified staff, administrative leadership, community leaders and partners and representatives of Ho’okako’o Corp., the public charter school’s not-for-profit local school board.
According to the WMS charter, the LAP provides the school community with input and feedback for school leadership and the Ho’okako’o Corp. with information on how best to support academic progress for its 280+ sixth through eighth-grade students.
Newly appointed LAP representatives include sixth grade representative Jeren Soriano and alternate McKella Spencer, and seventh grade representative Kiara Lorenzo-Rodrigues and alternate Holi Bergin. Family members include Lori Bergin, Melissa Mahi Lindsey and Bernie Marsh. Certified faculty includes sixth grade representative Erica Owens and seventh grade representative Eunice “Laz” Lazarus, and eighth grade representative Nau’i Murphy.
The classified staff included Kiki Kihoi and Michelle Kauhi. Community representatives are Dr. Christian Veillet, Pete Hendricks, Dr. Kamana Beamer and Guy Kaulukukui. The panel also includes WMS Principal Matt Horne and Patti Cook, community liaison. From the Ho’okako’o Corp. is Megan McCorriston, the executive director.
The highlight of the June meeting will be an introduction to the school’s new principal, Matt Horne, and a discussion of educational plans for the coming school year, including a review of recent school community surveys indicating widespread support for a longer school day (expanded learning time.) The meeting will also discuss the next steps involving the school’s recent designation as a “Candidate for Accreditation” by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.