An institution of lifelong learning is about to disappear from East Honolulu, and the proposed fix is being thwarted.

In existence since 1945, Kaimuki Community School for Adults offers an array of services, including adult basic education, adult secondary education, English for speakers of other languages, and literacy/civics education.

In addition, the school offers a wealth of special-interest classes, such as foreign languages, computer training, business and finance, and recreation.

Due to state Department of Education budget cuts, this multi-purpose school is set to close after Saturday.

The impending closure is quite paradoxical, since student enrollment dramatically increased by 21 percent over the previous school year during the 2011-2012 fall and spring sessions, reflecting the viable and growing adult education market in the community.

Plans to expand services even further include providing family literacy at elementary schools, workplace education at community businesses, and college/career transition programs to address the high school at-risk population and adults seeking to fulfill their personal, educational and career goals.

Since the staff and administration strongly believe that these cuts in services will impact the community in negative ways, a carefully thought-out plan was conceptualized to save the school and preserve the services.

A unique selling point: Because student surveys show that a majority are willing to pay higher tuition to continue enrollment in these classes, especially since tuition has not been increased for more than 20 years, the school generated a self-sustainable plan that can support its existence with no DOE funds. Local legislators were contacted and saw the immediate viability and value of this plan.

What’s puzzling is that the school’s innovative proposal for self-sufficiency has encountered barriers for its immediate implementation from the state Department of Education and Board of Education. To date, there has been no other organized alternative presented by the DOE/BOE to create adult education schools without dependence on DOE funds.

The staff and administration at Kaimuki Community School for Adults believe that their self-sustaining plan offers high school dropouts a chance to earn their GEDs and allow them better chances to become productive citizens.

The plan also allows immigrant students an effective way to begin learning English to better themselves, their employment and their families.

It allows seniors and other life-long learners opportunities to learn new skills and enhance their lives.

The school’s plan will not only preserve adult education for the community, but also keep the more than 100 part-time instructors gainfully employed in a struggling economy.

With June 30 fast approaching, many of us are baffled by the DOE and BOE’s inaction on this issue. We have detailed the solution for them in a 100-page plan.

The DOE and BOE have no other organized plan in place to continue all the facets of adult education in East Hono-lulu. Kaimuki Community School for Adults has an excellent plan that will create numerous possibilities for growth and reinvestment in our East Honolulu community.

Please show your support in whatever way you can to preserve this valuable educational resource for the community now and for the many generations to come.