The governor has released $2.2 million for a new data storage center at the former Queen Liliuokalani Elementary School campus, nine months after the Kaimuki school closed its doors.

The data storage center, which will be housed in Liliuokalani’s cafeteria, will replace one in the basement of the Department of Education headquarters on Punchbowl Street.

"The department, as it upgrades to an adequate IT (information technology) system, it’s going to need a facility like this," said Duane Kashiwai, administrator of the DOE’s facilities development branch.

Kashiwai said the center will be the hub for the department’s network operations — both hardware and personnel. Funding for the center will cover air-conditioning the cafeteria, upgrading its power and other infrastructure systems and installing backup generators.

The project will go out to bid this year. Kashiwai said construction is expected to be completed next year.

The former, elected Board of Education voted in March 2011 to shutter Liliuokalani Elementary and send its 97 students to other schools in the area. The school’s last day was May 26.

In addition to putting the data center on the campus, the department plans to install offices in former classrooms. Once that work is complete, the DOE will relocate 180 employee positions to the site from rented space. The rental savings is estimated at $900,000 annually.

In addition to releasing money for the data center, Gov. Neil Abercrombie released about $5.3 million for other DOE projects. They are:

» $2 million for energy improvements at schools, including upgrades to central air conditioning or energy efficient features.

» $1 million for special education renovations.

» $1 million to fund planning for East Kapolei High School. The new school is designed to ease overcrowding at Campbell High School.

» $501,000 for building code improvements at Mililani Middle.

» $500,000 for playground equipment at various schools.

» $280,000 to design a pedestrian buffer at Holualoa Elementary.