Lingle Proposes Structural Reform of Hawaii School System

By Wendy Osher

Governor Linda Lingle is calling for structural reform of Hawaii’s school system. In her State of the State Address, Lingle announed a proposal to introduce a constitutional ammendment calling for the transition of the Department of Education into a cabinet level department. Under the plan, the superintendent of schools would be hired by the next governor, “…so all of us will know clearly ‘where the buck stops’,” said Lingle.

“It is time for Hawai‘i to make the Governor accountable for public education,” Lingle continued.

 

A press release issued by the Governor’s office today said, “The current school system lacks clear lines of authority, responsibility and accountability. Because the Governor, the Legislature, the Board of Education, the Department of Education, and the Superintendent of Education all have roles to play, the public does not know who to hold accountable for consistently mediocre performance.”

Specifically, this bill amends the State Constitution to make the Department of Education into a “principal department of state government” (i.e., a cabinet department). The State Constitution provides generally that a principal department has its leadership (whether an executive officer or a board/commission) nominated and, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appointed by the Governor. According to the measure, a board of education becomes unnecessary under the proposed structure.

Lingle said the measure would make the Governor directly accountable for the condition of public education within the State, as the Governor will be held accountable for his or her selection of superintendent, and the subsequent educational performance under that superintendent.

The measure states, “This will improve the State’s ability to effectively and expeditiously manage educational resources and execute policies and procedures.”

A companion measure is being introduced to make the necessary statutory amendments that set out the specific structural details of the proposed new relationship between the Governor, the superintendent, and the Department of Education.

Provisions in that measure would repeal the powers and duties of the publicly elected Board of Education; establish the Department of Education within with state administration to serve as a cabinet-level department; and authorize the Governor to appoint the superintendent of education, subject to confirmation by the State Senate.

Governor Proposes New Classroom Restoration Plan

Governor Linda Lingle has proposed a new plan to restore 24 out of the remaining 27 furlough days left on the public school schedule.
Under the Governor’s latest plan, up to $50 million from the Rainy Day Fund would be used to restore 12 furlough Fridays – five this semester and seven in the 2010-2011 school year.

An additional 12 instructional days – two this semester and 10 in the next school year – would be gained by using days when teachers are paid to be in their classrooms but do not teach students.

Lingle said, “Our revised plan keeps the focus on putting students back in the classroom for as many days as possible, which remains my highest priority.”

“As I have continued to stress since proposing my original plan, if the overriding issue is educating our children, then we need to move forward on this revised plan immediately in order to ensure students return to the classroom with the least amount of disruption to their schooling,”  said Lingle.

The Governor offered an original plan on November 15 to restore all 27 furlough days from January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011 by using $50 million in Rainy Day funds to restore 12 furlough days while also converting 15 non-instructional days into classroom teaching days.

Last week, the HSTA, DOE and BOE proposed using $35 million from the Rainy Day Fund to restore five furlough days, and convert two non-instructional days to instructional days.
Lingle-Aiona Administration officials met with BOE Chair Garrett Toguchi and then-DOE Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto last Wednesday to hear details of the HSTA/DOE/BOE proposal.
The latest proposal is being reviewed by the employer group, comprised of members of the DOE staff, two BOE representatives, the Director of the Department of Human Resources Development and a representative from the Governor’s office.

(Posted by Wendy Osher; Supporting Information Provided by the Office of the Governor, State of Hawaii)

Kihei High School Moves Closer to Reality

By Wendy Osher

 

The proposed High School in Kihei is one step closer to reality as the State Department of Education moved forward in filing an Environmental Impact Statement preparation notice.

 

Image Courtesy: Group 70 International, and the Hawaii State Department of Health

The DOE plans to develop the South Maui High School on 77 acres of undeveloped land, mauka of the Piilani Highway and the Piilani Village Residential subdivision.  It is located between the Kulanihakoi and Waipuilani gulches and north of the Maui Research and Technology Park and the Elleair Golf Course.    The lands are currently owned by Kaonoulu Ranch and Haleakala Ranch.

 

Access to the proposed campus is planned via a new access road off the Piilani Highway.  The plan is to construct an extension of the existing Kulanihakoi Street to provide access to the campus.

 

According to the 78 page document, anticipated impacts include an increase in traffic volume, usage of water resources, and a rise in demand on public services and facilities.  The current project design supports the enrollment of up to 1,650 students in grades 9-12.  The majority of South Maui students currently commute to central Maui for high school, while 163 are enrolled at the area charter school.

 

The DOE cited population growth, geographical separation, and overcrowding of Central Maui schools, as reasons why a high school in South Maui is a necessity.

 

The applicant is currently pursuing a State Land Use District Boundary Amendment, an Amendment to the Kihei-Makena Community Plan, and Rezoning to entitle development of the proposed project.

 

The 30 day public comment period of the EISPN began on November 8, 2009.

Governor Lingle Responds to HSTA Furlough Vote

Governor Linda Lingle praised Hawaii’s teachers for ratifying a new contract that will result in 17 unpaid furlough days off, equating to an approximately 8 percent pay cut.

File Photo by Wendy Osher.

Lingle said she realizes it is not what teachers, students, and families had hoped or planned for, “but it reflects the state’s economic and fiscal realities.”

“They understand that everyone must make a shared sacrifice to help our state get through this difficult period and for State government to live within its means,” said Lingle.

The state DOE and the Board of Education have been working together to determine how to realize a 14 percent savings imposed by the governor to help close the growing budget shortfall.

There will be two furlough Fridays per month beginning on October 23^rd with the exception of three furlough days in the December.

“The furlough days will present challenges, but like other situations, our residents will come together to kokua, and ultimately come up with real, common sense solutions.  Moreover, I know the private sector will jump in to help, especially in the area of day care,” said Lingle.

“I am confident our teachers will remain committed to their students and will find innovative ways to make the best of these challenging circumstances to ensure our children get the best possible education,” Lingle said.

(Posted by Wendy Osher; Lingle Statement provided by the Office of the Governor, State of Hawaii)