DRAFT


STATE OF HAWAII
BOARD OF EDUCATION
GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

MINUTES

Queen Liliuokalani Building
1390 Miller Street, Room 404
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Thursday, February 22, 2024


PRESENT:
Warren Haruki, Chairperson
Kaimana Barcarse, Vice Chairperson
Bill Arakaki
Shanty Asher
Kahele Dukelow
Ken Kuraya
Makana McClellan
Lauren Moriarty


ALSO PRESENT:
Ryan Roylo, Deputy Attorney General, Education Division
Ahryanna McGuirk, Student Representative
Angenene Robertson, Military Representative
Keith Hayashi, Superintendent, Department of Education
Tammi Oyadomari-Chun, Deputy Superintendent of Strategy, Department of Education
Brian Hallett, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Fiscal Services, Department of Education
Stacey Aldrich, State Librarian, Hawaii State Public Library System
Kalani Werner, President, United Public Workers
Charlie Howard, Education and Outreach Specialist, United Public Workers
Capsun Poe, Board Executive Director
Wimmie Wong Lui, Board Analyst
Lady Garrett, Secretary


  1. Call to Order


Board Chairperson Warren Haruki called the Board of Education (“Board”) General Business Meeting to order at 1:31 p.m.


  1. Approval of Meeting Minutes of January 25, 2024, General Business Meeting

  1. Report of the Superintendent


The Board took agenda items III.A., III.B., and III.C. together.


Board Chairperson Haruki called on Keith Hayashi, Superintendent, and Tammi Oyadomari-Chun, Deputy Superintendent of Strategy to provide the report of the superintendent.


Strategic Plan Progress. Oyadomari-Chun reported the following: (1) the strategic plan includes 3 priorities, 10 goals, 27 desired outcomes, and 127 action items, 50 performance measures and 8 key performance indicators; (2) the Department has reported on desired outcomes to various Board committees; (3) action items are in progress for the 3 priority areas; and (4) LEI Kukui dashboard reports on 22 performance measures of the 57 total performance measures to be reported publicly.


Maui wildfire impacts. Hayashi reported the following: (1) United States Army Corps of Engineers is making progress and is on track to hand over the Pulelehua campus to the Department by the end of the week; (2) 336 modular units placed making up 38 buildings; (3) students and families have been notified about an extended spring break; (4) Maui school resources toolkit (https://sites.google.com/k12.hi.us/maui-school-resources/kkiii); (5) Kula Kaiapuni O Lahaina continue to express concern with distance learning and a meeting with held last week with families to inform and provide options with a commitment of 4 classrooms for the remainder of the school year at the King Kamehameha III campus site location; (6) Lahainaluna football players invited as honorary coin toss captains including a video on how the team brought the community together; and (7) six Maui schools will offer free school meals for the remainder of the school year as provided by the federal community eligibility provision.


School and employee bright spots. Hayashi reported the following: (1) Lahainaluna coaches and team captains served as honorary coin toss captains for the Super Bowl; (2) Kalani High School, Team Kalani 4.2 won the state competition and will represent Hawaii in San Diego, California for the national competition; (3) Shelly Chang from Kaimiloa Elementary School was recognized as a school counselor who was instrumental in developing a school attendance review team to determine which families need additional support to get students to school on a daily basis; (4) 21 teachers earned the National Board Certification Teaching certificate and was honored by Governor Green to be up to date on best practices and is a rigorous process that can take 1-3 years to complete; and (5) expressed congratulations to Highland Intermediate, Maui Waena Intermediate, Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle, Waiakea High School, and Kalaheo High School to complete the Hiki No 2024 winter challenge.


Board Chairperson Haruki called for public testimony on agenda items III.A, III.B, and III.C.


Vanessa Ott, a member of the public, suggested that the superintendent report be provided in portrait versus landscape outline which is easier to read and noted that more details are needed.


Board Member McClellan expressed appreciation for Hayashi meeting with the families in Lahaina and asked if the families agreed to the options being provided by the Department. She acknowledged the testimony and noted that it is important to communicate top priorities and how the issues are being addressed. Hayashi shared that the priority of the new Pulelehua campus is to address the KIng Kamehameha III site that was lost but there are 4 portables that will be available.


Student Representative McGuirk noted that during school visits to the Campbell-Kapolei area she was able to see how the strategic plan is being used to guide school decisions. She also asked what is the attendance rate for those students in the Kula Kaiapuni O Lahaina distance learning program. Hayashi stated that the Department will provide this information.


Board Member Moriarty expressed appreciation for the update on the strategic plan and asked what the plan was given the current fiscal constraints on the state budget. Brian Hallett, Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Fiscal Services and Chief Financial Officer, shared an update on the request from the Senate Ways and Means (WAM) Committee on 10% budget reductions including a range of options but the level of this cut will equal over 3,000 teaching positions.


Board Member Dukelow shared that parents expressed concern relating to the ability to access their children if another fire happens. She emphasized that Kula Kaiapuni (Hawaiian Immersion) is a way of re-establishing and creating deeper roots for the Hawaiian community in Lahaina.


Board Member Asher expressed appreciation for the report and requested information on how the Department is incorporating best practices into schools to help address chronic absenteeism.


Board Chairperson Haruki echoed comments from other members and expressed appreciation for the report highlighting success stories from our schools.


Board Member Arakaki expressed appreciation for the report and emphasized that the link for LEI Kukui dashboard (https://hidoedatace-ce.hoonuit.com/Dashboard/dashboard/92) is helpful and aligns to the strategic plan.


Board Member Events Attended report.


Board Chairperson Haruki called for public testimony. No public testimony was provided at this time.


Board Chairperson Haruki referenced the events attended report and noted that it is being provided to comply with sunshine law requirements.


Note: Board Chairperson Haruki took this agenda item out of order before agenda item III, entitled Report of the Superintendent.

Kalani Werner, President, United Public Workers (UPW) shared that the union represents over 12,000 members across public and private sectors and is serving as the first elected president. He shared about the multi-skilled worker (MSW) program which aims to address challenges of aging infrastructure, natural disasters and climate-related issues, knowledge transfer, workforce availability, and flexibility. Werner explained that to become proficient in each trade, individuals in the MSW undergo extensive training to learn various job skills and are working to introduce the program to all departments.

Board Member Makana McClellan entered the meeting at 1:38 p.m.

Hayashi expressed appreciation for the opportunity to work with UPW and the MSW program.

Board Chairperson Haruki called for public testimony on this agenda item.

Vanessa Ott, member of the public, testified that the materials were added on February 20, 2024 at 1:30 p.m. and expressed concern that the Board packet was only available 48-Hours before the meeting.

Board Member Dukelow asked how the MSW training occurs and how the union requirements are mitigated. Werner replied that the training with other departments happens with-in their own ranks and for union requirements section 105 requires a vote of members to determine if changes are acceptable. Board Member Moriarty asked how long the training is and who bears the cost. Werner shared that a compensation plan is asked for and will fall back on the Department for the level of skills. Board Member Moriarty asked for clarification if training programs allow electricians to be trained in other areas. Charlie Howard, Education and Outreach Specialist, UPW explained that since new employees do not need to be hired there are cost savings. Board Vice Chairperson Barcarse expressed appreciation and asked as the workers are upscaled internally is there an accreditation process for the teachers which will allow workers to move forward if necessary. Howard replied that the program benefits employers and workers.

  1. Committee Reports


Board Chairperson Haruki reported that the investigative committee recommendation is being shared today, and the Board will consider testimony and discussion only. The vote will not be taken on the Committee’s recommendation until its March 28, 2024, general business meeting with the recommended candidate present.


Board Chairperson Haruki called for public testimony on this agenda item. No testimony was provided.


Board Vice Chairperson Barcarse expressed appreciation and support for the candidate selected who will be a valued asset to the Commission.


  1. Action Items


Board Chairperson Haruki called for public testimony on this agenda item.


Vanessa Ott, member of the public, suggested that it will be more helpful to have a better framework, set of expectations and timeline in place to determine the priorities of the state librarian evaluation.


ACTION: Motion to approve the state librarian evaluation process as explained in Human Resources Committee Chairperson Shanty Asher’s memorandum dated February 8, 2024, and the state librarian priorities attached as Exhibit A, respectively, for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. (Asher/No second required). The motion was carried through unanimous consent from all members present.



Board Chairperson Haruki called for public testimony on this agenda item. No testimony was provided.


ACTION: Motion to authorize the Department to commence a reduction in force for classified employees so that the Department may initiate the collectively bargained reassignment and bumping rights processes for the affected employees. (Asher/No second required). The motion was carried through unanimous consent from all members present.




Board Chairperson Haruki called for public testimony on this agenda item. No testimony was provided.


ACTION: Motion to grant a general waiver of the school days and student hours requirements of section 302A-251, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for the 2023-2024 school year for Maui schools affected by Hurricane Dora and the wildfires. (Arakaki/No second required). The motion was carried through unanimous consent from all members present.



D. Board action on School Community Council ("SCC") request for exceptions to collective bargaining agreements, statutory waivers, and waivers of Board policy for School Year 2023-2024 (Round 1)



Board Chairperson Haruki announced that this item is deferred till March 7, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. at a special meeting.


  1. Adjournment


Board Chairperson Haruki adjourned the meeting at 3:05 p.m.


List of the people who submitted written testimony before the meeting


NAME
Organization
Agenda Item
Katherine Waters WilsonIII.B. Update on maui wildfire impacts
Vanessa OttVI.A. Board action on Human Resources Committee recommendation concerning the state librarian evaluation process and State Librarian priorities for the 2023-2024 fiscal year
Katie BenioniLei HoʻolahaV.B. Investigative Committee (a permitted interaction group pursuant to paragraph 92-2.5(b)(1), Hawaii Revised Statutes) investigation relating to nomination of individuals to serve as members of the State Public Charter School Commission; findings and recommendations on nomination