STATE OF HAWAII BOARD OF EDUCATION GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING
MINUTES Queen Liliuokalani Building
1390 Miller Street, Room 404
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Thursday, January 16, 2025
PRESENT:
Roy M. Takumi, Chairperson
Bill Arakaki, Vice Chairperson
Kaimana Barcarse
Elynne Chung
Kahele Dukelow
Mary Hattori
Ken Kuraya
EXCUSED:
Wesley Lo
Makana McClellan
ALSO PRESENT:
Keith Hayashi, Superintendent, Department of Education
Ethan Yang, Board Student Representative
Capsun Poe, Board Executive Director
Wimmie Wong Lui, Board Analyst
Keli Houston, Board Analyst
Lady Garrett, Secretary
I. Call to Order
Board Chairperson Roy Takumi called the Board of Education (Board) special meeting to order at 1:32 p.m.
II.Approval of meeting minutes of December 12, 2024, general business meetings
ACTION: Approval of meeting minutes of December 12, 2024, general business meetings. (Arakaki/Kuraya). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.
III. Report of the Superintendent
A. Leadership appointments
B. Awards and recognitions for students, employees, and/or schools
The Board took agenda items II.A. and II.B. together.
Board Chairperson Takumi called on Keith Hayashi, Superintendent, to provide the report.
Leadership appointments
Hayashi introduced the following leadership appointments as follows: Dean Uchida, Deputy Superintendent for Operations; Kinau Gardner, Interim Assistant Superintendent, Office of Student Support Services; Amy Peckinpaugh, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Information Technology Services; Sam Izumi, Complex Area Superintendent (CAS), Castle-Kahuku; Ernest Muh, CAS, Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua; and Lori Yatsushiro, CAS, Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihāko’i-Maui.
Awards and recognitions for students, employees, and/or schools
Hayashi congratulated the recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) Whitney Aragaki, Waiakea High School; Michael Ida, Kalani High School; Jessica Barbera, Jefferson Elementary School; Gregory Kent, Kailua Elementary School, Karleen Lynch, Pearl City High School, and Sarah Milianta-Laffin, ‘Ilima Intermediate School. He also stated that students from Baldwin High School, Palisades Elementary School, and ‘Īao Intermediate schools each won the top prize of $5,000 in the Design Intelligence Lab contest. Hilo High School and two separate teams from Kalani High School were awarded $1,500 for their project ideas; the annual competition is sponsored by the Department in partnership with Public Schools of Hawaii Foundation and Design Thinking Hawaii.
Hayashi announced that the McKinley High School athletic complex groundbreaking anticipates construction to be completed in fall 2026 and will elevate the spectator experience and serve as a hub for the community. The estimated completion date is set for September 2026.
Board Chairperson Takumi called for public testimony.
Elizabeth Ray, member of the public, expressed concern with the treatment of teachers, students, and parents since the Maui wildfires. She opined that there has been a lack of due diligence from the Department.
Susan Pcola-Davis, member of the public, testified in support of the new leadership structure and noted that the new appointees have large shoes to fill.
IV.Finance and Infrastructure Committee oral report on December 12, 2024, meeting
Board Chairperson Takumi called on Finance and Infrastructure Committee Chairperson Ken Kuraya.
Board Member Kuraya reported that the Finance and Infrastructure Committee met on December 12, 2024, and the Committee received an update from the Department of Education on the status of its capital improvement projects. The Department also provided an update on its capital improvement projects and operating budget request for fiscal biennium 2025-27.
Board Chairperson Takumi called for public testimony. No testimony was provided.
V. Human Resources Committee oral report on December 12, 2024, meeting
Board Chairperson Takumi called on Human Resources Committee Vice Chairperson Kaimana Barcarse.
Board Member Barcarse reported that the Human Resources Committee met on December 12, 2024, and the Committee received an update from the Department on Strategic Plan Desired Outcome 3.2.2., Action Item 2, and relation to its organizational alignment initiative. As a part of this initiative, the Committee voted to recommend to the full Board for approval the Department’s proposed change to its leadership reporting structure.
Board Chairperson Takumi called for public testimony. No testimony was provided.
VI. Department of Education change to leadership reporting structure, in relation to Strategic Plan Desired Outcome 3.2.2, Action Item 2
Board Chairperson Takumi called on Human Resources Committee Vice Chairperson Kaimana Barcarse.
Board Member Barcarse stated that the Human Resources Committee, at its December 12, 2024, meeting, voted to recommend to the full Board for approval the Department’s proposed changes to its leadership reporting structure. The Department recommended the changes related to the superintendent, deputy superintendents, and assistant superintendents to address span of control, division of work, and functional alignment related to the functions, roles, and responsibilities of the three deputy superintendents.
Board Chairperson Takumi called for public testimony.
Debra Bond Upson, HE’E Coalition and Parents for Public Schools, testified that both organizations she represents expressed appreciation for the report from the Council for Great City Schools (CGCS) including the recommendations.
Susan Pcola-Davis, member of the public, testified that she is looking forward to the implementation of the organizational alignment.
ACTION: Authorize the Department of Education to change the reporting structure of leadership at the Deputy Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent levels, as explained in Superintendent Keith Hayashi’s memorandum dated December 21, 2024 (Human Resources Committee/no second required). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.
VII. Adjournment
Board Chairperson Takumi adjourned the meeting at 2:01 p.m.