STATE OF HAWAII
BOARD OF EDUCATION
GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

MINUTES

Queen Liliuokalani Building
1390 Miller Street, Room 404
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Thursday, December 5, 2019


PRESENT:
Catherine Payne, Chairperson
Brian De Lima, Esq., Vice Chairperson
Kaimana Barcarse
Margaret Cox
Nolan Kawano
Kili Namauʻu
Dwight Takeno
Daniella White (student representative)

EXCUSED:
Kenneth Uemura
Bruce Voss, Esq.
Captain Lyn Hammer (military representative)

ALSO PRESENT:
Christina Kishimoto, Superintendent
John Kim, Chairperson, State Public Charter School Commission
Sione Thompson, Executive Director, State Public Charter School Commission
Chris Doyle, Services Team Chair, State Public Charter School Commission
Lauren Endo, Performance Team Chair, State Public Charter School Commission
PJ Foehr, Achievement Team Chair, State Public Charter School Commission
Yvonne Lau, Deputy Director, Finance Operation Team, State Public Charter School Commission
Alison Kunishige, Executive Director
Kenyon Tam, Board Analyst
Regina Pascua, Board Private Secretary
Irina Dana, Secretary


I. Call to Order


The Board of Education (“Board”) General Business Meeting was called to order by Board Chairperson Catherine Payne at 1:30 p.m.


II. *Public Testimony on Board of Education (“Board”) Agenda Items

Board Chairperson Payne called for public testimony. There was no public testimony at this time.


III. Approval of Meeting Minutes of November 21, 2019

ACTION: Motion to approve the General Business Meeting minutes of November 21, 2019 (De Lima/Cox). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.


IV. Reports of Board Committees, Board Members, and Superintendent Student Achievement Committee Chairperson Margaret Cox reported that the committee took action on the Department of Education’s (“Department”) recommendations regarding policy changes to ensure Board policies support the recommendations of the Special Education Task Force’s 2018 summative report and the English Learners Task Force’s 2018 summative report. She highlighted that the committee approved revisions to Board Policy 105-13, entitled “Inclusion,” and adopted a new Board policy on English learners. She noted that the Department would create an implementation plan for the new Board policy. Committee Chairperson Cox stated that the committee also took action on health standards for elementary and secondary.


Board Member Kaimana Barcarse reported that he visited Ke Kula ʻo ʻEhunuikaimalino School on Hawaiʻi Island on October 22, 2019. He highlighted that he was greeted with chants and speeches by students, parents, and community members and learned about the school’s current situation. Board Member Barcarse highlighted that the school utilizes every square inch of its campus for education. He detailed the school’s kindergarten classrooms and immersion education programs. Board Member Barcarse noted that the school’s challenges include lack of facilities and space. He stated that the school is working with its Complex Area Superintendent and community partners to expand to resolve these issues in the short-term but these challenges will remain without long-term solutions and the school needs guidance as to how to solve them.

Board Chairperson Payne commented that interest in Hawaiian immersion is increasing and some schools have more students than capacity.

Board Member Kili Namauʻu reported that she hosted a Board community meeting on sharing Hawaiian immersion concerns and solutions. She highlighted that 80 individuals attended, including teachers, parents, community partners, Board members, and Department staff. Attendees discussed issues, including teacher compensation and the need to address immersion education in schools. She stated that attendees also discussed the Board hosting community meetings regarding immersion education on other islands and the Department including Hawaiian immersion in its 2020-2030 Strategic Plan

Investigative Committee Chairperson Payne reported on the findings and recommendations of the committee tasked with nominating recommended individuals to serve as members on the State Public Charter School Commission (“Commission”).

Investigative Committee Chairperson Payne stated that the committee is nominating Matthew Kodama for the Board’s consideration.

Investigative Committee Chairperson Payne stated that the Board cannot deliberate or take action at this meeting on these findings and recommendations but will do so at a future meeting, pursuant to Sunshine Law.


V. Discussion Items
Sione Thompson, Executive Director, Commission, reviewed the Commission’s annual report. He detailed that the Commission reflected on its practices over the past few years and made shifts and changes. Through its first strategic plan, the Commission was able to reorganize and restructure itself to resolve issues the Board identified through its reports and answer questions from community members. Thompson stated that the Commission continues to review its school portfolio, data, and mixed results. He noted that all schools need support and guidance and the Commission has shifted its mindset, culture, and organizational structure to ensure guidance, accountability, and compliance.

Lauren Endo, Performance Team Chair, Commission, stated that the Commission’s Performance Team monitors school compliance through communication with schools via e-mail, phone calls, and site visits. She stated that the Performance Team keeps the Commission informed on the health of schools and contract compliance.

PJ Foehr, Achievement Team Chair, Commission, stated that the Commission’s Achievement Team provides charter schools with guidance and support to execute missions and visions. The Achievement Team is comprised of three sections. He detailed that the federal programs section provides support and guidance regarding how schools can receive and spend federal funds, the early learning section supports 11 schools with pre-kindergarten programs, and the guidance and innovation section is made up of school leads. Foehr noted that schools expressed that they wanted more governing board support and one of the achievement team’s role is to support governing boards around effective governance and leadership.

Chris Doyle, Services Team Chair, Commission, stated that the Services Team provides charter schools with a one-stop shop. The Services Team conducts professional development training, provides a liaison who works with external entities, and helps schools to fulfill their duties. He stated that charter schools have lots of questions and turnover and the Services Team supports them and keeps schools updated as laws change. Doyle detailed that school health and safety is a predominant priority this year and the Services Team is sitting in on school meetings and contracting and partnering with emergency preparedness branches. He noted that schools in rural areas have asked for more support in the area of school safety and the Services Team is providing support and partners for schools to develop relationships.

Yvonne Lau, Deputy Director, Finance Operation Team, Commission, detailed that the Finance Operation Team works with schools in the area of banking. She detailed that the Finance Operation Team receives state funds, federal funds, grants, and disbursements from state entities to disburse to schools. The Finance Operation Team also coordinates with state departments to make chartering possible, processes financial documents, and manages the internal finances of the Commission and schools.

Thompson reviewed how the Commission is making changes. He detailed that school outcomes are available in the Commission’s meeting materials. Thompson noted that schools can meet missions and offer high quality education if the Commission guides and supports schools in the way in which schools need.

Board Vice Chairperson Brian De Lima stated that he has confidence in the Commission and its staff and stated that support of schools is what was necessary and missing in the past.

Board Chairperson Payne asked how the Board could support the Commission and charter schools at the Legislature. Thompson stated that he can work with Board staff to find ways the Board could work with and support the Commission’s proposals during legislative session.

Board Chairperson Payne stated that it is important for the Board to support charter schools because charter schools are part of the public education system.


VI. *Public Testimony on Board Agenda Items

Board Chairperson Payne called for public testimony. There was no public testimony at this time.


VII. Action Items

ACTION: Motion to adopt the National Health Education Standards for kindergarten through twelfth grade as described in the Department’s memorandum dated December 5, 2019 (Student Achievement Committee/no second required). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

ACTION: Move to approve the Department’s proposed revisions to Board Policy 105-13, entitled “Inclusion,” as described in Exhibit A of Student Achievement Committee Chairperson Cox’s memorandum dated December 5, 2019 (Student Achievement Committee/no second required). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

ACTION: Motion to adopt new Board Policy entitled “English Learners (EL)” as described in Exhibit A of Student Achievement Committee Chairperson Cox’s memorandum dated December 5, 2019 (Student Achievement Committee/no second required). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

Investigative Committee Chairperson Payne stated that the Board did not discuss or take action on the committee’s findings at the November 21, 2019 meeting when the committee first presented its findings, pursuant to Sunshine Law.

Investigative Committee Chairperson Payne stated that the Board tasked the committee with developing the Board’s legislative policy positions, determining whether the Board needs to request any statutory changes on the policy positions, developing legislative proposals based on that determination, and drafting legislative reports for the 2020 Legislative Session. She noted that at its September 19, 2019 general business meeting, the Board adopted the committee’s recommended policy changes for the 2020 Legislative Session and elected not to request any statutory changes, thus completing the committee’s first three tasks.

Investigative Committee Chairperson Payne stated that regarding the committee’s final task of drafting any legislative reports due by the Board to the 2020 Legislature, the committee finds that the Board’s only report due to the Legislature is its annual report on charter schools, pursuant to Section 302D-21, Hawaii Revised Statutes. As required by law, the committee drew from the annual reports submitted by every authorizer, which currently includes only the Commission, as well as other additional relevant data to draft a report for covering the 2018-2019 school year. The committee recommends that the Board approve the legislative report attached to Investigative Committee Chairperson Payne’s memorandum dated November 21, 2019 and its issuance to the Governor, Legislature, and public.

ACTION: Motion to approve the Board’s annual report on charter schools, pursuant to Section 302D-21, HRS, and as attached as Exhibit 1 to Investigative Committee Chairperson Catherine Payne’s memorandum dated November 21, 2019 (Barcarse/De Lima). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.


VIII. Adjournment

Board Chairperson Payne adjourned the meeting at 1:57 p.m.