STATE OF HAWAII
BOARD OF EDUCATION
GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

MINUTES

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

PRESENT:
Catherine Payne, Chairperson
Brian De Lima, Esq., Vice Chairperson
Kaimana Barcarse
Kili Namauʻu
Dwight Takeno
Kenneth Uemura
Bruce Voss, Esq.
Colonel Sharon Stehlik (military representative)
Daniella White (student representative)

EXCUSED:
Margaret Cox
Nolan Kawano

ALSO PRESENT
Christina Kishimoto, Superintendent
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. The following people provided oral testimony.

Name
Organization
Agenda Item
Position
David SimmonsSave Our Angel Ramos (“SOAR”)N/AComment
Ed ChevySOARN/AComment
Tom PosedySOARN/AComment
Maile PaongoSOARN/AComment
Kristen WeinerSOARN/AComment
Cheri NakamuraEquity in Education AdvocatesIV.D. Superintendent’s Report: (1) update on school visits; (2) update on the development of a 10-year Board of Education and Department of Education Strategic Plan, The Power and Promise of Public Education: Focus on how the business community can answer public education’s call to actionComment
Penny PosedySOARN/AComment

David Simmons, Save Our Angel Ramos (“SOAR”), testified on his concerns regarding the reassignment of Angel Ramos, former principal for the Hawaiʻi School for the Deaf and the Blind (“HSDB”). He listed Ramos’s accomplishments, including advocating for deaf students and implementing computer science, yoga, and robotics classes at HSDB. Simmons detailed discrimination against deaf students, staff, and communities. He stated that SOAR is advocating for his reinstatement.

Ed Chevy, SOAR, testified on his concerns regarding the reassignment of Ramos. He emphasized the importance of deaf education and learning opportunities for the deaf community. Chevy highlighted the importance of collaboration and good attitude. He stated that deaf students need a deaf principal who acts as a role model.

Tom Posedy, SOAR, testified on his concerns regarding the reassignment of Ramos. He explained how American Sign Language (“ASL”) helped him learn and described his career in architecture. He emphasized the importance of deaf education and learning opportunities for deaf students.

Maile Paongo, SOAR, testified on her concerns regarding the reassignment of Ramos. She described her experience attending HSDB and emphasized the importance of the Department providing deaf students with a principal who is part of the deaf community and able to communicate with them and the importance of ASL programs.

Kristen Weiner, SOAR, testified on her concerns regarding the reassignment of Ramos. She highlighted Ramos’s accomplishments and achievements and explained the importance of Ramos providing students with yoga classes as part of the curriculum. She stated that yoga helps students to improve their academic performance and noted the significance of Ramos to HSDB.

Cheri Nakamura, representing a group of equity in education advocates, testified on the 2020-2030 Strategic Plan planning process and stood on her written testimony. She expressed concern regarding the Department of Education’s (“Department”) current indicators and targets, especially gaps in math and science. Nakamura stated that equity in education advocates are interested in data that explains why the Department has not met its targets and how it plans to address this. Nakamura expressed concern regarding the transparency of data for subgroups and stated that it is unclear whether the Department is making progress or what it is doing to address shortfalls. She asked that the Department present data and answer these questions at the Department’s upcoming data retreat. Nakamura stated that many students are unable to access programs and initiatives. She urged the Board and Department to discuss these issues and plans to address them.

Penny Posedy, SOAR, testified on her concerns regarding the reassignment of Ramos. She described her career in architecture and emphasized the importance of ASL. Posedy explained how children can benefit from sign language at an early age and described the importance of the deaf community benefiting from educational and early learning opportunities.

The Board also received written testimony. The following is a listing of the people that submitted written testimony.

Name
Organization
Agenda Item
Position
Ed ChevySOARN/AComment
Kathy ThomasSOARN/AComment
Thomas GrahamSOARN/AComment
Shannon McMahonSOARN/AComment
Brian NakamotoSOARN/AComment
Martha Guinan, Patricia Halagao, Gavin Thornton, Cheri Nakamura, Paula Adams, David Miyashiro, William “Pila” Wilson, Deborah ZysmanEquity in Education Advocates, Special Education Advisory Council, Hawaiʻi Appleseed, HEʻE Coalition, Hawaiʻi Afterschool Alliance, HawaiiKIDSCAN, Hawaiʻi Children’s Action Network IV.D. Superintendent’s Report: (1) update on school visits; (2) update on the development of a 10-year Board of Education and Department of Education Strategic Plan, The Power and Promise of Public Education: Focus on how the business community can answer public education’s call to actionComment


III. Approval of General Business Meeting Minutes of August 15, 2019, Special Meeting Minutes of August 15, 2019, and Audit Committee Meeting Minutes of May 2, 2019

ACTION: Motion to approve the Audit Committee Meeting minutes of May 2, 2019, the Special Meeting minutes of August 15, 2019, and the General Business Meeting minutes of August 15, 2019 (De Lima/Takeno). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.


IV. Reports of Board Committees, Board Members, and Superintendent

Student Achievement Committee Vice Chairperson Kili Namauʻu reported that the committee received an update on work ensuring Board policies support student mental and emotional wellbeing, particularly to prevent youth suicide. She noted that the chairperson of the working group, Committee Member Payne, has almost completed identifying members. Committee Vice Chairperson Namauʻu reported that the committee also received an update on work ensuring that Board policies support the recommendations of the Special Education Task Force and English Learners Task Force’s 2018 summative reports.

Investigative Committee Chairperson Payne reviewed the findings and recommendations of the committee tasked with developing the Board’s legislative policy positions, determining whether the Board needs to request any statutory changes based on the policy positions, developing legislative proposals based on that determination, and drafting legislative reports for the 2020 Legislative Session. She reported that the committee found that the Board’s policy positions should support proposed legislation that advances the Board and Department’s strategic priorities and the Board’s committee strategic priorities for the 2019-2020 school year. She stated that the committee also found that the Board’s policy positions should support proposed legislation that addresses the needs identified in the Department and Hawaii State Public Library System’s Board-approved supplemental budget requests for Fiscal Year 2021. She noted that the committee’s final finding is that the Board should include amended charter school and general policy positions described in the proposed policy positions. She noted that the Board could amend its policy positions during legislative session should the need arise.

Investigative Committee Chairperson Payne explained that the committee developed these proposed policy positions by reviewing the policy positions the Board adopted for the 2019 Legislative Session and determining whether changes were necessary. She noted that the committee found that it is not necessary for the Board to request any statutory changes at this time and therefore did not recommend that the Board submit any legislative proposals.

Investigative Committee Chairperson Payne stated that the Committee would bring its findings and recommendations on the legislative reports to the Board at a future meeting. She 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.

Board Member Dwight Takeno reported that he attended the National Governors’ Association Education conference in Nashville, Tennessee from August 5 through August 6, 2019. He stated that the conference focused on strengthening the knowledge exchange and cross-sector collaboration between charter and district schools and highlighted that Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commissioner Kalehua Krug and Executive Director Sione Thompson attended the conference as well.

Board Member Takeno stated that one of the most meaningful sessions he attended was a presentation by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (“NACSA”) on authorizing models and accountability. NACSA covered topics such as high-quality models, best practices for charter school authorizing, and best practices for strengthening accountability. Board Member Takeno stated that his memorandum includes materials from the session that might be helpful and valuable for the Board because the Board is responsible for oversight of authorizers and the creation of additional charter school authorizers.

Board Member Takeno reported that he also attended a session that covered the findings in the U.S. 2019 report of the National Education Policy Center’s Virtual Schools, including policy recommendations and models for accountability. He highlighted that participants went on a site visit to STEM Preparatory Academy, which is a public charter school in Nashville, on the second day of the conference.

Christina Kishimoto, Superintendent, reported that she visited schools on Kauai. She highlighted that Kapaʻa Elementary School’s campus is in proximity of Kapaʻa High School and high school students have the opportunity to explore whether they are interested in teaching by co-teaching at the elementary school during their first period classes. Kishimoto highlighted that Koloa Elementary School shares its campus with one of the State’s libraries, which is integral to the school’s design. She highlighted that the principal is engaging in work regarding teacher-coaching models and is reviewing how to extend this model to provide students with opportunities to coach one another. Kishimoto stated that she visited Wilcox Elementary School and was able to meet with students. She noted that school visits provide an opportunity to meet with students, teachers, and principals to learn about the climate, culture, and ideas on how to improve schools. Kishimoto highlighted that she visited Kailua Elementary School, and the elementary school implemented a model where teachers use everything hung up on their walls for instruction. She stated that she plans to continue school visits on Oahu and Maui.

Kishimoto reviewed the Department’s 2020-2030 Strategic Plan planning process and five draft promises. She highlighted that the Department completed the first phase of its planning process and received feedback from almost 3,000 individuals between the months of May and August. She stated that the Department is beginning the second phase, which includes receiving feedback on the first phase and review of feedback.

Kishimoto stated that she is going to presenting on the state of the schools at an event that will be attended by business and industry leaders. She highlighted that the event focuses on how businesses can aid the public school system and what the public school system needs from businesses. Kishimoto stated that she would be presenting on the Department’s five promises, priorities, and ways in which businesses could collaborate with the Department. The Department will issue surveys to participants regarding specific areas of support for school design, after-school programming, and other initiatives, such as classroom design, 21st century classrooms, and guest teaching to support project-based learning. Kishimoto stated that the Department is asking businesses and industries to develop a scholarship for students entering teacher academy programs to help the Department grow its pipeline of teachers.

Kishimoto emphasized the importance of school attendance and noted that national data shows that students fall behind academically if they miss even two days of school per month. Kishimoto stated that the Department is asking schools and community partners to message the importance of attendance to students and parents.


V. Public Testimony on Board Agenda Items

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


VI. Action Items
Board Chairperson Payne reviewed the designation of Board members to an investigative committee concerning Board and standing committee strategic priorities for the 2020-2021 school year.

Board Chairperson Payne detailed that the Board adopted a formal process to set the Board’s annual strategic priorities and committee strategic priorities at its July 18, 2019 general business meeting. The strategic priority setting process includes collection and analysis of relevant strategic plan-related data, feedback from stakeholders, input from the Governor and Legislature as the Board’s co-policymakers for public education, and a self-evaluation component for the Board to assess its success in addressing its strategic priorities.

Board Chairperson Payne stated that the strategic priority setting process requires the Board to establish an investigative committee to gather and analyze the information necessary to develop and propose Board strategic priorities and committee strategic priorities for the next school year. The timeline starts in September 2019 with the establishment of the investigative committee and ends in June 2020 with the adoption of strategic priorities for the next school year.

Board Chairperson Payne recommended that the Board establish an investigative committee with two to four Board members tasked with gathering and analyzing the information necessary to develop annual strategic priorities and develop proposed Board and Committee Strategic Priorities for the Board’s consideration. She stated that the Board should also designate a chairperson of the investigative committee that will be responsible for coordinating and leading the committee’s work.

Board Vice Chairperson Brian De Lima, Board Member Kaimana Barcarse, and Board Member Namauʻu stated that they would like to volunteer for the committee.

ACTION: Motion to (1) establish an investigative committee (a permitted interaction group pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 92-2.5(b)(1)) tasked with gathering and analyzing the information necessary to develop annual strategic priorities and develop proposed Board and Committee Strategic Priorities for the Board’s consideration and (2) designate Board Vice Chairperson De Lima and Board Members Kaimana Barcarse, Kili Namauʻu, and Bruce Voss to serve on the investigative committee, with Board Member Barcarse serving as chairperson (De Lima/Takeno). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

Board Chairperson Payne reviewed the designation of voting delegate and alternate delegate for the National Association of State Boards of Education’s (“NASBE”) 2019 annual conference. She detailed that NASBE is holding its annual conference in Omaha, Nebraska from October 16 through 19. NASBE members will be convening at the annual conference to conduct the organization’s business, including electing 2020 area directors and electing the 2020 NASBE Chair-elect. Pursuant to NASBE’s by-laws, the Board may designate a voting delegate and an alternate delegate to represent Hawaiʻi. Board Chairperson Payne recommended that the Board designate her as the voting delegate and Board Member Namauʻu as the alternate delegate.

ACTION: Motion to (1) designate Board Chairperson Payne as the voting delegate for NASBE’s 2019 Annual Conference and (2) designate Board Member Kili Namauʻu as the alternate delegate for NASBE’s 2019 Annual Conference (De Lima/Takeno). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.


VII. Executive Session
This portion of the meeting was closed under Section 92-4 and Section 92-5(a)(4), Hawaii Revised Statutes.

ACTION: Motion to move into executive session to consult with the Board’s attorney on the matter described on the agenda (De Lima/Voss). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

The meeting recessed at 2:27 p.m. and reconvened at 3:05 p.m.

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


VIII. Adjournment

Board Chairperson Payne adjourned the meeting at 3:06 p.m.