STATE OF HAWAII
BOARD OF EDUCATION
GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

MINUTES

Queen Liliuokalani Building
1390 Miller Street, Room 404
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Thursday, January 25, 2024

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

EXCUSED:
Shanty Asher
Kahele Dukelow

ALSO PRESENT:
Ryan Roylo, Deputy Attorney General, Education Division
Ahryanna McGuirk, Student Representative
David Tom, J1 Director of Staff, Military Representative
Keith Hayashi, Superintendent, Department of Education
Capsun Poe, Board Executive Director
Wimmie Wong Lui, Board Analyst
Lady Garrett, Secretary


I. Call to Order

Board Chairperson Warren Haruki called the Board of Education (“Board”) General Business Meeting to order at 1:30 p.m.


II. Approval of Meeting Minutes of December 21, 2023, General Business Meeting III. Report of the Superintendent

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

Board Chairperson Haruki called on Keith Hayashi, Superintendent, to provide the report of the superintendent.

Maui wildfire impacts. Hayashi reported the following: (1) Maui wildfires damaged the King Kamehameha III campus and currently the school is sharing a campus with Princess Nahienaena Elementary School. The temporary campus is being built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the Department of Education (Department), with turnover of the campus to the Department expected in late February. Classroom furniture will be installed during spring break. He reported that King Kamehameha III students will have an extended spring break from March 18-29 and 3 additional school days will be impacted for these students. The current plan is that in April 2024 King Kamehameha III students will report to campus at Pulelehua to finish the school year; (2) The Department is planning to ask parents about their enrollment plans for both the fourth quarter of this school year and for next school year. There is a 20% response rate. He shared that planning will include an assessment of space availability at Pulelehua for Kula Kaiapuni ʻO Lahaina (KKOL); (3) Health and safety remains paramount and the Department will work closely with agencies such as the Department of Health and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to monitor efforts, with testing being conducted every two weeks for any sustained periods of air quality issues.

School and employee bright spots. Hayashi reported the following: (1) Mililani & Maui High School were recognized as the first ever Schools for Democracy for their commitment to active civic participation. He expressed appreciation to Board Members Asher and Moriarty for attending the school events; (2) Moanalua High School held a “Shoots Summit'' from January 13-15, 2024 which included over 500 industry professionals competing in various activities creating music videos, movie posters, and short films. He expressed congratulations for the teams who will compete at the national competition and is looking forward to reporting on their success; (3) Kristi Yamaguchi and Jesse Sapolu participated in the Reading Aloud literacy event at Linapuni Elementary School. He shared a video from the event.

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

Noelani Lee, a member of the public, testified in support of Kula Kaiapuni O Lahaina and shared that children deserve more in-person education which is vital for trauma recovery.

Paanaakala Tanaka, member of the public, testified in support of Kula Kaiapuni O Lahaina and expressed appreciation for creating an option for families. She advocated that Kula Kaiapuni (Hawaiian Immersion) have a space at the new Pulelehua campus and expressed appreciation for the Kele A’o program.

Kanoelani Steward, member of the public, testified in support of Kula Kaiapuni O Lahaina and expressed support for in-person learning for keiki (children) and kumu (teachers) to gather with ohana (family) who can share stories about their experiences.

Mikey Burke, member of the public, testified in support of Kula Kaiapuni O Lahaina and requested Hayashi to show up for the Lahaina community as the Board requested to develop short, mid, and long-term plan goals.

Kailokolehua Storer, member of the public, testified in support of Kula Kaiapuni O Lahaina and reminded the Board that during previous meetings the Department was directed to determine “how can” and requested that face to face discussions happen so that the people of Lahaina have something to look forward to.

Susan Pcola-Davis, member of the public, testified that regarding the survey some families are still unable to access computers or have internet access. She recommended that the Department setup computers at the county meetings for families to provide their responses. Pcola-Davis referenced the dust wipe samples and noted that arsenic results are not presented nor the clearance standards for lead and requested information on action levels or environmental standard thresholds.

Hannah Bernard, member of the public, testified in support of previous testifiers and extended an invitation to support Kula Kaiapuni O Lahaina to have a safe and clean space to educate haumana (students) and add an additional huakaʻi (field trip) per week.

Kalamaehu Takahashi, member of the public, testified in support of Kula Kaiapuni O Lahaina and asked that the Department continue to explore options so that keiki can convene in-person.

Karen Kanekoa, member of the public, testified in support of Kula Kaiapuni O Lahaina and asked for a space for students.

Board Member Kuraya left the meeting at 2:26 p.m.

Board Member Kuraya returned to the meeting at 2:30 p.m.

Hayashi replied that by the next meeting the Department is hopeful to provide more information about being able to accommodate KKOL students at Pulelehua.


IV. Committee Reports

Board Member and Finance and Infrastructure Committee Chairperson Kuraya reported that during the January 11, 2024, meeting the Committee reviewed an update on the status of the Department’s capital improvement projects and also received an update on the status of fire alarm systems in our schools. During the meeting a request was made to include information in the Department’s status update on fire alarms, about when the systems failed, when they were fixed, and amount of time the fix took. An additional request was also made for the Department to provide a report that addresses the Final Report of the House of Representatives Lahaina Wildfire Interim Working Groups.

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

Susan Pcola-Davis, member of the public, testified in support for the honest and open discussion during the FIC meeting. She noted that the Board and Department is accountable to each other and to the public.


Board Member and Human Resources Committee Vice Chairperson McClellan reported that during the January 11, 2024, meeting the committee reviewed an update on the Department’s recruitment strategies and positions filled, as part of its efforts to address the following: (1) Strategic Plan Desired Outcome 2.1.1: All teacher positions are filled with qualified hires; (2) Strategic Plan Desired Outcome 2.2.1: All school support staff
positions are filled with qualified hires; and (3) Strategic Plan Desired Outcome 2.3.1: All school administrator positions are filled with qualified hires.

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


Board Member and Student Achievement Committee Chairperson Arakaki reported that during the January 11, 2024, meeting the Committee and reviewed information on and discussed the Department’s work on Act 24, Session Laws of Hawai’i 2022 (House Bill 1848, Relating to Student Journalism). The committee also reviewed and discussed the Department’s work on Strategic Plan, Desired Outcome 3.2.2, Action Item 4, “Align Students Academic plan templates with the strategic plan and integrate multiple planning requirements, as appropriate.”

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

Susan Pcola-Davis, member of the public, testified that student journalism is important for students to feel important and expressed support for clarity on the appeal process.


V. Action Items

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

ACTION: Motion to approve to establish an investigative committee (a permitted interaction group pursuant to paragraph 92-2.5(b)(1), Hawaii Revised Statutes) tasked with nominating individuals to serve as members on the State Public Charter School Commission for the Board to consider for appointment to fill the current mid-term vacancy; and designate Board Members Bill Arakaki, Kahele Dukelow, Warren Haruki, and Makana McClellan to serve on the investigative committee, with Board Chairperson Haruki serving as Chairperson, as described in Chairperson Haruki’s memorandum dated January 25, 2024. (Barcarse/Kuraya). The motion carried through unanimous consent from all members present.


VI. Adjournment

Board Chairperson Haruki adjourned the meeting at 2:57 p.m.

List of the people who submitted written testimony before the meeting


NAME
Organization
Agenda Item
Cheri NakamuraHE’E CoalitionIV.A. Finance and Infrastructure Committee report on January 11, 2024, meeting
Hannah Bernard; Katie Wilson; Melita Nasiah CharanHawaii Wildlife FundIII.A. Report of the Superintendent, Maui Wildfire Impacts
Susan Pcola-DavisIII.A. Report of the Superintendent, Maui Wildfire Impacts; IV.A. Finance and Infrastructure Committee report on January 11, 2024, meeting