STATE OF HAWAII
BOARD OF EDUCATION
SPECIAL MEETING

MINUTES

Queen Liliuokalani Building
1390 Miller Street, Room 404
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Thursday, June 2, 2022
*This meeting was a remote meeting under Section 92-3.7, Hawaii Revised Statutes.


PRESENT:
Catherine Payne, Chairperson
Bill Arakaki
Kaimana Barcarse
Lynn Fallin
Lauren Moriarty
Kili Namauʻu
Bruce Voss


EXCUSED:
Kenneth Uemura, Vice Chairperson
Shanty Asher


ALSO PRESENT:
Colonel Angenene L. Robertson, Military Representative
Branden Kawazoe, Chairperson, Hawaii Teachers Standards Board
Phyllis Unebasami, Deputy Superintendent, Department of Education
Brian Hallett, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Fiscal Services, Department of Education
Cara Tanimura, Interim Assistant Superintendent, Office of Strategy, Innovation, and Performance, Department of Education
Dale Arakaki, Principal, Pauoa Elementary School, Department of Education
Sean Bacon, Interim Assistant Superintendent, Office of Talent Management, Department of Education
Stacie Kunihisa, Kanoelani Elementary Principal, Department of Education
Linell Dilwith, Complex Area Superintendent, Kaimuki-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Area, Department of Education
Alison Kunishige, Executive Director
Kenyon Tam, Board Analyst
Lady Garrett, Secretary


  1. Call to Order


Board Chairperson Catherine Payne called the Board of Education (“Board”) Special Meeting to order at 1:32 p.m.


Board Chairperson Payne announced that Board Member Bill Arakaki was participating in the meeting remotely. Board Chairperson Payne and Board Members Kaimana Barcarse, Lynn Fallin, Lauren Moriarty, Kili Namau‘u, and Bruce Voss participated from the public location.

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


Board Chairperson Payne called for public testimony.


Jessica Caiazzo, member of the public, testified on agenda item III.A., Finance and Infrastructure Committee report. She expressed frustration with Board Chairperson Payne’s response when she reached out to her regarding communication issues.


Susan Pcola-Davis, member of the public, testified on agenda item III.A., Finance and Infrastructure Committee report. She stated that it would be helpful if the Department of Education (“Department”) broke down central salary balances, noted that the money should go to schools, and commented on the prioritization of health and safety facilities projects.


Cheri Nakamura, HE‘E Coalition, testified on agenda item IV.B., Joint Student Achievement Committee and Finance and Infrastructure Committee recommendations concerning amendment to the Department fiscal plan to use federal funds in the second round of the ESSER II and in the third round of ESSER funds authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARP”) approved by the Board on December 16, 2021. She expressed support for a systematic approach to school improvement, asked for more detail regarding the plan, the plan timeline, and asked what happens when the ESSER funds run out.


Jessica Caiazzo, member of the public, testified on agenda item IV.B., Joint Student Achievement Committee and Finance and Infrastructure Committee recommendations concerning amendment to the Department fiscal plan to use federal funds in the second round of the ESSER II and in the third round of ESSER funds authorized under the ARP approved by the Board on December 16, 2021. She stated that the Department lacks communication, transparency, and accountability and she is asked the Department to release more information.


Susan Pcola-Davis, member of the public, testified on agenda item IV.B., Joint Student Achievement Committee and Finance and Infrastructure Committee recommendations concerning amendment to the Department fiscal plan to use federal funds in the second round of the ESSER II and in the third round of ESSER funds authorized under the ARP approved by the Board on December 16, 2021. She stated that the Department is looking to create and fill a total of 32 positions, asked where the Department would find qualified people, stated there was no timeline and that this should be a part of the strategic plan.


Kaleo Nakoa, member of the public, testified on agenda item IV.B., Joint Student Achievement Committee and Finance and Infrastructure Committee recommendations concerning amendment to the Department fiscal plan to use federal funds in the second round of the ESSER II and in the third round of ESSER funds authorized under the ARP approved by the Board on December 16, 2021. He stated that he hopes the Department can continue free lunches with these funds, stated that raised crosswalks around schools will help, and that the Department needs to provide schools with more resources to handle active shooters.


Susan Pcola-Davis, member of the public, testified on agenda item IV.C., recommendation concerning the use of federal funds in the second round of the Education Stabilization Fund’s ESSER II and in the third round of ESSER ARP for Department budget shortfalls in accordance with Board ESSER II and ESSER ARP fund guidance, Section 3.a, adopted on October 21, 2021. She stated that the Department should be asking every school to create a 5-year maintenance plan instead of a 20-year plan, emphasized that the Department should not have students shelter in place during an active shooter situation, and that the Department should provide schools with more active shooter training.

III. Reports of Board Committees


Board Member and Finance and Infrastructure Committee Chairperson Voss reported that the Committee considered one action item relating to the ESSER funds and discussed the need for the Department to return funds to schools as of July 1, 2022. He stated that the legislature restored funding it had previously cut, so the Department’s request to use ESSER funds for shortfalls would be the final request to use funds for this purpose. He also reported that the Committee received a presentation from the Office of Facilities and Operations on the types of resources to address school facility needs.

IV. Action Items


Board Chairperson Payne stated she is the Board’s representative on the Hawaii Teachers Standards Board (“HSTB”) and noted that Felicia Villalobos served as the Chair of the HTSB and that was asked to be the interim executive director upon the retirement of her predecessor. She noted that Villalobos has an extensive resume and brings the neighbor island perspective to her position.


Board Member Barcarse moved to appoint Felicia Villalobos as the Executive Director of HTSB for a four-year term effective July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2026, as described in HTSB Chairperson Braden Kawazoe’s memorandum dated May 12, 2022. Board Member Namau‘u seconded.


Kawazoe stated that after a yearlong search, HSTB’s permitted interaction group made the recommendation that HTSB hire Villalobos.

Villalobos stated that if she is approved, she looks forward to continuing to support HTSB, especially honoring the mission and vision to ensure each student has a qualified and licensed teacher. She noted that it will take creativity to address the teacher shortage.


Board Chairperson Payne called for a roll call vote on the motion. The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye (Board Members Arakaki, Barcarse, Fallin, Moriarty, Namauʻu, and Voss).


ACTION: Motion to appoint Felicia Villalobos as the Executive Director of HTSB for a four-year term effective July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2026, as described in Kawazoe’s memorandum dated May 12, 2022 (Barcarse/Namau‘u). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

B. Board Action on joint Student Achievement Committee and Finance and Infrastructure Committee recommendations concerning amendment to Department’s fiscal plan to use federal funds in the second round of the Educational Stabilization Fund’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (“ESSER II”) and in the third round of ESSER funds authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ESSER ARP”) approved by the Board on December 16, 2021


Board Chairperson Payne called on Board Member and Student Achievement Committee Chairperson Namau‘u to present the joint recommendation from the Student Achievement Committee and Finance and Infrastructure Committee concerning amendments to the Department’s fiscal plan to use ESSER II and ESSER ARP funds approved by the Board on December 16, 2021.


Board Member and Student Achievement Committee Chairperson Namau‘u moved, on behalf of the Student Achievement Committee and Finance and Infrastructure Committee, to approve the amendments to the Department's fiscal plan for the use of ESSER II and ESSER ARP funds, as described in Keith Hayashi’s, Interim Superintendent, memorandum dated April 21, 2022.


Board Member Fallin stated that the proposal has potential but will be challenging. She asked about the Department’s strategy of Action-Oriented Data Decision-Making, which is a part of the Department’s ESSER Education Plan, specifically how the Department would know what is successful and whether it should be continued.

Linell Dilwith, Complex Area Superintendent, Kaimuki-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Area explained that every school sets targets and needs to acknowledge progress made toward targets. She introduced Dale Arakaki, Principal, Pauoa Elementary School and asked him to share how Pauoa identifies targets and tracks student progress. Arakaki stated that the Pauoa Elementary School action plan uses universal screener data to measure growth. He stated the goal is not solely proficiency because it is most important to show student growth. Arakaki shared that the school uses iReady to track growth in its efforts to close the achievement gap. Board Member Voss stated that he would like to be sure that the administrative positions would benefit students and accomplish the intended objectives. He asked what the coordinators would do and asked if schools would review programs. Brian Hallett, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Fiscal Services, stated that in April the Student Achievement Committee requested additional information relating to the two strategies, action oriented data decision-making and responsive capacity building. He stated that this recommendation is seeking to make changes.

Cara Tanimura, Interim Assistant Superintendent, Office of Strategy, Innovation, and Performance (“OSIP”) stated that action oriented data decision-making is part of the Department’s plan. She noted that although sometimes things happen that may not be the Department’s fault, it is the Department’s problem and the Department has been working to effectively respond to help students and staff recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Tanimura explained that the positions would be responsible for implementing operational decisions and that staff in schools would work with the state office using data to develop instructional strategies and interventions for students. She also shared that OSIP created a group to ensure complex areas and schools can accurately assess students. Arakaki shared that principals require teachers to create a teacher action plan based on universal screener data to refine what each teacher will do for each student. He also stated that the Department must coordinate between schools to show growth and to determine what support or professional development would be helpful for schools.

Sean Bacon, Interim Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Talent Management stated that there are 58 new principals and the Department knows these principals would need support. He also noted that more than 50 principals are currently eligible to retire and that an additional 20 to 30 principals will become eligible in the upcoming years. Bacon stated that the Department completed a massive posting for vice principals and continues to monitor professional development needs. Stacie Kunihisa, Kanoelani Elementary Principal, stated that she has been in a new
role for 2 months and she immediately went on school visits to see how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected schools. She asked each complex area superintendent to share with her how they are building capacity and began principal learning efforts because the best way to learn is by sharing the responsibility of leadership. Board Member Voss stated that. $10 million is a substantial amount to pay for the salaries and fringe benefits for these positions. He stated that the issues are broad and he would like to know how the Department will measure the effectiveness of these positions. Board Member Moriarty expressed interest in understanding the specific criteria the Department would use to assess whether the positions are working out for schools and determine how success is achieved over a period of time. Tanimura explained that for action oriented data decision-making, the Department would use discussions, observations and feedback from schools, complex areas, and teachers to monitor and assess success. Bacon stated that the goal of filling teacher positions includes other factors and a variety of reasons why employees are leaving the Department.

Tanimura stated that complex area leaders would be in place to support schools. Unebasami stated that the Department discussed vulnerability of the work complex areas and schools are doing and balancing where it places talent to have the greatest impact based on the strategies.

Board Member Voss stated that he is struggling with balancing the amount the Department wants to expend on these positions against how the Board would know whether the funds were well spent. He stated that he needs to see defined goals or measures to evaluate the outcomes. Board Member Fallin expressed concern with the impact of these positions and stated that a lot of the descriptions in the meeting material outline what the Department is doing, but that she would like to have clarity on what success looks like. She emphasized the need for the Department to provide concrete and specific ways to successfully support schools and students. Board Member Fallin stated that the Department’s original plan was to use general funds for these positions, then it shifted to federal funds. She asked whether this shift is because these positions and the strategy are considered a pilot program. Hallett stated that when evaluating options for using ESSER Funds, the Department determined that using the funds for these positions was more appropriate. Board Member Fallin expressed concern that the positions will not be funded after ESSER funding stops. She stated that she has not seen a comprehensive systems approach to align to the school, complex area, and state levels. Board Member Fallin encouraged the Department to gather data that is useful, impactful, and reliable for schools. Dilwith shared that the Kaimuki-McKinley-Roosevelt Complex Area, uses one position to hire a district educational specialist to oversee responsive capacity building and that complex area resource teachers will oversee the other three strategies. She stated that the responsive capacity building position would receive training from the state level then determine how to roll this out to all 28 schools in the complex area. Dilwith also explained that within each school there are different needs, so the complex area will ensure training will be provided then individualized for each school based on specific skill sets. Board Member Fallin asked if each school received their own data. Dilwith confirmed that they do and stated that one of the responsibilities of these positions is data and implementation of the strategies. Board Member Fallin stated that regarding student achievement, the Department should include chronic absenteeism . Tanimura replied that the Department would be looking at data from universal screeners and data relating to attendance, graduation, retention, social-emotional learning, smarter balanced data, and several other areas. Board Member Namauʻu stated that she has concerns about where the Department will get people to fill these 32 additional positions because some will be leaving their current positions, which will affect schools and complexes. She stated that she is not convinced that moving staff to the complex area level as an educational specialist would help schools because professional learning communities at the school level need people to gather and analyze data. Board Member Namauʻu stated that she would prefer expanding assistance for teachers and schools. She also asked what kinds of support schools provide for teachers because it was shared with her that teachers can only talk to principals and principals make the decisions. Board Member Namauʻu stated that if the system is not working she is not certain that adding layers at the complex area level is helpful and that the Department needs to look at how it is communicating information from the complex area to the school level. Board Member Arakaki asked for clarification on the total number of positions. Hallett replied that for two strategies, there are a total number of 32 positions. Board Member Arakaki stated that if the Department is planning on having these positions after ESSER funding ends, would it be able to show how these positions enhanced collaboration in complex areas and he asked whether the Department has any data on responsive capacity building. Unebasami stated that the best place for this talent and wisdom is in the middle of the tri-level (at the complex area level) to help schools get support for administrators, teachers, and educational assistants.

Board Member Barcarse expressed support for the positions, but noted that the Department did not provide the information the Board members are asking for and that this information would have helped them make better decisions. He stated that he is not opposed to deferring action so that the Department can better address concerns and that he is open to making a motion for that reason.


Board Member Barcarse left the meeting at 3:31 p.m.


Board Member Moriarty expressed excitement about what the Department shared relating to the specific examples of what success looks like and that the goals will determine whether the Department has the resources can accomplish these goals using these strategies. She stated that she did not hear that responsive capacity building would be consistent across the tri-level system and across the state. Board Member Moriarty noted that teacher retention and recruitment are two areas that will make a difference in student learning.


Board Member Moriarty stated that using a statewide process can help to identify complex area or statewide issues. She asked how the Department can build data systems.


Unebasami stated that a combination of accountability and empowerment at the complex area level is important to determine what schools need to reach the goals.


Board Member Barcarse returned at 3:35 p.m.

Board Member Moriarty suggested that the Department capture the data and make it available for analysis at a higher level because what works in some complex areas may not work in others. Unebasami stated that the Department is building a system to see what happens for students and that the system will tell us if the data is valuable to collect and which strategies are working for students. Board Chairperson Payne stated that much of the discussion assumes this is already done. She asked what is the Department’s process to assess the need for this. Unebasami stated that the Department used Hayashi’s 3-1-1 strategy when the Department committed to providing in-person learning for all students.

Tanimura stated that schools with data teams need these additional supports. Board Member Voss expressed agreement with Board Member Namauʻu and stated that he is not convinced, but is willing to give the Department the benefit of the doubt. He noted that the discussion has shown that the Department needs to explain how these positions work on every single level.

Board Member Fallin expressed support for the Department’s leadership and noted that given the concerns shared she hopes there will be periodic reports back on the status of what is happening.

Board Member Barcarse noted that he mentioned the possibility of a motion to defer, but did not offer one. He stated that his is willing to give the Department the benefit of the doubt, but asked that the Department take note that it did not provide the information Board members have asked for. Board Member Barcarse stated that he plans on doing more school visits to see the what is happening where the rubber meets the road.


Board Chairperson Payne called for a roll call vote on the motion. The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye (Board Members Arakaki, Barcarse, Fallin, Moriarty, Namauʻu, and Voss).


ACTION: Motion to approve the amendments to the Department's fiscal plan for the use of ESSER II and ESSER ARP funds, as described in Hayashi’s memorandum dated April 21, 2022. (Student Achievement Committee and Finance and Infrastructure Committee/no second required). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

C. Board Action on Finance and Infrastructure Committee recommendation concerning the use of federal funds in the second round of the Education Stabilization Fund’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (“ESSER II”) and in the third round of ESSER Funds authorized under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ESSER ARP”) for Department of Education (“Department”) budget shortfalls in accordance with Board ESSER II and ESSER ARP Fund Guidance, Section 3.a, adopted on October 21, 2021


Board Chairperson Payne called on Board Member and Finance and Infrastructure Committee Chairperson Voss to present the committee’s recommendation concerning the use of ESSER II and ESSER ARP funds for Department budget shortfalls.


Board Member and Finance and Infrastructure Committee Chairperson Voss moved, on behalf of the Finance and Infrastructure Committee, to approve the use of up to $76 million of ESSER II and ESSER ARP funds in the amounts for the forecasted shortfall for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 described in Hayashi’s memorandum dated June 2, 2022.


Board Chairperson Payne stated that during the committee meeting, there was discussion on misinformation that connected ESSER funds with mask wearing in schools. She noted that the Department confirmed that ESSER funding is not related to mask wearing in public schools.


Board Chairperson Payne called for a roll call vote on the motion. The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye (Board Members Arakaki, Barcarse, Fallin, Moriarty, Namauʻu, and Voss).


ACTION: Motion to approve the use of up to $76 million of ESSER II and ESSER ARP funds in the amounts for the forecasted shortfall for Fiscal Year 2021-2022 described in Hayashi’s memorandum dated June 2, 2022 (Finance and Infrastructure Committee/no second required). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

V. Late Public Testimony on Board Agenda Items


Board Chairperson Payne called for public testimony from any individuals who did not have an opportunity to testify on earlier agenda items. No one testified at this time.


Board Members received written testimony before the meeting. The following is a listing of the people who submitted written testimony before the meeting.


Name
Organization
Agenda Item
Susan Pcola-Davis III.A. Finance and Infrastructure Committee Report on: (1) Committee Action on the use of federal funds in the second round of the Education Stabilization Fund’s ESSER II and in the third round of ESSER ARP for Department budget shortfalls in accordance with Board ESSER II and ESSER ARP Fund Guidance, Section 3.a, adopted on October 21, 2021; (2) Presentation on Presentation on how the Department uses FAM and the HI-FIT to implement Board Policy 301-10, Equitable Allocation of Facilities Resources; & IV.B. Board Action on joint Student Achievement Committee and Finance and Infrastructure Committee recommendations concerning amendment to Department’s fiscal plan to use federal funds in the second round of the Educational Stabilization Fund’s ESSER II and in the third round of ESSER ARP approved by the Board on December 16, 2021
Cheri NakamuraHE’E CoalitionIV.B. Board Action on joint Student Achievement Committee and Finance and Infrastructure Committee recommendations concerning amendment to Department’s fiscal plan to use federal funds in the second round of the Educational Stabilization Fund’s ESSER II and in the third round of ESSER ARP approved by the Board on December 16, 2021
Derek Bishop IV.C. Board Action on Finance and Infrastructure Committee recommendation concerning the use of federal funds in the second round of the Education Stabilization Fund’s ESSER II and in the third round of ESSER ARP for Department budget shortfalls in accordance with Board ESSER II and ESSER ARP Fund Guidance, Section 3.a, adopted on October 21, 2021
Thomas Milcarek III.A. Finance and Infrastructure Committee Report on: (1) Committee Action on the use of federal funds in the second round of the Education Stabilization Fund’s ESSER II and in the third round of ESSER ARP for Department budget shortfalls in accordance with Board ESSER II and ESSER ARP Fund Guidance, Section 3.a, adopted on October 21, 2021; (2) Presentation on Presentation on how the Department uses FAM and the HI-FIT to implement Board Policy 301-10, Equitable Allocation of Facilities Resources

VI. Adjournment


Board Chairperson Payne adjourned the meeting at 3:59 p.m.