STATE OF HAWAII
BOARD OF EDUCATION
GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING

MINUTES

Queen Liliuokalani Building
1390 Miller Street, Room 404
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Thursday, May 16, 2019

PRESENT:
Catherine Payne, Chairperson
Brian De Lima, Esq., Vice Chairperson
Patricia Bergin
Margaret Cox
Nolan Kawano
Kili Namau‘u
Dwight Takeno
Kenneth Uemura
Bruce Voss, Esq.
Colonel Carolyn Stickell (military representative)

EXCUSED:
David Texeira (student representative)

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 1:31 p.m.


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

Board Chairperson Payne called for public testimony. The following people provided oral testimony.

Name
Organization
Agenda Item
Position
Hawaii State Representative Amy PerrusoHawaii State LegislatureVI.C. Board Action on Board Policy E-700, Public Charter SchoolsComment

Hawaii State Representative Amy Perruso asked the Board to defer action on Board Policy E-700, entitled “Public Charter Schools”, until the Board could review concerns about the current language in the policy possibly not aligning with Act 130, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012.


III. Approval of Meeting Minutes of May 2, 2019

ACTION: Motion to approve the General Business Meeting minutes of May 2, 2019, and the General Business Meeting Executive Session minutes of May 2, 2019 (Uemura/De Lima). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

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

Finance and Infrastructure Committee Chairperson Kenneth Uemura reported that the committee received updates on the Department of Education’s (“Department”) biennium operating budget request and Capital Improvement Program (“CIP”) budget request for fiscal years ending on June 30, 2020 and June 30, 2021. He stated that the committee asked the Department to report on how reductions and lack of certain funds might affect strategic outcomes in the future. He reported that the committee received an update on the Department’s fiscal reports and highlighted that the Department added several new reports to provide the committee with additional information. Committee Chairperson Uemura stated that the committee also received an update on Act 155 and provided the Department with guidance regarding its timeline and ways in which the Department could move forward.

Board Member Margaret Cox reported that she and Board Member Kili Namau‘u attended the National Association of State School Boards Early Childhood Education (“ECE”) Workgroup meeting in Washington D.C. from May 1 through May 2, 2019. She highlighted that she and Board Member Namau‘u received presentations and reviewed research during the ECE Workgroup meeting.

Board Member Cox stated that research shows that students who do not attend preschool fall behind their peers who do attend preschool and have a difficult time catching up academically. Board Member Cox stated that research also shows that students who do not receive quality education between the ages of zero and eight have difficulty in high school. She emphasized that the Board and Department need to review how lack of early learning programs might contribute to the achievement gap and continue to advocate for preschool classrooms in the Department’s schools.

Board Member Namau‘u stated early education is important for brain development, cognitive skills, behavioral skills, and gross and fine motor skills. She emphasized the importance of the Board and Department supporting and focusing on students in these age groups, redirecting funding if possible, and increasing teacher training. She stated that the expansion of early learning programs could lead to positive outcomes and reduction in achievement gaps.

Board Member Uemura asked for more information regarding the importance of quality education for students in the zero to eight age group. Board Member Cox emphasized the importance of preschool and explained that research shows that students who attend preschool have positive educational outcomes compared to their peers who did not attend preschool. She emphasized that students who did not attend preschool might never catch up academically to their peers. She stated that the Department and Board have historically focused on providing support for students in kindergarten through eighth grade, but might need to focus on providing support for children before they enter kindergarten as well. She stated that an increase in public preschools could result in less remediation and more positive outcomes. Board Member Cox highlighted that the ECE Workgroup plans to release webinars that would provide more information on this topic.

Christina Kishimoto, Superintendent, reported that high schools were beginning commencement ceremonies this week and would hold 64 separate ceremonies. She highlighted that 10,984 public school students would be graduating, and a number of students would be receiving an associate’s degree in addition to a high school diploma. Kishimoto highlighted that the Department has seen an increase in the number of students graduating with industry certificates. She highlighted that she would be attending several high school graduations, and other Department leaders would be attending commencement ceremonies as well.

Kishimoto reported that she recently visited Washington Middle School and had the opportunity to speak with social studies teachers and learn how they are implementing new standards, project-based learning, and applied learning opportunities. She visited Leilehua High School and participated in an innovation day organized by the school’s librarian where participants learned about different ways in which they could innovate in math, science, computer science, and other areas. Kishimoto highlighted that she would be visiting Farrington High School with Board Chairperson Payne to attend a poetry presentation. She detailed that teachers and principals worked with students receiving English learner services to create and publish a poetry book.

Kishimoto reviewed the 2020-2030 Strategic Plan planning process and five draft promises, including a focus on a careers coalition. She stated that the 2020-2030 Strategic Plan is not a plan that focuses on work that the Department would complete and implement in 2030. Rather, the 2020-2030 Strategic Plan focuses on work that the Department is in the process of doing and a vision that carries the public school system through the next ten years. She explained that 2030 is the end of the ten-year period of work, implementation, and delivery on the five draft promises and emphasized that the Department is engaging in work in the present.

Kishimoto stated that the one of the five draft promise themes focuses on school design and promises that students will be immersed in excellent learning environments that are thoughtfully designed around a community’s power to contribute to a thriving, sustainable Hawaii. She stated that the Department is focusing on how to create career pathways for students that would enable students to develop a deep understanding of career opportunities, including how to access and prepare for opportunities. She detailed that career pathways are an important part of the school design framework and consist of four components, including core values and mindset, curriculum and learning design, infrastructure, and student learning products and voice. She explained that school design has to provide students with opportunities and interactions and allow students to actively create and design solutions to combat challenges in career paths.

Kishimoto highlighted that school design focusing on career pathways aligns to the Department’s work with business and industry. She stated that the Department is creating a partnership development design that would provide students with internship opportunities, applied learning opportunities, and experiences outside of the classroom. She detailed that Hawaii P-20 Partnerships for Education (“Hawaii P-20”) and the University of Hawaii are organizing partnership meetings and highlighted that partnership development allows the Department to connect schools to businesses and industries, expand implementation, and lead sustainability efforts. Kishimoto stated that the Department is using framework designed by Hawaii P-20 and working in collaboration with partners.
Kishimoto stated that the purpose is to train and prepare students to understand their career opportunities in Hawaii. She reviewed funding sources for this work and emphasized the importance of the Department leveraging funding sources to maximize opportunities to build career pathways for students. Kishimoto stated that the Department is sharing indicators with business partners and discussing outcomes for students as a result of collaborations and partnerships. She stated that the Department plans to share a draft plan with the Board for is review.


V. Public Testimony on Board Agenda Items

Board Chairperson Payne called for public testimony. The following people provided oral testimony.

Name
Organization
Agenda Item
Position
Charlene HoeKanaeokana Kula Hawai‘i NetworkVI.B. Board Action on appointment of three individuals to serve as members of the State Public Charter School Commission from the following nominees:
Henry Mitchell D'Olier
Sylvia M. Hussey
Gary S. "Kalehua" Krug
Support/Comment
Linda ElentoPublicIV.C. 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 careers coalitionComment

Charlene Hoe, Kanaeokana Kula Hawai‘i Network, urged the Board to appoint Sylvia M. Hussey and Gary S. “Kalehua” Krug to serve as members of the State Public Charter School Commission (“Commission”). She highlighted their commitment to Hawaiian education, knowledge, background, passion, and accomplishments.

Linda Elento, member of the public, testified on the importance of the Board and Department ensuring equity for students receiving special education services prior to implementing school design. She shared her experience attempting to enroll her son in an after-school program. She urged the Board and Department to help communities understand the importance of inclusion and how to implement it. Elento asked the Board and Department to review her concerns regarding the allocation of funds to programs that do not build special education into their budget and alternate achievement testing.


VI. Action Items
Board Member Cox stated that the School Community Council requests were general and primarily regarding graduation dates and professional development.

ACTION: Motion to approve all School Community Council requests for exceptions to collective bargaining agreements, statutory waivers, and waivers of Board policy for School Year 2019-2020 for the schools listed in the agenda as described in the memoranda dated May 16, 2019 from Board Member Margaret Cox and Board designee Rodney Luke (Cox/Takeno). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

ACTION: Motion to reappoint Henry Mitchell D’Olier, Sylvia M. Hussey, and Gary S. “Kalehua” Krug to the Commission for three-year terms effective July 1, 2019 and ending June 30, 2022 upon the expiration of their terms on June 30, 2019 (De Lima/Cox). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

Board Chairperson Payne stated that the Board previously requested that the Commission work with the charter school community to develop a purpose of charter schools and propose a Board policy codifying the purpose. After Sione Thompson, the Executive Director of the Commission, requested Board guidance regarding the development of a Board policy on the purpose of charter schools, then-Board Chairperson Lance Mizumoto directed Board staff to work with and provide support and guidance to the Commission and to coordinate efforts with the Superintendent and Department.

Board Chairperson Payne stated that she sent a memorandum to the Commission on January 10, 2019 regarding the methodology that Board staff used to gather and analyze public input, the results of that analysis, and a proposed policy. At its March 14, 2019 meeting, the Commission directed Commission staff to review and recommend any necessary changes to the proposed policy to ensure that it does not conflict with the Commission strategic plan’s mission, vision, and strategic anchors.

Board Chairperson Payne stated that based on the analysis, she recommends the purpose of charter schools be to: 1) Address the needs of public education; 2) Provide more public school options for students and families; 3) Implement innovative educational practices; 4) Reflect Hawaii’s diverse cultures, places, and values; 5) Provide community-based school models and local control over education; and 6) Provide high-quality public education for the students and communities they serve.

Board Chairperson Payne noted that most of the roles described in Board Policy E-700 also describe the Board’s expectation of Department schools. She detailed that the distinction between Department schools and charter schools has always been the “how” and not the “what.” How each fulfills its purpose and plays its role is different, but the purpose of both can be similar. Board Chairperson Payne stated that this similarity does not mean that the Board expects charter schools to look and feel the same as Department schools. Rather, it speaks to the alignment between the Department and charter schools as both strive to reach the goals of public education in different ways.

Board Vice Chairperson Brian De Lima stated that Hawaii Revised Statutes (“HRS”) Chapter 302D, entitled “Public Charter Schools,” defines and sets forth law regarding charter schools. He expressed concern over Hawaii State Representative Perruso’s testimony but noted that Board Chairperson Payne’s memorandum outlines the process in which the Board solicited input in detail. He noted that stakeholders had opportunities to provide input and stated that feedback in advance of the Board’s general business meeting indicated support for the proposed Board policy. Board Vice Chairperson De Lima stated that Board Policy E-700 is consistent with HRS Chapter 302D and noted that the Board could review its action in the future if there are inconsistencies.

Board Member Bruce Voss expressed appreciation for the Commission and charter schools and highlighted their progress and hard work. He stated that Board Policy E-700 speaks to current progress and work.

ACTION: Motion to adopt Board Policy E-700, entitled “Public Charter Schools,” as provided in Exhibit C of Board Chairperson Payne’s memorandum dated May 16, 2019 (De Lima/Uemura). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

Note: The Board took action on this agenda item after the first executive session.

Board Chairperson Payne recommended approval of the appointment of Sean Tajima, Interim Complex Area Superintendent (“CAS”), Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area, as CAS for the complex area. Tajima expressed his appreciation and highlighted what he learned during his interim position.

ACTION: Motion to approve the appointment of Sean Tajima as Complex Area Superintendent for the Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area (Voss/De Lima). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

Note: The Board took action on this agenda item after the second executive session.

Board Chairperson Payne stated that the Board considered five professional standards and five annual priorities for the Superintendent’s final evaluation for School Year 2018-2019. She stated that the Board’s ratings for the different standards and priorities ranged from “effective” to “highly effective.” She stated that the Board would publish a summary narrative on its website that would expand on the ratings it determined for the Superintendent’s evaluation.

ACTION: Motion to: 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)(2), Hawaii Revised Statutes.
ACTION: Motion to move into executive session to consider the hiring of an employee as described in agenda item VII.C, entitled “Discussion on appointment of the Complex Area Superintendent for the Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area” (Uemura/De Lima). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

Note: The Board went into its first executive session before taking action on agenda item VI.D, entitled “Board Action on appointment of the Complex Area Superintendent for the Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area.”

The meeting recessed at 2:16 p.m. and reconvened at 2:25 p.m.

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

ACTION: Motion to move into executive session to consider the evaluation of an employee as described in agenda item VII.B, entitled “Discussion on Superintendent’s evaluation for 2018-2019 School Year: Final Evaluation” (De Lima/Voss). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

Note: The Board went into its second executive session after taking action on agenda item VI.D, entitled “Board Action on appointment of the Complex Area Superintendent for the Campbell-Kapolei Complex Area,” but before taking action on agenda item VI.E, entitled “Board Action on Superintendent’s evaluation for 2018-2019 School Year: Final Evaluation.”

The meeting recessed at 2:27 p.m. and reconvened at 4:00 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 4:03 p.m.