STATE OF HAWAII
BOARD OF EDUCATION
SPECIAL MEETING

MINUTES

Queen Liliuokalani Building
1390 Miller Street, Room 404
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
Thursday, December 6, 2018

PRESENT:
Catherine Payne, Chairperson
Brian De Lima, Esq., Vice Chairperson
Patricia Bergin
Margaret Cox
Kili Namau‘u
Dwight Takeno
Kenneth Uemura
Bruce Voss, Esq.
David Texeira (student representative)

EXCUSED:
Nolan Kawano
Captain Lyn Hammer (military representative)

ALSO PRESENT:
Christina Kishimoto, Superintendent
Phyllis Unebasami, Deputy Superintendent
Donna Lum Kagawa, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design
Hilary Apana-McKee, Administrator, Learning and Technology Section, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design
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 10:02 a.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.

Written testimony was also received and provided to the Board Members. The following is a listing of the people that submitted written testimony before the testimony deadline.

Name
Organization
Agenda Item
Position
Katie Hendrickson, David Miyashiro, Vinh Luong, Isla Young, Jonathan Noble, Kristina Cook, Greg Bianchi, Burt Lum, Ed Dennis, Eleanor Hampson, Jason Sewell, Russel Cheng, Natalie Ramirez, Shane Asselstine, Donavan Kealoha, Kelsey Amos, Debra Nakama, Steve Auerbach, Ian Kitajima, Sumil Thapa, Levy Tuiala, Nani Daniels, Randy Yamanuha, Tom Greene, Elena Farden, Steve Sue, Mark Loughridge, Douglas Kiang, Amir Amiraslani, Debasis Bhattacharya, Jaymee Nanasi Davis, Manda Tong, Denissa Andrade Code.org; HawaiiKidsCAN; MEDB’s Women in Technology Initiative; Microsoft; Bytemarks Cafe; Project Lead the Way; DevLeague; CSTA Hawaii; Purple Maia Foundation; University of Hawaii; Oceanit; Apple; Maui College; ExcelinEd; Elemental Excelerator; Bizgenics Foundation; Foundation 9 Entertainment; Punahou School; UH Maui College; STEMWorksV. Hour of Code activity: Board Members will participate in a student-led computer science challenge Support

III. 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 evaluation of an employee for agenda item III.A., Board Action on Superintendent’s evaluation for 2018-2019 School Year: mid-year formative assessment and contract term (De Lima/Uemura). The motion carried unanimously with all members present voting aye.

The meeting recessed at 10:03 a.m. and reconvened at 11:06 a.m.

Board Chairperson Payne stated that the Board did not complete the Superintendent’s mid-year formative assessment during executive session and would complete it no later than January 15, 2019. She stated that details regarding when the Board would resume work on the formative assessment would be forthcoming. Board Chairperson Payne highlighted that Board Members participated in robust discussion and want to continue their discussion.


IV. Presentation on Innovative Teachers Engage and Collaborate – Hawaii (“iTEaCH”) Conference

Donna Lum Kagawa, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design, highlighted that computer science education week was founded as a call to action to elevate the continuum of computer science from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, and further highlighted the Department of Education’s (“Department”) commitment to computer science. She detailed that computer science touches on every facet of the business industry and is future-focused. Kagawa stated that the Department is pursuing a path and framework that is not traditional. Computer science underscores the critical role of preparing learners to design and address issues of local, national, and global importance to ensure economic livelihood and contribute to the workforce. Kagawa highlighted that the Department has designed a roadmap to ensure access to learning opportunities and build on a tri-level system (school, complex area, and state levels) for all learners. The Department’s focus centers on changing the trajectory in classrooms in terms of how students learn. Kagawa detailed the importance of the Department framing policy issues to support well-rounded efforts, and further detailed that the Department’s strategic path will lead to requirements and explained what this will mean for students and education. She highlighted that as the Department embarks on this journey, it wants to ensure that its work is informed by national work and the voices of teachers, administrators, stakeholders, and communities.

Kagawa expressed appreciation for the Department’s Learning and Technology Section in the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design, including key leads, supports, and important advocates. She stated that with a renewed sense of commitment and innovation, the Department will provide teachers and educators with support to ensure that they have the capacity to create. Kagawa stated that the Department will capture its vision in its Innovative Teachers Engage and Collaborate – Hawaii (“iTEaCH”) Conference. She highlighted that computer science transcends all content areas and detailed the Department’s recent work with key business partners and leaders.

Hilary Apana-McKee, Administrator, Learning and Technology Section, Office of Curriculum and Instructional Design, stated that the Department will hold its iTEaCH Conference on June 13, 2019 at the Hawaii Convention Center and expects a large turnout. She highlighted that the iTEaCH Conference is unique and explained that the Department used to prescribe sessions and teachers had no say in presentations. This conference is different because it includes teacher voice and is guided by teacher leaders for teachers. She further detailed that the conference will include online as well as face-to-face sessions. Apana-McKee stated that the conference focuses on promoting innovative and dynamic learning through computer science. She emphasized the importance of the Department integrating and implementing computer science in its daily work. She highlighted that the conference will also include student voice and further highlighted that the Department partnered with the Student Leadership Council in order to include a student platform. She stated that the network of teachers would empower the Department and inform it of its next steps.

Board Chairperson Payne asked if the conference is open to Board Members. Apana-McKee confirmed that Board Members are welcome to attend.


V. Hour of Code activity: Board Members will participate in a student-led computer science challenge

Board Members participated in group activities and small-group sessions with students from Momilani Elementary, Hawaii Technology Academy, Ilima Intermediate, and Waipahu High School to learn about the kinds of computer science work students are engaging in.

Board Members and Phyllis Unebasami, Deputy Superintendent, shared their experiences in participating in student-led computer science challenges, including what they learned, their appreciation for the students, and their thoughts on the benefits of computer science.


VI. Adjournment

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

Board Chairperson Payne adjourned the meeting at 11:56 a.m.