By Cindy Ellen Russell, Star-Bulletin
Twenty-one positions are up for grabs on the leadership
team of new schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu, shown
talking with reporters after his appointment.

Schools chief
assembles
interim team

They will manage
the public schools until
his formal arrival

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

New schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu is putting together an interim leadership team to manage the public schools until his arrival.

"We want people to be comfortable and make sure there's continuity," when outgoing schools chief Herman Aizawa steps down June 30, said school board Chairwoman Karen Knudsen, who has been in contact with LeMahieu almost daily.

A decision on the interim team will be finalized Tuesday. "I don't think there will be any big surprises," Knudsen said.

LeMahieu is not likely to pull together a permanent team until he's had a chance to work with people in the system, she said.

"We want stability in the system and excitement as we move forward, but he needs to be here and work one-on-one with people before he finalizes his selection," Knudsen said.

Up for grabs are 21 positions -- deputy superintendent, administrative assistant, four assistant superintendents, seven district superintendents and eight deputy district superintendents.

Five have announced their retirement and an official is leaving to become principal at a Maui school.

Two others are undecided. The remaining are staying on and are hoping to be reappointed or reassigned elsewhere within the department.

The Maui district will lose its top two administrators.

Maui district Superintendent Ralph Murakami was one of the five who announced he is retiring June 30 after 42 years in the department. He has agreed to stay on to assist in the transition until LeMahieu decides on a replacement.

Murakami's deputy, Helen Orikasa is also leaving to become principal at Pukalani Elementary effective August.

LeMahieu has the option to retain the current assistant and district superintendents, select from within the department or bring in people from the outside.

Those who are staying believe they still have something to contribute to the new superintendent.

Besides Murakami, the following will also be retiring:

Stan Seki, deputy state superintendent.

Don Nugent, assistant superintendent for personnel.

Ken Yamamoto, assistant superintendent for instructional support.

Ruby Hiraishi, Windward district superintendent.

Those who plan on staying are:

Diana Kaapana-Oshiro, assistant superintendent for information and telecommunications.

Milton Shishido, Honolulu district superintendent; Benjamin Lapalio, deputy district superintendent

Aileen Hokama, Central district superintendent; Robert Golden, deputy district superintendent

Wendell Staczkow, Leeward district superintendent; Alvin Nagasako and Francine Fernandez, deputy district superintendents

Thomas Pangilinan, Windward district superintendent.

Pat Bergin, Hawaii district superintendent; Danford Sakai and Alvin Rho, deputy district superintendents.

Alvin Nagasako, Leeward deputy district superintendent.

Al Suga, assistant superintendent of business services, will stay to assist during the transition but remains undecided. He is the only assistant superintendent without tenure.

Amy Maeda, Kauai district superintendent, was unavailable for comment.