Aizawa entitled
to keep pay, workers
union says

But the chairwoman
of the Department of Education
says it may raise questions
given Hawaii's tight times

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

Former Schools Superintendent Herman Aizawa is entitled to keep his pay of $90,041 under a school code and contract agreement that provides return rights to tenured employees who choose to serve in high-level positions, says the Hawaii Government Employees Association.

But while she assumes procedure was followed in hiring Aizawa as principal at the McKinley Community School for Adults, said Board of Education Chairwoman Karen Knudsen, questions do arise about the appropriateness of his salary during tight budget times.

"It could raise a lot of questions about how personnel matters are handled, and that's of major concern to the board."

She added, "It does, on appearance, look unusual to go from a demanding to less demanding position, and (work) less time from 12 months to 10 months, and retain his salary."

Because Aizawa left an appointed postion, the administrative code provides him with job security by letting him return to a collective bargaining position that he qualifies for, said Dale Osorno, HGEA field officer for Unit 6, which covers principals. "He has return rights back to an educational officer position and he is entitled to keep his higher pay for a year."

Aizawa, whose last day was June 30, becomes principal in August. His move apparently is not considered a demotion, but a return to an educational officer position because his former job as superintendent was an appointed post, Osorno said.

Other appointed positions in the department such as the deputy superintendent and assistant superintendents are also eligible to return to an educational officer job, since they initially were educational officers.

This is not the first time school administrators have gone from appointed positions to lower-level department jobs.

Libby Viduya, for example, worked at various times as a principal, district superintendent in the Central and Leeward districts, and assistant superintendent of instructional services before being hired as Farrington Community School for Adults principal.

The school code gives people who have served in the department return rights to an educational officer position if they are tenured and qualify, he said. "They're willing to serve in an appointed capacity without the threat of losing their professional livelihood when their term expires," he said.

Other than former school superintendents Charles Clark and Charlie Toguchi who served for seven years, all other school superintendents have served between two and four years, Viduya said. "It's not a long-term situation to be appointed so they need the return rights."