School board must replace
Knudsen as chairwoman

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

The 13-member nonpartisan school board can expect changes in leadership at its upcoming December meeting.

The chairmanship will be up for grabs when Karen Knudsen, who won a third term to the board this week, completes her second consecutive year as chairwoman at the end of the year.

Board bylaws allow members to serve as chairman for just two consecutive years but do not bar them from serving again later.

The first vice chairman and second vice chairman seats, currently held by Kelly King and Mitsugi Nakashima respectively, also will be up for grabs.

King decided not to seek re-election to spend more time with her family.

With the loss of two incumbents and three new members on board in this week's general election, the chairmen and members of the board's seven committees are also likely to change, said Board of Education director Galen Inouye.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association looks forward to working with everyone on the board to ensure public education is given the proper priority and funding to help children succeed, said spokeswoman Danielle Lum.

Among the issues the teachers union will be focusing on will be reducing class sizes, making schools safe, ensuring teachers are properly supported in the classrooms and that students with special needs receive appropriate services, Lum said.

Knudsen feels she has been successful in her two years as chair by keeping board members united and pushing for progress collectively.

"That was my goal -- to allow all to voice their opinions and come to a resolution so we could be a strong unified board," she said.

The board has faced some tough issues over the past two years. Among them was mending its relationship with teachers following the teachers strike and with librarians after they spoke publicly against the library's book buying contract with Baker and Taylor. The board also had to select a new schools superintendent and state librarian.

Names surfacing for the chairmanship include incumbents Keith Sakata and Winston Sakurai, who both defeated first-time challengers for a second term.

Sakata was unanimously elected second vice chairman two years ago but declined. If offered a leadership position again, he won't hesitate to take it, he said.

Sakurai has been asked by other board members to run for chairman in the past and is keeping his options open until he speaks to all the members. "I'll take the lead from them," he said.

Nakashima and Herbert Watanabe, chairman of the Adult Education Committee also have been mentioned as possible replacements. Nakashima served as chairman in 1991 and 1992.

Central Oahu incumbent Francis McMillen who was defeated in his bid for a fourth term was chairman of the Public Libraries Committee.

At-large member John Mike Compton, who failed to garner enough votes for a second term was chairman of the Special Programs Committee which oversees special education and Hawaiian programs. He was also appointed by board leadership to keep members abreast of the Felix consent decree which requires the Department of Education to identify students with special needs and provide appropriate educational and mental health or related services by June 2000.

The upcoming year is critical for the department as it faces its fourth year of Felix implementation and could be found in contempt if the state fails to show significant progress by Jan. 5.

In addition to Knudsen, Sakata and Sakurai, three new members will be sworn in. They are Marilee Lyons who unseated McMillen, retired educator Shannon Ajifu and insurance executive Mike Victorino of Maui.