Senate moves school
council measure

The plan would set up seven
interim appointed councils

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By B.J. Reyes
Associated Press

The Senate Ways and Means Committee advanced a measure yesterday that would set up seven interim appointed school councils aimed at bringing control of Hawaii's public schools closer to their communities until voters have a chance to decide whether to establish regional school boards.

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With the measure now heading to the Senate floor for a final vote, lawmakers will have to compromise on several issues if the Legislature is to pass a measure on school governance this session.

The House has approved a plan for 15 complex-area school councils that would have authority to conduct evaluations of superintendents, oversee capital improvements, evaluate curriculum, manage grants and purchase supplies and equipment.

"What we're going to do is see what would work and what wouldn't work, and then we'll go to conference (committee) and see if we can have something that comes out that's win-win," said House Education Chairman Roy Takumi (D, Pearl City-Pacific Palisades). "It's still very early, but my initial read is, we're moving in the right direction."

The Senate Education Committee advanced two bills on school governance last week: one to set up the seven councils, and another to have voters decide on a constitutional amendment to create regional school boards that would work in conjunction with the state Board of Education.

The ballot question would not be specific on how many boards would be created, leaving that decision up to the Legislature.

That measure still faces a joint hearing before the Senate Ways and Means and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs committees.

Gov. Linda Lingle has repeatedly lobbied legislative committees and asked the public to urge their lawmakers to advance a proposal that would let voters decide whether to set up at least seven locally elected school boards.

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