Firing of state charter schools chief prompts protest
HILO » At a meeting of the Board of Education in Hilo yesterday, about 150 charter school students, their parents and teachers, and supporters protested the Sept. 7 firing of statewide charter schools director Jim Shon.
Among the protesters was Katheryn Creighton-Shay, director of the Waters of Life charter school, wearing a large trash bag over her clothing.
"I'm feeling trashed," she explained.
Shon had been a success during his two years as director of the Charter Schools Administrative Office, Creighton-Shay said.
"Why fire success?" she asked.
The board gave no explanation following the firing in a closed-door session.
Board Chairman Randall Yee said yesterday he could not discuss the reason because it is a personnel matter.
Some students, wearing T-shirts identifying their schools, held signs in the rain along Kilauea Avenue in front of Waiakea Waena Elementary School.
Then, they gathered inside the cafeteria, holding helium-filled yellow balloons, until it reached legal capacity during the afternoon board meeting. The overflow stood outside on covered walkways, avoiding the rain.
Barbara Woerner, director of Innovations charter school in Kona, who had come with 30 students and 20 parents, told the Star-Bulletin the firing of Shon was "discouraging."
She could not tell the board that because they did not take public statements until their evening session, and Woerner's group had to make the two-hour drive back to Kona over wet roads before night fell.
Steve Hirakami, who held the state director's post before Shon took it, said money was an element in Shon's firing. Shon had proposed overall funding of the state's 27 charter schools next year at $69 million, he said. Board Budget Committee Chairman Garrett Toguchi ordered the request cut back to $53 million, he said.
Chairman Yee said the board wanted a "base-line" number which might be adjusted later.
The board was also irritated because Shon had gone to the Legislature this spring to clarify laws governing charters, Hirakami said.
"The board is 100 percent behind charter schools," Yee said.
Protesters also asked the board to conduct a self-evaluation using national standards set for that purpose.
"We'll take a look at that," Yee said.
With no direct communication with the board during the afternoon, Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Principal David Rizor commented outside the meeting, "All we're asking for is equal treatment."