Changes urged in
‘new century school’

Many protest a measure allowing
the governor to choose the nine
who would manage the school

By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

Gov. Ben Cayetano's "new century schools" concept is a good idea, but the details need to be reworked.

That was the sentiment of many who testified at last night's hearing on a bill to create "new century schools" -- schools given freedom from many bureaucratic holds.

Changes to the bill, which designates Kapolei Middle and High School, will be made to reflect the varying views, said Ken Ito, House Education Committee chairman. "We'll try to get a bill . . . they all can live with."

The most controversial sections of the measure appeared to be the composition and selection of the nine-member board that would manage the school, set policy and hire the principal. Under the bill, the governor would appoint board members.

State School Superintendent Paul LeMahieu said the bill, which sounds like a charter schools proposal, should be aligned with what Hawaii already has on the books and is proposing in the Legislature for charter-like student-centered schools.

"This bill must be amended to appropriately include the community in establishing and endorsing the charter. Successful local democratization cannot be imposed by external edict," LeMahieu said.

The Kapolei Middle School principal, Annette Nishikawa, said 43 teachers, two counselors and a registrar are preparing for the opening of the school this summer.

She spoke out against the current version of the bill because she believes the community, parents, staff, students, teachers and administrators must be included in the process. "The current language of this bill does not consider the ownership-relationship factors of all the stakeholders in this middle school."

Many suggested that teachers, administrators and students should be on the board and that the board should be elected by the community. "I believe appointment (of the board by the governor) would be a disaster because it smacks of politics," said Evelyn Souza of Makakilo, a mother of 10 and a parent coordinator at Makakilo Elementary.

The area neighborhood board chairwoman, Maeda Timson, suggested that the governor could appoint the board from a list of names provided by the community.

State Personnel Director Mike McCartney said the governor wanted to spark discussion with this proposal. "The governor is very open to making amendments to those bills."

The bill would give schools a chance to gain autonomy and flexibility, McCartney said. "That's what Gov. Cayetano wants to do, he wants to propose a break-the-mold school."

LeMahieu, in response to a question by Rep. David Stegmaier, said that more schools -- up to five individual schools or school complexes -- would probably need to be part of a pilot project like this to accurately measure its success.

Two public employee unions opposed the bill because it lacked protection guarantees for school employees. "Collective bargaining is not a hindrance to quality education or an obstacle to flexibility that a school needs," said Karen Ginoza, Hawaii State Teachers Association president.

Charles Toguchi, former school superintendent and Cayetano's chief of staff, said he came out of retirement to help the administration with the bill. "I don't think that they need to fear that teachers or administrators will be fired, removed or transferred without cause."