Plan: Give DOE
power to tax
It also aims to hold the
By Mike Yuen
school board accountable
Star-BulletinThe state Department of Education, whose students are among the nation's lowest scorers on standardized tests, could become an independent political entity with its own taxing power.
That's what Senate President Norman Mizuguchi (D, Aiea) is proposing to bring greater accountability to the public schools, which have long been spared budget cuts.
The elected 13-member Board of Education and the department "clamor for increased levels of funding, advancing the perception that the Legislature is providing insufficient funds to the Department of Education, and holding the Legislature responsible for the inefficiencies and ineffectiveness of the educational system. Nothing could be further from the truth," Mizuguchi said in draft legislation unveiled yesterday.
The budget for lower education now represents nearly 36 percent of the state's general-fund budget, or $1.15 billion, so funding is not the issue, Mizuguchi said.
What Mizuguchi, a former teacher who once chaired the Senate Education Committee, envisions is having the department operate like mainland consolidated or independent school districts.
Plan is 'an act of courage'
Those districts are directly accountable to the public, Mizuguchi said. In Hawaii's case, there would no longer be finger-pointing at the governor, the Legislature or the school board over the failings of lower education, he added. The board would be solely accountable.Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu and board Chairman Mitsugi Nakashima lauded Mizuguchi for his proposal.
While he has yet to see the proposed bill, which would require voter approval of a constitutional amendment to recast the Department of Education, LeMahieu said, "I support the big issue of aligning responsibility, authority and resources together."
He added: "This is quite a revolutionary suggestion. I call it an act of courage. It is a gesture on the part of the Legislature, if it follows through on it, would actually take away their own authority (on education)."
Nakashima said: "The concept is one that we embrace. This is what the board has been asking for years."
Karen Knudsen, board vice chairwoman, remarked: "Not only will it change education, it would dramatically change politics in Hawaii."
Gov. Ben Cayetano, through his spokeswoman, said he was "reserving all comments at this time."
Earlier this week, however, Cayetano scoffed at those who believe that "throwing money" at the Department of Education will solve its problems. The department doesn't need four district administrative offices on Oahu, Cayetano said, adding that two would be sufficient.
And two key state senators, Education Chairman David Ige (D, Newtown) and Ways and Means Co-Chairwoman Carol Fukunaga (D, Makiki), wonder why the department is only able to suggest budget cuts at the instructional level, including athletics. The department did not propose anything at the administrative level for elimination, they noted.
House Speaker Calvin Say (D, Palolo), whom Mizuguchi briefed on his proposal, and House Majority Leader Ed Case (D, Manoa) could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Voters would need to give OK
Mizuguchi envisions his educational reform proposal to be before voters in next year's general election. If approved, a transition team would address issues such as collective bargaining - principals and teachers are unionized - and capital improvement projects before the department becomes independent on the governor and the Legislature on July 1, 2002.The department would be given control of the state income tax, which annually generates about $1.15 billion, which is about what its expenditures are.
It would also be given the authority to adopt a retail sales tax.
But the school board could only raise taxes with a two-thirds majority of its 13 members. And it would be barred from expanding the income tax to cover pensions and Social Security.
Since the board would have taxing authority, that will heighten voter interest in who board candidates are, Mizuguchi said. "You're going to find that there are more qualified people running now, because the public will demand a review of each of these Board of Education candidates - not like today, where you really don't know who you are voting for."
Forum set
The Senate Education, Judiciary and Ways and Means committees will hold a public hearing on a proposal to establish the Department of Education as an independent political entity:
When: 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Star-Bulletin reporter Mary Adamski contributed to this report. Legislature Directory
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