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Makaha teachers
blame principal
for morale drop

They tell the BOE 'an
atmosphere of fear and mistrust'
has teachers thinking of leaving

Students to be liable for lost books

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By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

Katherine Castro-Remata's odometer reading of 165,000 miles is indicative of the traveling she does each day just so she can teach at Makaha Elementary.

"When my husband and I were dating, he couldn't understand why I liked being there so much until he got to know the kids and the staff," Castro-Remata told the Board of Education last night.

But as tears slid down her cheeks, Castro-Remata, apologizing for becoming emotional, went on to tell the school board that the happiness she has felt in the past while working at the school is no longer there. "I don't know if I'm proud anymore to teach there."

Several teachers told the board that morale among most of the faculty has sunk so low that many are contemplating leaving the Waianae Coast school, which is in a region in which teacher retention is a continuing battle.

"A stable, professionally growing, devoted staff has been shattered," Makaha teacher Tony Turbeville said. "Morale has been ransacked. An atmosphere of fear and mistrust prevails."

They point to their principal, Clarence De Lude, who came in January, as the source of their frustration and concern.

But De Lude said his goal is to improve reading, math and attendance at the academically struggling school and to do what's best for the children.

"There's a lot of issues going on and that's part of the change process," De Lude said. "I'm not looking to blame our teachers."

Turbeville, who last year chaired a panel that looked into teacher morale, said all teachers support improved student performance, but the issues are far more complex.

Without a foundation for a good working relationship, however, no money or program in the world will improve student performance, he said.

"Student performance would continue to fall far short of what our students deserve and need," Turbeville said.

The teachers said their unhappiness about the negative atmosphere at the school is in addition to their disagreement with De Lude's decision to cut the school's academic ties with the nonprofit farm, Hoa 'Aina O Makaha.

De Lude said he will continue to allow students to visit the farm but only as a field trip. He said he will evaluate at a later date whether to re-establish a legal agreement with the farm.

State Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu said patience and more time is needed so the principal can aim to achieve his goals while also trying to address the needs of the school community, including the faculty.

"We hope he does succeed because if he does, everyone will be happy," LeMahieu said.

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BOE holds students
liable for lost books

The Board of Education has approved rules that would prevent students from participating in school-sanctioned events if they fail to make restitution for lost or damaged textbooks, school library books and equipment.

The rules, passed last night, go to the governor for consideration.

The board also referred a request to approve two separate school construction budgets -- one for $45 million and the other for $90 million -- back to committee so that an attached request to approve the Department of Education's six-year construction plan can be voted on, too.