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Makaha
Elementary
community
pans principal

He was first criticized for
cutting the school's farm ties,
but rising rancor has some
calling for his ouster

Special Ed gets new Web system

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By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

Members of the Makaha Elementary School community are calling for the removal of their principal, whom they blame for creating an environment of animosity, divisiveness and chaos at the Waianae Coast school.

"I've never seen the school in this much turmoil," Kim Holt, a Makaha Elementary parent for 13 years, told the Board of Education last night.

But principal Clarence De Lude -- whose decision to cut academic ties with the nonprofit farm, Hoa 'Aina O Makaha, became the first in a series of complaints against him -- said he believes he has done his job. "I've accomplished my goal, which was to get reading to be the focus of the elementary school," De Lude said. "I feel I'm in line with the efforts of the board, Dr. LeMahieu."

State Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu would not say whether removing De Lude from his leadership post would be an option, but he did say the "contentious" atmosphere created by both sides can only serve to hurt the school and its students.

"It's a very sad situation. It's a situation in which there are no victors. There are only losers," LeMahieu said after the meeting.

"What we do have to do is get the community and the school back focused on the kids and their education. I'm going to be talking to staff and get a sense of whether or not a favorable outcome is possible. That's a significant concern at this point. I'll size up the situation and do what's best for the school, what's best for the kids."

The controversy came to a head last month when supporters of the popular farm program, which teaches science through agriculture, aquaculture, beekeeping and other farm operations, urged the school board to reinstate it.

At a second school-board meeting, teachers said many of them are considering leaving Makaha Elementary because teacher morale has fallen so low since De Lude became principal last year.

Last night, complaints by parents, community members and teachers escalated to where some were calling for De Lude to be replaced.

They complained that De Lude's reading program was being conducted at the expense of other subjects, that he dismantled the school-community based decision-making process and that he still hasn't submitted a final contract to reinstate the farm program.

Parent Alfred De Dely said the principal should have followed the old saying: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Sally Ford, a music teacher at the school for 21 years, said there is chaos, dissension and a lack of communication.

De Lude said his goal is to improve reading, math and attendance, and some teachers have chosen not to take part in planning curriculum.

"My door is always open and always has been."

De Lude also said that he is still reviewing the farm contract to make sure it's legal. "The contract has to be pono (right)."

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Special education
gets boost from
$1.5-mil Web system

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By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

Special education teachers and support staff will be able to use electronic forms to assist special-needs students, which means they won't have to repeatedly write the same information on paper forms.

The Department of Education yesterday rolled out ISPED -- Integrated Special Education -- a court-mandated, $1.5 million Web-based information system designed to reduce paperwork, deliver and collect information more easily and quickly, help keep track of deadlines and free more time for teaching students.

Using electronic forms can cut paperwork about 85 percent, DOE information specialist Thomas Saka told the Board of Education during a demonstration.

Personnel will be able to request assistance, an evaluation, eligibility determination, individualized education plan development services and due process. Because the system can be accessed through the Internet, teachers or other personnel can access the data anywhere there is an Internet connection.

"We do provide confidentiality of information but it also provides flexibility for teachers who do want to work at home or after school on their time schedule."

Student profile information will be integrated into the system and can be pulled up with ease through searches.

"They can type in a student's 10-digit ID and it will bring over approximately 60 demographic data items," Saka said.

Previously, special education personnel would have to write the information on paper in the child's confidential folder.