[ BOARD OF EDUCATION ]
At Large (special)
Garrett Toguchi
Age: 41 Job: Executive Director, the Arc in Hawaii Past: Board of Education memberWhat qualifies you to be on the Board of Education?
Experience with the Arc in Hawaii and as a sibling of a person with mental retardation, I have a good perspective of the challenges that schools and families of children receiving special education services face. Having worked for five years ... for the lieutenant governor (Cayetano). ... I have a good understanding ... of government.
Do you support or oppose taxpayer-supported vouchers so students at underperforming public schools can attend private schools? Explain.
Oppose. Vouchers deplete funds from public schools instead of providing funds that schools need. Private schools have no incentive to take any and all public school students, thereby guaranteeing that only the "desirable" students would benefit from a voucher system.
Do you support or oppose the state-funded charter school system that gives these schools more autonomy?
Oppose the existing law. Existing law is not stringent enough to prevent abuse of public funds and to manage the liability that a charter school faces if they discriminate against a child with disabilities or other legal actions from their students/parents.
Shannon M. Wood
Age: Not given Job: Editor and co-publisher of the Ko'olau News Past: Involved in passage of "bottle bill"What qualifies you to be on the Board of Education?
The schools belong to everyone. It's everyone's responsibility to see that every school succeeds. ... Board member through June 30, 2002, Hakipu'u Learning Center Public Charter School; participant since fall 2000, Hawai'i Civic Forum on Public Schools; former teacher ...
Do you support or oppose taxpayer-supported vouchers so students at underperforming public schools can attend private schools? Explain.
I oppose any voucher system. Vouchers would be used primarily by well-educated families while the public schools would continue to deteriorate -- especially in poor communities where families don't know how to "work the system." ...
Do you support or oppose the state-funded charter school system that gives these schools more autonomy?
I strongly support the charter school system; I've seen it at work firsthand as a board member. The keys to long-term success are to remove legislative restrictions on their number and provide sufficient funding. I also advocate for other governance reforms and expanded community partnerships of all kinds.
At Large
Shannon K. Ajifu
Age: 66 Job: Retired educator Past: Member, Board of Education; Teachers' Standards Board
What qualifies you to be on the Board of Education?
My education background plus the 38 years as a teacher, counselor, school administrator, district level administrator and Board of Education member.
Do you support or oppose taxpayer-supported vouchers so students at underperforming public schools can attend private schools? Explain.
Oppose. Most families attending "underperforming" schools are financially poorer, so private schooling would be out of reach for these families even with vouchers. They will also encounter additional costs for books and meals, which are provided to them at no cost in the public schools.
Do you support or oppose the state-funded charter school system that gives these schools more autonomy?
Support concept. The major anticipated benefit of charter schools is that they would develop exemplary programs that can be adopted by other schools. This has not happened nationally. It is too early to make a judgment in Hawaii. Financial deficits incurred by numerous charter schools are unacceptable. With autonomy comes responsibility.
Karen Knudsen
Age: 52 Job: Director, Office of External Affairs, East-West Center Past: Member, Board of Education
What qualifies you to be on the Board of Education?
The experience and knowledge acquired as a current member of the board are valuable in decision-making, policy-setting and working with numerous individuals within the system, the Legislature, the governor and the community. My educational and professional background and two children graduating from the public school system also contribute.
Do you support or oppose taxpayer-supported vouchers so students at underperforming public schools can attend private schools? Explain.
I oppose the use of vouchers. Vouchers would drain valuable resources from existing schools. Public schools need to be strengthened, not further eroded.
Do you support or oppose the state-funded charter school system that gives these schools more autonomy?
I support state-funded charter schools.
Keith A. Sakata
Age: 51 Job: City industrial construction inspector Past: Member, Board of Education
What qualifies you to be on the Board of Education?
With three children in the Hawaii public school system and four who have already graduated, I am keenly aware of the concerns expressed by parents or guardians with school-age children. Moreover, having graduated from a Hawaii public school with all its different culturally sensitive students, I can still relate to the problems and challenges that our children encounter in our schools.
Do you support or oppose taxpayer-supported vouchers so students at underperforming public schools can attend private schools? Explain.
The main concern expressed by those who oppose vouchers or tax credit is the loss of public funds. In reality, when a child leaves the public school system, the state may save $3,000 to $4,000 to educate the child as figures are shown by the recent legislative auditor's reports on public charter schools. ...
Do you support or oppose the state-funded charter school system that gives these schools more autonomy?
I support the state-funded charter school system because it provides a choice for parents to send their children to a school that offers a curriculum different from the Department of Education. ...
Marla Wade
Age: 49 Job: Licensed minister Past: Former Senate budget analyst; educational advocacy
What qualifies you to be on the Board of Education?
I have served Hawaii's children and families for over 20 years. Having worked in various capacities with parents, students, teachers, counselors, case managers, school administrators and legislators, I would bring this experience and commitment to the board.
Do you support or oppose taxpayer-supported vouchers so students at underperforming public schools can attend private schools? Explain.
Fundamentally, I believe that parents are responsible for the education of their children, therefore they should have the right to choose how and where their children will be trained. However, my hope is that we could make Hawaii schools the best choice.
Do you support or oppose the state-funded charter school system that gives these schools more autonomy?
I am strongly in favor of charter schools because they give parents more ownership of their child's education. They also make education a community affair, where the greater community has vested interest in the schools' development.
Randall M. L. Yee
Age: 43 Job: Attorney Past: Ex-member, city Planning Commission; Makiki Neighborhood Board
What qualifies you to be on the Board of Education?
If elected to the Board of Education, I will bring a fresh viewpoint with no background or allegiance to any one group. My intent is to strive toward achieving academic excellence in our public education system.
Do you support or oppose taxpayer-supported vouchers so students at underperforming public schools can attend private schools? Explain.
I oppose taxpayer-supported vouchers to private schools.
Do you support or oppose the state-funded charter school system that gives these schools more autonomy?
I am in favor of the use of charter schools in Hawaii. I believe it is essential to introduce more diverse learning environments without sacrificing the quality of education.
No response:
>> At large: Kenneth K. Segawa
