Democrats push
school councils as
quicker fix

House members say changing
the state constitution would
take up to four years

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By Susan Essoyan
sessoyan@starbulletin.com

House Democrats are pushing for more local control of public schools through the creation of 15 appointed councils to oversee schools in their communities.

Legislature Directory Legislature Bills & Hawaii Revised Statutes

House Bill 289, a counterpoint to Gov. Linda Lingle's proposed constitutional amendment to create seven school boards, passed the House Finance Committee yesterday and was touted by the House leadership at a news conference.

"It makes far more sense because we could implement this very soon," said House Education Chairman Roy Takumi (D, Pearl City-Pacific Palisades). "A constitutional amendment to create local school boards would take at least four years."

Lingle has said that locally elected school boards would bring accountability and decision-making to the community level, but her proposal has stalled at the Legislature this year. In any case, it could not have gone on the ballot until the fall of next year.

The seven-member Complex Area School Councils proposed by the House would be appointed by the state Board of Education and could be set up in less than a year, Takumi said. Each would include at least one teacher, one parent and one student.

The councils are patterned after regional boards that now exist in 30 states, according to House Majority Leader Scott Saiki (D, Moiliili-McCully). Most would oversee two high schools, four middle schools and about 10 elementary schools. The councils would have the authority to:

>> Evaluate complex area superintendents.

>> Set priorities for capital improvement projects, repair and maintenance.

>> Evaluate curriculum.

>> Decide common yearly and daily schedules.

>> Manage block grants.

>> Purchase bulk supplies and equipment for schools.

"It's exciting because it would allow the community to get truly involved and engaged at the local level," Schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto said yesterday. "That's something we really support."

Board of Education member Karen Knudsen said the councils would give communities more say while preserving the ability of the state board to set statewide standards and accountability. "Most issues can be handled at the local level," she said.

A different bill, which would create a 17-member state Board of Education, elected by district rather than at large, is making its way through the Senate.

The House bill also calls for election of state Board of Education members by the region in which they live.

"At least you'd know your own board members," Takumi said. "And if you didn't like them, you could vote them out."