[ BOARD OF EDUCATION ]

7
Kauai

Margaret "Maggie" Cox

Age: 60 Job: Retired public school principal Past: My husband is a schoolteacher at Kapaa Middle.

What qualifies you to be a Board of Education member?

I retired from the Department of Education in December 2003 with over 30 years of service as a teacher, vice principal and principal. Carrying out roles and responsibilities of the board should be greatly enhanced by my ... experience. ...

Do you support or oppose Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to break up the statewide Board of Education? Explain.

I oppose the plan. We should focus our time, energy and resources on what affects students in the classrooms such as higher pay and more training for teachers and educational aides, better facilities, adequate technology and resources, parental involvement ...

Have you had any interaction with Hawaii's public schools?

I have over 30 years of public school service.

Mitsugi Nakashima

Age: 75 Job: Educator (retired) Past: Board of Education 12 years; Hawaii public schools 34 years

What qualifies you to be a Board of Education member?

I have a passionate commitment to quality public education. I had 12 years ... of distinguished service on the Board of Education which complements 34 successful years in the Hawaii Department of Education as a teacher, counselor, principal. ...

Do you support or oppose Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to break up the statewide Board of Education? Explain.

I oppose Gov. Lingle's plan ... for several reasons. First, a single statewide, unitary school system headed by a state Board of Education continues to be the best way to ensure Hawaii's children with equal educational opportunity. ..

Have you had any interaction with Hawaii's public schools?

I had extensive and intensive experiences in Hawaii's public school system. After losing my re-election bid in 2000, I was appointed by the BOE to the 2001 Statewide Performance Standards Review Commission that I chaired. ...