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Weighted student plan
unfair to Leeward Coast

At a recent community meeting, the Board of Education reported that Nanakuli High and Intermediate School might be facing a $1 million shortfall for the next school year. Why might they lose funding? Because our students are not economically disadvantaged enough, nor do we have enough English as a Secondary Language children, according to the BOE's choice of a student weighted formula under Act 51.

Though not mentioned outright, this interpretation of the weighted student formula also affects a school with one of the largest percentages of Hawaiian and part-Hawaiian students in the state.

Once again, members of the BOE have proved their ineptness and lack of caring and responsibility toward the students of the Leeward Coast. When Act 51 was proposed along with the student weighted formula, legislators and BOE representatives made it clear that this would benefit the students that need the most in the areas that need the most (i.e., schools with high percentages of students in the areas of need). The schools of the Waianae Coast have a high percentage of students in these areas of need. It has become clear that the BOE is now more interested in maintaining the status quo, meaning keeping the privileged at the top of the Hawaii food chain and the poor, underprivileged and unrepresented (particularly our Hawaiian populations) on the bottom.

This move is not only absolutely contrary to what needs to be done to make education in Hawaii equitable, attainable and available to all students throughout our island state, but it also opposes one of the original intentions of Act 51 itself. Rep. Michael Kahikina (D, Nanakuli), who was present at this meeting and sits on the House Education Committee that drafted Act 51, spoke about his disagreement with how the student weighted formula was being implemented and how the BOE is creating a funding system that is contrary to what legislators originally intended.

If the school board members choose this student weighted formula proposal, their decision shows a lack of leadership, responsibility, caring and, most important, dedication to the education of all students, not just those in more affluent areas with political connections. During my five years as a Nanakuli High and Intermediate School teacher, I have often wondered why the Leeward Coast and other rural areas get the short end of Oahu's stick. It has become clear that this is not by accident, but rather by design.

Shame on the school board for showing students of our host culture that their voices are heard and count only when they attend elitist private academies, when their families have political influence or when they are needed for a photo opportunity. Shame on the school board member(s) who vote for this proposal. Shame on them all.

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