Carol Mon Lee

Party: Nonpartisan

Age: 62

Job: Self-employed lawyer, businessperson and community volunteer.

Born in Massachusetts. In Hawaii since 1976, arrived from California

Lives: Manoa

Contact: 741-0072, carol@carolmonlee.com

Web site: www.carolmonlee.com

Job history past 10 years:
1996-2006, Univ. of Hawaii William S. Richardson School of Law, Associate Dean.

Ever run for public office? When? Outcome?
No, I have never run for public office before.

Other civic experience or community service:
St. Andrews Priory, 12 yr member of Bd of Trustees. Hawaii Women Lawyers, first president. Hawaii Real Estate Commission, 8 yrs as public commissioner. Honolulu Rotary Club, past member.

Anything else you'd like voters to know about you?
In addition to law and business, my career includes years in education as a teacher, school administrator and school level policy maker. If I win, I will devote my time to helping our schools.

1) Why are you running for office?
We all know the complaints about our public education system. I am running for office to do something constructive by bringing new blood with fresh ideas and different perspectives to the BOE. My varied career includes experience in education, law and business and years as a community volunteer. I hope to create new dialogue on the Board that will lead to better solutions for the future.

2) How should the DOE deal with budget cuts? Where should reductions occur?
The goal is to build a public education system that works well for our children. Budget cuts could undermine that. Streamlining of the system to eliminate superfluous and bloated costs should always be considered. But is the current funding method an appropriate and reliable way of paying for our youth's education? Other sources of fixed funding would help. Cuts should not affect classrooms.

3) How should the DOE modify its school funding formula to more fairly distribute money to schools?
The current weighted student formula should be revised to more accurately reflect the cost to provide each child with a quality education, especially high need children. More money should then be allocated to cover those costs. The application of the formula however, must be balanced with the unique situation of each school (eg. geographic location, programs offered, etc.)

4) How should a teacher drug-testing program be administered and funded?
A teacher drug-testing program should be administered through the Department of Health or an independent contractor. The state must find a way to fund testing without reducing appropriations to schools, teachers' salaries, repair and maintenance of the buildings, or school programs.

5) How many children do you have, and did they attend public or private school?
My son, age 23, attended private school and now attends a public state university on the mainland.

6) What's the No. 1 initiative you would pursue in 2009?
There are many barriers preventing our schools from reaching their full potential. Among my top priorities would be to help resolve the inequity in resources to our schools so that all students have access to a comparable education with quality teachers, enough learning tools, buildings that are repaired and maintained, and appropriate programs.