Posted on: Friday, December 21, 2001
Hamamoto reorganization of DOE gets go-ahead
Advertiser Staff
State schools Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto's plans to reorganize the Department of Education administration was approved yesterday by the Board of Education.
The board also approved Hamamoto's nominees to leadership positions in her administration. Hamamoto was named superintendent last week, replacing Paul LeMahieu, who resigned in October after concerns were raised about his relationship with a woman whose firm was granted a special-education contract.
Members of Hamamoto's administration who were approved yesterday are:
• Clayton Fujie, deputy superintendent. Fujie, who served as interim deputy since November, was a principal at Noelani Elementary. He has been with the Department of Education for 32 years and will receive a $85,302 salary.
• Stafford Nagatani, executive assistant to the superintendent. Nagatani continues in the job that he has held since January 1999, and from 1989 to 1994. His salary is set at $89,043.
• Katherine Kawaguchi, assistant superintendent, Office of Curriculum and Instruction. Kawaguchi has specialized in curriculum improvement and facilities development within the department. Her salary is $81,037.
• Alfred Suga, assistant superintendent, Office of Business Services. Suga, who held the same position from 1991 to 1999, was the acting assistant superintendent in the former Division of Administrative Services. Suga's salary is $81,037.
• Rene Tarumoto, assistant superintendent, Office of Human Resources. Tarumoto comes to the DOE from the state Department of Human Resources Development, where she served as personnel program administrator in the Recruitment and Examination Division. • Thomas Yamashiro has been named Department of Education assistant superintendent, heading the Office of Information and Technology Services.
Correction: Thomas Yamashiro has been named Department of Education assistant superintendent, heading the Office of Information and Technology Services. Because of a reporter’s error, his appointment was omitted from an earlier version of this story posted Friday.
