Cayetano intends to sign bill for charter-school conversions

By Kevin Dayton
Advertiser Capitol Bureau Chief

Gov. Ben Cayetano plans to sign into a law a bill that would allow nonprofit organizations to convert public schools into charter schools, a step that would allow Kamehameha Schools to take over some needy campuses with large populations of Native Hawaiian students.

"I think it's a big step forward because Kamehameha Schools will do a good job," Cayetano said yesterday. "I mean, their reputation will be at stake. And the fact that they're going to be educating non-Hawaiians as well is tremendous."

Department of Education officials have expressed concerns about how state money would be allocated to the schools under the new arrangement. Cayetano said some of those details need to be worked out in separate bills still pending in the Legislature.

The governor said he has been assured by House Education Chairman Ken Ito and Senate Education Chairman Norman Sakamoto that an acceptable financing formula can be crafted.

Kamehameha Schools is interested in taking over some schools with large numbers of Hawaiian students, which advocates say would bring more money and other benefits to campuses struggling with low test scores and other problems.

The bill would allow Kamehameha Schools or other nonprofits to operate a public school. The bill would call for the nonprofit to contribute $1 for every $4 that the DOE spends on campus.

Cayetano said the Hawai'i State Teachers Association is concerned because the union will not have as much control, but predicted the schools will be better able to manage personnel.

However, Cayetano said he is concerned that churches may wish to do the same thing. "You know, we need to have the experience first," he said.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.