School committee set to endorse board, finance formula reforms

By Derrick DePledge
Advertiser Education Writer

Gov. Linda Lingle's education advisory committee moved closer yesterday to agreeing on key details of a reform package that could be presented to the Legislature next month.

Citizens Achieving Reform in Education will likely recommend that a new education standards board replace the state Board of Education and that the state Department of Education be converted into seven or eight school districts with locally elected school boards.

The committee will also likely endorse a new student spending formula with consideration given to students with special needs, and recommend that reform be accomplished without increasing education spending statewide.

Under a draft discussed by committee members yesterday, school principals would work year-round and get a pay increase. They would have three-year contracts but no district or school tenure, and would be able to return as teachers if dismissed for poor performance. Principals would be held accountable for test scores and dropout rates, as well as through surveys from students, teachers and parents.

"Principals will become general managers," said William Ouchi, the committee's consultant.

Randy Perreira, deputy executive director of the Hawai'i Government Employees Association, said the union is following the committee's work closely but has not yet taken a position on any specific proposals. The union is most interested in issues of accountability, student achievement and adequate financing for reform by the state.

The Hawai'i State Teachers Association, as well as the DOE, have backed a weighted student formula, in theory, but opposes local school boards.

The governor's committee will likely recommend a minimum of seven local school boards, along with a process for adding more. The new state education standards board would set the weighted student formula and monitor performance of the local school districts. Members of the state board would likely be appointed by the Legislature and confirmed by the governor.

The committee's final recommendations to the governor are expected by Dec. 15.

Lingle told the committee that the bottom line would be convincing Democrats to put the local school board issue on the ballot for voters next year. Democrats will also present their own recommendations for reform during the session, and have already indicated possible splits with Lingle over local school boards.

Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.