Educator's transfer focus of gathering
By Will Hoover
Advertiser Leeward O'ahu Writer
State lawmakers representing the Wai'anae Coast have invited the public to attend a town meeting tomorrow to discuss Leeward Community College's recent decision not to retain Lucy Gay as the head of LCC's satellite campus in Wai'anae.
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Area legislators schedule such meetings every month in Wai'anae, but this one is special, according to Rep. Maile Shimabukuro, D-45th (Wai'anae, Makaha), because the primary focus will be the decision by LCC administrators to transfer Gay back to LCC's main campus to be a counselor — a position she held at the college when she started out more than three decades ago.
Wai'anae residents say they're not being told the real reason behind Lucy Gay's transfer.
That decision touched off a furor among area residents and LCCW students who said Gay had made dramatic improvements at the school, expanded programs and increased enrollment in less than a year.
They said Gay had been responsive to the community, and as a Hawaiian she understands the needs and concerns of Wai'anae, which has the largest Hawaiian population in the state.
Shimabukuro said David McClain, University of Hawai'i vice president of academic affairs, and LCC Chancellor Mark Silliman have been invited. Shimabukuro, who met with McClain on Friday, said he told her he plans to spend much of the day in Wai'anae talking with concerned residents before the meeting.
Silliman already has met with the community to discuss the issue twice. The first two meetings — one before and one shortly after Gay's last day as coordinator of LCCW on June 30 — were virtual carbon copies of each other.
At both, members of the community praised Gay and were adamant in their stand that she should be reinstated. Speaker after speaker expressed frustration with what many in Wai'anae regard as a condescending attitude on the part of LCC administrators.
Silliman reiterated that the decision not to renew Gay's one-year contract as LCCW coordinator was an internal matter that would not be changed. He said Gay is needed as a counselor at LCC's main campus, and that her transfer should not be considered a demotion or a suggestion that Gay has done anything wrong.
Community members have said they don't believe administrators are telling them the real reason Gay was transferred.
"The frustration is that it seems apparent that we're not being given the full story here," Shimabukuro said. "Not everything is being said."
Shimabukuro said tomorrow's meeting might go differently than the previous two if McClain attends.
"I know Mark Silliman is a really good guy and that he's helped Wai'anae out a lot," she said. "But I think he's got his marching orders and he can't really do anything. We're hoping that maybe if we can go a little higher something can budge."
Still, she said she wasn't sure what would happen. She said McClain has told her that his calls and e-mails regarding Gay's transfer have been running about half in favor and half opposed.
"I was shocked because all I'm getting is 99 percent saying they want Lucy to stay," Shimabukuro said.
