Bill on local school boards revived
By Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Gov. Linda Lingle's push to have the Legislature approve a bill this year asking voters if they want elected local school boards has been given new life thanks to Senate Education Chairman Norman Sakamoto.
Sakamoto, who earlier this session had declined to hear the plan, yesterday told members of the Education Committee that he wants the question passed by the Legislature this year. Education Committee members, apparently surprised by Sakamoto's decision, asked for a few extra days to think about it.
Yesterday was the 34th day of the 60-day session.
The committee on Friday will decide whether to approve the proposal for elected local school boards.
Sakamoto, D-15th (Waimalu, Airport, Salt Lake), said he envisions moving a bill out of his committee that leaves open the proposed number of local school boards, a source of constant debate. The number can be determined later in the session, or perhaps next session, he said.
The Lingle plan calls for seven elected school boards.
"I'm grateful that Sen. Sakamoto has been open-minded about the proposal that we put forward to let the people decide this issue," Lingle said yesterday. "I'm assuming he was moved by the testimony that he's heard over the past couple of meetings in his committee."
If approved by the Legislature, voters would be asked in the 2004 general election to decide whether to amend the state Constitution to allow for the revamped system. Assuming they approve such a change, elections for local school boards would be held in November 2006.
"My hope would be if we can put the question before the voters on multiple school boards, it can be a win-win for the education system," he said.
In the interim, Sakamoto said, he proposes setting up seven appointed district councils within the next 18 months. Each of the councils would include two appointees by the governor, two by the House speaker and two by the Senate president.
That plan is similar to SB 667, which calls for permanent establishment of seven appointed panels. "The feeling by many people is the (existing) school board is not responsive to their communities," Sakamoto said. "The thinking is we do this now as opposed to later."
Sakamoto is hoping to push through the plan by using House bills 289 and 714, which had been introduced by the House Democratic leadership and call for establishing 15 complex area councils that would have some decision-making authority. The House Education Committee voted out those bills while stalling Lingle's bill establishing seven elected school boards.
Sakamoto's colleagues said they want to think about the plan.
"The proposal you've come up has some ambiguities and raises unanswered questions," said Sen. Ron Menor, D-17th (Mililani, Waipi'o). Further, he said, the governance issue is only a segment of the issues confronting the Department of Education.
"I think it's also critical for the Legislature to address also how we're going to provide funding and resources that the schools really need," he said.
Education Vice Chairman Gary Hooser, D-7th (Kaua'i, Ni'ihau), agreed. "Increased funding is the most important thing that we can do," he said.
Advertiser staff writer Lynda Arakawa contributed to this report. Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070.
