Educators bracing for major changes
| • | Lawmakers split on reforms |
| • | Chart: New laws affect education and both legal and illegal drugs |
By Derrick DePledge
Advertiser Education Writer
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
While lawmakers put the final polish on education reform yesterday, across the street at the state Department of Education, educators prepared for a hectic two years to make the changes a reality in Hawai'i's public schools.
State Representative Colleen Meyer gives a hug to State Senator Suzanne Chun-Oakland in the chamber of the State Senate at the end of the Legislative session. Senators and Representatives congratulate each other in the background.
In the next several months, the DOE will select 15 schools for a pilot project on a new student spending formula, determine which schools get money for new math textbooks, and decide which schools will get extra teachers to reduce class sizes in kindergarten through second grade.
Parents may not be able to detect much difference immediately because the most far-reaching changes, such as a uniform school calendar, do not take place until the 2006-2007 school year, but school administrators will have to start working now for the statewide school system to make a smooth transition.
"This opens the doors and lays the foundation for changes that will make a difference in education," said Pat Hamamoto, the state schools superintendent.
Lawmakers made their last revisions to the education reform package yesterday, so the foundation is now complete.
Schools will be financed by a weighted student formula that bases spending on student need, with priorities for low-income or special-education students, instead of school enrollment. The DOE will create a committee on weights that will help determine the formula and, for three years after it is adopted statewide in the 2006-2007 school year, will help the schools that lose money.
The intent of the formula is to bring more transparency to school spending and get money to the students who need the most attention. Some schools, over time, may gain money, while other schools would lose money, depending on the characteristics of students.
State lawmakers adjourned their 60-day session yesterday after passing major legislation dealing with: • Public school education • The ice epidemic • Kindergarten classes • Prescription drug costs • Bottle and container recycling
Principals will control 70 percent of school operating budgets, up from about 15 percent today, but, before the next session, the DOE will look at whether it is practical for principals to control more spending. A principals' academy will help train principals and administrators on how to handle additional responsibilities.
Session highlights
Hamamoto, who had talked with lawmakers about the final changes to the package during the past week, said that "our intent is to put as much as possible down to schools."
The DOE will also have to study how to put principals on year-round, rather than 10-month, contracts, and whether the contracts should be based on performance. Reports are due back to the Legislature before the next session.
"I think for many school administrators, the details are what they need to understand, not the specific percent," said Leiomalama Desha, field services officer for the Hawai'i Government Employees Association, the union that represents principals. "People are still asking the question, 'Seventy percent of what?' "
Roger Kim, the principal at Mililani Middle School, said he has asked that his school be part of the pilot project. He said principals are ready to shoulder more responsibility, but have reservations about adding to a heavy workload. "We want to see exactly how this works out," he said.
Under the reform package, schools will have to make the transition from School Community Based Management councils to new, elected school community councils by the 2005-2006 school year, enough time for the councils to prepare for the new formula the following school year.
The councils, required at every school, would be made up of the principal, teachers, school staff, students, parents and community representatives. Principals would have the power to draft a school's budget and curriculum, with the councils able to offer revisions, before the plans are sent to complex-area superintendents.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser
Lawmakers sought to give principals clear authority while also creating a role for the councils so, unlike SCBMs, they would have an opportunity to influence major school decisions.
Superintendent Pat Hamamoto talks with Robert McClelland of the Office of Planning and Evaluation while listening to representatives debate education reform on the Legislature's closing day.
Lawmakers also provided money for year-round school activity coordinators at high schools. By the 2006-2007 school year, the DOE will have to adopt a single calendar for schools.
"It's the start of what hopefully will be more parent involvement, at least in the school councils," said Don Hayman, president of the Hawai'i State Parent Teacher Student Association. "On the whole, I believe the bill does some very good things.
"But I think parents should understand that when you talk about school reform, it starts with the parent," Hayman said.
Several Republicans said they were disappointed in the reform package and accused Democrats of making mostly cosmetic changes that do not really get at the structure of a school system that is failing many students.
Gov. Linda Lingle said yesterday that she doubted Democrats ever wanted real reform. The Republican governor said the administration will come back again next session with a ballot question on local school boards.
"Harder than ever," Lingle said. "Harder than ever. People want that opportunity to vote so badly. They've made it so clear."
Reach Derrick DePledge at ddepledge@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8084.
