Posted on: Thursday, September 9, 2004
School reform attracts large field of candidates
By Derrick DePledge
Advertiser Education Writer
Education reform has been one of the biggest issues this year, helping to draw more prominent candidates for the state Board of Education.
Thirty people are running for seven seats on the school board, which has 13 voting members and a non-voting student member. The school board oversees policy for the state Department of Education and the state's public libraries.
The school board will monitor the DOE as it implements a reform package approved by the Legislature last session. Over the next few years, the DOE will convert to a new student spending formula that bases school funding on student need and new school community councils where teachers, parents and students will have the opportunity to influence school policy.
The DOE will also be adopting a single school calendar, new student report cards that replace traditional grades with ratings that better reflect the state's academic standards, and stronger middle-school promotion and high-school graduation requirements.
Last session, the school board joined most Democrats in opposing Gov. Linda Lingle's push for breaking up the DOE into seven local districts with elected school boards and replacing the elected state board with an appointed commission. While school board elections are technically nonpartisan, Lingle's fortunes could change if more candidates who support local school boards are elected to the state board and more Republicans are elected to the Legislature.
The primary election will narrow the field, sending the top two candidates for each seat to the Nov. 2 general election.
Because there are only two candidates for the Leeward O'ahu seat, they will not appear on the primary election ballot.
All O'ahu voters are eligible to vote for all four O'ahu BOE seats in the primary. All Neighbor Island voters may vote for the Big Island and Kaua'i candidates.
The Advertiser did not receive candidate information from Keith Sakata (Honolulu district), Ron Pohnel (O'ahu at-large) and Nadia Davies-Quintana (Big Island).
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Born: May 18, 1949 in Honolulu. Job: Independent math tutor. Lives: Tantalus. Experience: Dept. of Education teacher 1984-96. Community workday volunteer. Served in Navy and Naval Reserve. Contact: 941-0072; malcolmkirkpatrick@yahoo.com Why are you running for office? Students, parents, classroom teachers and taxpayers benefit when parents choose the institution and curriculum for their children. I wish to support parent control. Should the DOE adopt a uniform, statewide curriculum? Elected boards of education at the level of the high school complex should determine curriculum. People vary in their interests. What should the DOE do to improve under-performing schools? Hire parents, on personal-service contracts, to provide for their children's education, if the parents apply for the contract. Should the DOE be split into multiple school districts with locally elected boards? Yes. The state monopoly school system yields poor standardized test performance and racially unequal graduation rates, at high cost. Small districts perform better. How many children do you have, and did they attend public or private school? I have no children. I would homeschool if I did. What's the No. 1 education policy you'd work to pass in 2005? GED at any age, subsidize employment or college from budget. |
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Born: Nov. 3, 1960 in Springfield, Ore. In Hawai'i since 1983. Job: Preschool teacher, Kama'aina Kids Moanalua. BOE member. Lives: Palolo Valley. Experience: Board of Education 1988-present. Active member of Family Christian Church. Contact: 732-4496; DMofBOE@aol.com Why are you running for office? I seek to continue to help improve education for our kids, especially in literacy, civic and character education, local control, school and system accountability. Should the DOE adopt a uniform, statewide curriculum? Yes, in the core areas while still allowing schools and students choices in programs, especially at the secondary level. What should the DOE do to improve under-performing schools? Provide teams to go in, diagnose and help the school with instruction, resources, staffing or community. Should the DOE be split into multiple school districts with locally elected boards? No. It's not necessary; our statewide system is now able to provide true local control and equity in opportunity, resources and curriculm. How many children do you have, and did they attend public or private school? We have one child, and she attended and graduated from public school. What's the No. 1 education policy you'd work to pass in 2005? To give more local control with accountability for our schools. |
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Born: April 2, 1944 in Honolulu. Job: Management professor, Hawai'i Pacific University. Broker, HGVC. Lives: Liliha. Experience: State House 1996-2002. 'Ahahui Ka'ahumanu Society. SCBM representative, Lanakila and Ma'ema'e schools. Contact: www.leiahuisa.com; 537-4880; leiahuisa@yahoo.com Why are you running for office? As an educator for the past 30 years, I feel I can contribute to helping our schools in some small way. Should the DOE adopt a uniform, statewide curriculum? Yes. Articulation and matriculation from school to school should not pose a problem for students. What should the DOE do to improve under-performing schools? Act 51 should be a start, with smaller class size and teacher support, plus books and computers. Teachers need help. Should the DOE be split into multiple school districts with locally elected boards? If the present system is not working, I believe we should fix it. Locally elected school boards? I doubt that they will be the answer to fixing the problems our schools face. How many children do you have, and did they attend public or private school? I have two children. Both graduated from Kamehameha. I am a product of our public schools. What's the No. 1 education policy you'd work to pass in 2005? More money to classrooms and smaller class size. |
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Born: Jan. 31, 1940 in Springfield, Md. In Hawai'i since 1963. Job: Director of soccer clinics. Lives: Kane'ohe. Experience: Iolani School teacher and coach 1970-2002. Assistant coach, UH women's soccer team 2003. Elected to National High School Athletic Coaches Assn. Hall of Fame. Contact: 236-4515; barryr003@hawaii.rr.com Why are you running for office? As a former teacher and a concerned citizen, I feel that I have something to offer to improve the quality of education in Hawai'i. Should the DOE adopt a uniform, statewide curriculum? Yes. Schools need to be able to focus on certain parts of the curriculum but overall we need a statewide curriculum. What should the DOE do to improve under-performing schools? Make sure there is a safe teaching environment and that students have adequate materials to develop their skills. Should the DOE be split into multiple school districts with locally elected boards? I believe we should continue with one school board. We need to focus on classroom activity and less on administrative activities. How many children do you have, and did they attend public or private school? One son, attended private school. What's the No. 1 education policy you'd work to pass in 2005? Create a safe environment for teachers and students. |
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Born: Aug. 29, 1946 in Honolulu. Job: Attorney. Lives: Kalama Valley. Experience: DOE teacher 1970-73. Attorney for 27 years. Palama Settlement trustee. Former director, Family Service Center. Contact: darwinching@att.net Why are you running for office? As a former teacher and lawyer, I will advocate the CARE program and Gov. Lingle's proposals for our children and my granddaughter Denby Nagata, who will attend Waiakea Elementary. Should the DOE adopt a uniform, statewide curriculum? Absolutely, for basic core educational skills and knowledge. What should the DOE do to improve under-performing schools? Avoid the "one size fits all" mentality and "think outside the box" (e.g. send a team of remedial reading teachers into the school until everyone was up to par). Should the DOE be split into multiple school districts with locally elected boards? Absolutely. Give people the power to make choices at the local school level. Parents will do what is best for their children, if given the chance. How many children do you have, and did they attend public or private school? I have three children who graduated from Iolani School, where their mother, Linda, works and where they had the best educational opportunities. What's the No. 1 education policy you'd work to pass in 2005? Advocate restoration of discipline and safety in our schools. |
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Born: Lifelong resident of Honolulu (did not give birth date). Job: Actor, stuntman. Motion picture and stage technician member Local 665. Lives: McCully. Experience: Neighborhood board member for four years. Contact: 944-9562; stntmn@hotmail.com Why are you running for office? As a previous neighborhood board member/officer, I have developed concerns regarding our political and educational systems. These concerns have prompted me to seek this position. Should the DOE adopt a uniform, statewide curriculum? Yes. A well-planned, uniform curriculum will facilitate school transition and will also promote positive unity for the future generations. What should the DOE do to improve under-performing schools? Reduce the student-teacher ratio. Smaller classes with special teachers. Create a special high IQ squad to identify problems. Should the DOE be split into multiple school districts with locally elected boards? No. Board members representing different school areas are fine, but the DOE should remain a unified entity to eliminate duplication of effort and to prioritize problem-solving. How many children do you have, and did they attend public or private school? Single, no children. What's the No. 1 education policy you'd work to pass in 2005? Smaller class sizes. More teachers per child. |
