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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 3:25 p.m., Saturday, December 15, 2007

BOE elects Donna Ikeda as chairwoman

Advertiser Staff

The Board of Education has elected Donna Ikeda as chairwoman for the term that runs from December 2007 to December 2008.

Karen Knudsen will serve as first vice chairwoman and Herbert Watanabe was re-elected as second vice chairman.

The annual election of officers was conducted during the Board's Dec. 13 meeting, which was held at Koloa Elementary School on Kaua'i.

Ikeda previously served for 22 years in the state Legislature, including as chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. She served on the Board of Education from 2000-02, and was elected to her current term as an Oahu at-large member in 2006. Ikeda was unopposed for the position of chairwoman.

First Vice Chairwoman Knudsen has served on the board since 1990 as an Oahu at-large member. She previously served as the board's chairwoman in 1997, 1998 and 2007, and has been a member of the BOE leadership as a vice chairwoman for an additional eight years. She is director of external affairs at the East-West Center.

Second Vice Chairman Watanabe has served on the board representing the Big Island since 1996. He was chairman of the board in 2000, 2001 and 2002, and has served an additional six years as a vice chairman. Watanabe retired from the Department of Education after more than 39 years of service, including 28 years as a Hawaii District business specialist.