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Notes on Tuesday 3/11 7pm HE‘E Zoom Meeting

We discussed the BOE upcoming meeting especially the Superintendent's report reporting on the new website about to be released. Four weeks ago HE‘E participated in a meeting on the website and suggested that the district create a portal model - a website that with login would recognize user and give them access to the school(s) their student(s) attend, student attendance, assignment, grades, digital instructional resources, district info and resources. Integration of systems and provision of a digital curriculum which would enable the portal were recommended by the Council of Great City Schools in the substantive review of our district delivered in December.

Ellen Schroeder shared that Delta Kappa Gamma iwill open its annual fall conference keynote at WW Community College. They are opening the keynote beyond its membership given the illustrious educator/author visiting Hawai‘i for this occasion. Dr.Barbara Hong is a national speaker and published author on a variety of important eduction topics. the cost of the luncheon and keynote will be $50. Ellen will bring us more info. You can read about Dr. Hong here.

March 13 Board of Ed Meetings - Finance and Infrastructure Comm Meeting @10am

  1. Composition of Committee on Weights XIV
  2. Department of Education update on school impact fees
  3. Department of Education update on student enrollment and school consolidation study

General Business Meeting @1:30pm I attended and delivered in person and written testimony on the new public website (see below)

  1. Report of the superintendent
  1. “Ed Talk Story” with INPEACE (Institute for Native Pacific Culture and Education) regarding Ka Lama Education Academy
  2. Student Achievement Committee oral report on February 13, 2025, meeting
  3. Human Resources Committee oral report on February 13, 2025, meeting
  4. Declaration of annual reduction in force for classified employees to initiate collectively bargained placement rights for employees displaced due to changes in staffing needs
  5. Composition of Committee on Weights XIV
  6. Designation of Board Members to an investigative committee (a permitted interaction group pursuant to paragraph 92- 2.5(b)(1), Hawaii Revised Statutes) concerning nomination of individuals to serve as members of the State Public Charter School Commission; and proposed revision to the timeline for appointing members to the State Public Charter School Commission

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Submitted to the: Senate Education committee support for HB 754 Community Schools Testimony


Senate HHS committee support for GB692 - the Expansion of Early Learning - Open Doors. Testimony

3/17/25 - Submitted testimony for the Early Learning Apprentice programs.. Testimony

We also sent a letter to both Senate Education Chair, Michelle Kidani and to House Education Chair, Justin Woodson supporting HB636, the School Faciilties Authority database development support bill.

Mahalo to all for feedback and encouragement! — Deborah

Our previous update on the legislative bills with draft texts follows for your convenience.

February Update - Legislature and BOE

See Draft HE‘E Legislative Testimony linked below. This testimony can only be submitted if:

1) A committee is willing to hear the bill, and 2) There are no objections from voting HE‘E members

Some of the bills, like the SFA bill above, may not get heard. If there are no objections to the testimony, I may send letters with the testimony to specfic legislators to see if it might influence them to hear the bill or if it might bring explanation as to why the bill is not being heard.

Community Schools

Teacher NBCT salary bump increase

Teacher salary for longevity Community Schools

Dyslexia Screening

Early Learning Expansion

Early Learning Apprentice Program Support

Free School Meals

Cellphone Ban - letter to House and Senate chairs due to no scheduled hearings

For Reference Background: HI DOE Commissioned Council of Great City Schools Review notes


Council of Great City Schools Report Overview It is very positive that the HI DOE requested that the CGCS research our district from state, to complexes, to schools, and provide a report with commendations and recommendations for growth. Supt. Hayashi presented the findings to the Board of Education meeting Dec 13th as we reported last month. CGCS noted the high respect for the supt throughout the district and noted that our student achievement is mostly on a par wtih other districts.


The CGCS report raises problematic needs and issues we have been discussing throughout 2024 Integration of systems, Collaboration between departments, Coherent curriculum provided by the district, Disadvantageous policies on district vs school authority, Advanced digital resources Too "tall" an accountability model. We have been concerned that lacks in those areas are limiting student growth, attendance, and family engagement. Below are the specific recommendations from the CGCS. (We note that the report does not address family engagement.)

CGCS Recommendations:


1) Establish, implement, and monitor a systemic framework balancing complex area/school autonomy with system-wide consistency, ensuring equitable education for all HIDOE students. Develop clear structures, processes, guidelines, and standards for essential practices while preserving local decision making. Communicate this framework clearly throughout the organization. 


2) Implement an extensive data management strategy to consolidate and streamline the HIDOE's fragmented data systems.


3) Establish a comprehensive, multi-year program to develop and implement key performance indicators (KPIs) and other relevant performance metrics. Implement regular review cycles to assess the new structure's effectiveness and make necessary adjustments. This long-term initiative will drive data-informed decision-making, improve educational outcomes, and enhance operational efficiency across the HIDOE. 


4) Review and streamline HIDOE's administrative structure and workflows to enhance efficiency and responsiveness. Reduce the number of hierarchical layers to eliminate bottlenecks and simplify decision-making processes from the state level to the local level, enabling more agile and responsive management practices.


5) Leverage state-of-the-art technology to automate routine tasks, improve communication, and track progress effectively across the organization. 


6) Charge the deputy superintendent of Academics along with the assistant superintendent, the content and career readiness experts, and a team of the HIDOE’s expert teachers with defining what high quality, rigorous, standards-based instruction looks like and what it does not look like at each grade level (this can be used to create the portrait of a high school graduate). Articulate what student work should look like when instruction meets HIDOE expectations independent of the materials used.


7) All levels of the organization (e.g., HIDOE staff, CAS staff, school staff, teachers, and support staff) should use student data and root cause analyses to improve student learning outcomes. State office work should be directly relevant to CAS needs and address leadership, teaching, and learning challenges. 


8) Establish SMART goals for improving student outcomes across the state and regularly measure and report progress toward accomplishing those goals throughout the organization.


9) Create and invest in a research, evaluation, and strategic planning branch in OSIP designed to help evaluate programs' implementation or effectiveness and help aid the HIDOE in strategically examining questions from leadership and the board, or in support of other offices.


10) Move towards a common HIDOE-wide formative assessment.


11) Implement the recommended organizational change strategies to ensure an efficient and effective reorganization of HIDOE offices, prioritizing student success, operational excellence, and employee-centric practices.


12) Implement the recommended organizational change strategies to ensure an efficient and effective reorganization of HIDOE offices, prioritizing student success, operational excellence, and employee-centric practices. 


13)  Reduce the number of direct reports to the Superintendent to achieve a streamlined structure that allows the superintendent to focus on high-level strategic decision-making and system-wide challenges.

Mahalo for all you do! - Deborah