Former Public Charter School Principal’s Violations of the Fair Treatment Law

Resolution of Investigation 2021-6 (COMPL-I-18-00165), Hawaii State Ethics Commission, June 17, 2021 (excerpts)

The Hawai‘i State Ethics Commission (“Commission”) has resolved the investigation of Alvin Parker (“Respondent Parker”), Former Principal, Ka Waihona o Ka Na‘auao Public Charter School, for alleged violations of the State Ethics Code, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (“HRS”) chapter 84….

Respondent Parker admitted and declared, under penalty of perjury, that the following facts are true and correct…

On four occasions in 2017, Respondent Parker authorized cash advances for Ka Waihona employees – that is, a loan of school funds to the recipients, as an advance on their salaries from Ka Waihona – as follows:

i. In or around July 2017, Respondent Parker approved a cash advance of $10,000 to his spouse, who was an employee of Ka Waihona at the time.

ii. In or around August 2017, Respondent Parker approved a second cash advance of $3,000 to his spouse, who was an employee of Ka Waihona at the time.

iii. In or around September 2017, Respondent Parker approved a cash advance of $25,000 to a school employee (hereinafter, “Ka Waihona Employee #1”).

iv. In or around October 2017, Respondent Parker approved a cash advance of $5,000 to a different school employee (hereinafter, “Ka Waihona Employee #2”).

v. Ka Waihona Employee #1 and Ka Waihona Employee #2 each repaid these cash advances in full over the course of several months.

vi. Respondent Parker’s spouse repaid $5,000 of the $13,000 advanced. Respondent Parker contends that the remaining $8,000 was offset against back pay owed to him…

Respondent Parker also used the Ka Waihona credit card on certain occasions to pay for what arguably were for personal expenses….

On August 31, 2018, the State Public Charter School Commission voted to reconstitute the Governing Board of Ka Waihona, finding that “the Governing Board failed to manage the financial performance of the school[.]” …

Given the violations of the State Ethics Code, the Commission believes it is reasonable, fair, and in the public interest to resolve this investigation by (1) issuing this Resolution of Investigation, and (2) requiring Respondent Parker to pay an administrative penalty of $4,000 to the State of Hawai‘i. …

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HNN: Ethics Commission fines former principal for improper cash advances, including to his wife