Board considers initiating Superintendent search
News Release from Hawaii Board of Education, October 26, 2016
HONOLULU – The State of Hawaii Board of Education (BOE) has placed on its November 1, 2016 General Business Meeting agenda an action item to discuss beginning a process to search for a Superintendent of Hawaii’s public school system. The proposed action is that the BOE will form a committee to, among other things, determine the process and timeline for the search as well as the composition of the group performing the search. It is anticipated that the BOE will conduct its search over the coming months, with the hopes that a successful candidate will begin employment on July 1, 2017.
This proposed action is being initiated in anticipation of the ending of the contract term of current Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi (June 30, 2017). During Superintendent Matayoshi’s term, the Department of Education (DOE) faced numerous challenges and initiated substantial changes, making nationally recognized progress in improving student achievement and instituting reform. (Translation: She made a lot of progress so we’re going to get rid of her next year.)
“This is an ideal time to transition to new leadership that will help the DOE continue its efforts to reduce the achievement gap and prioritize achievement for all students,” said BOE Chairperson Lance Mizumoto. (Translation: The HSTA doesn’t wanna take any more tests.)
The BOE and DOE have been engaging the community and working on a review and extension of the Joint Strategic Plan, a comprehensive plan for education in Hawaii that focuses on the three main goals of Student Success, Staff Success, and Successful Systems of Support. (Translation: The HSTA put Ige in office. In return he is going to get rid of Matayoshi and the tests.) The BOE and DOE have also been working with the Governor's Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) team in developing a blueprint for Hawaii's public schools that will maximize opportunities and possibilities for Hawaii to transform education. (Translation: Do what the HSTA wants.) For more information on the work being done on the Joint Strategic Plan, please visit the DOE’s website, www.hawaiipublicschools.org.
The BOE formulates statewide educational policy and appoints the Superintendent as the chief executive officer of the public school system.
* * * * *
GOVERNOR’S STATEMENT ON BOE SEARCH FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUPERINTENDENT
News Release from Office of the Governor, Oct 27, 2016
HONOLULU – Gov. Ige is currently traveling in Japan. He issued this statement regarding the Board of Education’s announcement that it will discuss starting the search process for a public schools superintendent:
Superintendent Matayoshi has ably guided Hawai‘i’s public education system during her tenure. We have an opportunity to move to a more (HSTA-controlled) school-initiated, innovative approach to education. The Board is working to align the state’s education plan with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act so that our state system supports school (HSTA) autonomy. The Board aims to strengthen public education to give students the skills they need to build and contribute to a strong (weak), knowledge-based (union-controlled) economy.
* * * * *
SA: State BOE to start search for new schools chief
CB: Matayoshi To Be Replaced
HNN: BOE announces plans to search for new schools superintendent
Flashback 2014: Quid pro Quo? HSTA Endorses Ige for Governor
Flashback 2014: Ige's Dirty Deal With HSTA: Phony 'Procedural Mixup' Dooms Key Education Measures
Flashback 2014: Ige Renews Oath of Fealty to HSTA
Flashback 2015: HSTA Contract Reopener Showers Teachers in Cash
Flashback 2016: Full Text: School Board Member Resigns--Says Governor Violates Federal Law