The Board of Education Deserves Your Educated Vote
What does the Board of Education do and why should you be concerned?
The Board of Education provides the policy leadership for all of Hawaii’s public school system. The State’s Constitution says it is the role of the Board:
“…to set education policies for the public school system, adopt student performance standards and the means to assess them, and monitor school success in order to enable all public school students to acquire the knowledge, skills, respect for learning and attributes necessary for life-long learning and productive and responsible citizenship…”
From this passage two things seem clear:
1) The Board of Education should be long term and strategic in its approach to governing our school system.
2) Unlike other branches of government, every member is bound by a responsibility to every student in the system – not simply the students in his or her respective “department” or geographical area. There is simply no scope for partisan politics within the Board of Education.
Because each member of the Board is elected by the general population, the quality of public school education today is a direct result of the decisions made by past voters. The average tenure of the Board of Education is almost 7 years, and a number of Board members have served for almost two decades. If you’re not happy with what you’re seeing in Hawaii’s schools today, your vote is essential to ensure that the most qualified people fill this vital role, beginning now.
Who exactly is the Board of Education?
The Board of Education consists of thirteen members who are elected by the registered voters of two at-large school board districts.
The First School Board District consists of the island of Oahu and is comprised of the 11th through 48th and a portion of the 49th (that portion found on the island of Oahu) representative districts.
The Second School Board District consists of the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kahoolawe, Kauai, and Niihau and is comprised of the 1st through the 10th, a portion of the 49th (that portion found on the island of Kauai), and the 50th and 51st representative districts.
Ten members shall be elected at-large from the First School Board District. Of the ten members elected at-large from that district, one shall be a resident of the third departmental school district (Honolulu), one shall be a resident of the fourth departmental school district (Central Oahu), one shall be a resident of the fifth departmental school district (Leeward Oahu), and one shall be a resident of the sixth departmental school district (Windward Oahu).
Three members shall be elected at-large from the Second School Board District. Of the three members elected at-large from that district, one shall be a resident of the first departmental school district (Hawaii), one shall be a resident of the second departmental school district (Maui), and one shall be a resident of the seventh departmental school district (Kauai).
October 29th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Noyita:
You can find it at http://www.thelearningcoalition.org/vote-2008/
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Where can I get information on those running for the Board of Eduction? I would like to make good choices. I would like to read something written by the people running for the BOE. Thanks for any links to info on the candidates. NS
September 20th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Dave Patton,
I would like to read your letter.
September 7th, 2008 at 4:19 pm
The opportunity for informed voting for Board Members is a key element. I wonder if students can be the ones that bring the information forward. Research into the key issues in the classroom and public forums where these ideas are discussed. I think those running for office would want to participate in these forums so their positions and views could be known. Does this sound like an interesting idea to you? Carole
August 26th, 2008 at 12:00 am
Until each island county selects their individual BOE representative through casting their vote separate from other neighbor islands, representation will be controlled by group influence and controlled by Oahu. This makes it difficult to influence change from the status quo for our children.
August 14th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Aloha:
Several years ago I sent a letter to Governor Lingle that I feel summarizes the problems schools are facing today, not just in Hawaii but across the country. I received a response saying it would be passed on to the BOE. That’s the last I heard. Late I sent it to HSTA and got another noncommittal response. As I said, I think it summarizes a lot of the problems.
If you would like to see it, I would be happy to email it to you.
Dave Patton