The reform of Hawaii’s charter school system got underway Thursday as Karen Street, a human resources executive, was chosen as chairwoman of the commission that will oversee the schools, and plans were announced to hire a national organization to help implement the new law.
"I’m really excited about the talent and diversity of the members around the table, not just for your skills and experience, but for your passion for public education and the role charter schools can play in public education," Street said at the first meeting of the Hawaii Public Charter School Commission.
Street is vice president of organizational development for First Insurance Co. of Hawaii and a former member of Hookakoo Corp., a charter school board.
The commission was created this year under Act 130 to authorize and oversee Hawaii’s 32 charter schools, which are publicly funded but report to their own governing boards and enjoy much autonomy. It will put charter schools on performance contracts that set goals and track academic outcomes and financial operations at the campuses.
Schools are also expected to take on some duties that previously were handled by a central office. Legislators have set aside $500,000 to fund a yearlong transition to the new system.
In a presentation to the commission, state Board of Education Chairman Don Horner affirmed his board’s "100 percent" commitment to charter schools, saying they offer parents choice, innovation and community-based education. The board told commissioners it intends to hire the National Association of Charter School Authorizers as "transition coordinator" to manage the shift to the new governance model. The Chicago-based nonprofit had a hand in crafting Hawaii’s new law and has worked with many other states to improve their charter systems.
Board member Jim Williams said the organization was chosen for its experience, collaborative approach and commitment to hiring staff in Hawaii. The proposal, subject to approval of the full board at its meeting next week, was well received.
"NACSA brings a lot of expertise, and I’m a big believer in not reinventing the wheel," said commission member Usha Kotner. "I want to encourage folks to get out and visit schools and see what it’s like to be on the ground."
State Sen. Jill Tokuda, Education Committee chairwoman, also said she is pleased with the choice.
"This will provide a solid foundation from which we will rebuild our charter school system with a focus on what has worked locally and integrating national models of best practice to come up with something that is uniquely Hawaii," Tokuda said.
Along with choosing the chairwoman, the commission voted in leaders for its three committees:
» Veteran public school principal Catherine Payne, now retired, will head the Performance and Accountability Committee, which will develop performance contracts for schools, conduct evaluations and resolve complaints.
» The Applications Committee, which will evaluate proposals for new charters, will be headed by John Colson, director of development for Hawaii Preparatory Academy and former principal of Waimea Middle Charter School.
» Peter Tomozawa, a former manager for IBM and director of an electronic foreign exchange trading company, will lead the Administration and Operations Committee.
Close to 10,000 students are expected to attend Hawaii charter schools this fall. The schools are free to create their own curricula and manage their own operations but must be accountable for their use of public funds.
The recodification of charter law came after reports of questionable spending and hiring at a few campuses and a scathing state audit of the charter system.
"It’s important for the transition coordinator to increase public accountability at charter schools without diminishing their ability to educate students in innovative ways," said Daniel Caluya, president of the Hawaii Public Charter Schools Network. "We believe NACSA would strike the right balance between strengthening public trust and preserving what makes charters unique."
