Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred S.B. No. 2320 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require at least one permanent vice principal position at every public school irrespective of the size of school enrollment, and to make an appropriation therefor.

Your Committee received testimony in support of the measure from the Department of Education, Hawaii State Teachers Association, and Hawaii Government Employees Association.

Your Committee finds that the changing role of the principal's job is overwhelming. The federal No Child Left Behind Act and other educational initiatives as well as the changing demographics of our State impact on their jobs. As a result of these and other changes, basic staffing requirements should be adjusted, including the allocation of vice principals. This measure provides much needed support for schools currently led by a single administrator. However, your Committee further finds that to provide a permanent vice principal position at every public school irrespective of the size of school enrollment would be very costly, and may be unnecessary at many small schools.

Your Committee has amended the measure by:

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2320, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 2320, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.