STAND. COM. REP. 2424
Honolulu, Hawaii
, 2004
RE: S.B. No. 2320
S.D. 1
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:
"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO VICE PRINCIPALS,"
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:
(1) Deleting the mandate that a permanent vice principal position be provided at every public school irrespective of the size of school enrollment;
(2) Clarifying the appropriation to provide ten additional permanent vice principal positions to be assigned to Department of Education schools based upon greatest need as determined by the department according to special education needs and other applicable criteria; and
(3) Eliminating the provision limiting the waiver of certification that may be granted by the Department of Education to vice-principal candidates with appropriate administrative experience to a period of up to five years.
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.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,
____________________________ NORMAN SAKAMOTO, Chair |
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