THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	82
TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

REQUESTING A MANAGEMENT AUDIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

     WHEREAS, Hawaii's public education system is constantly criticized for the inadequate delivery of educational services and poor student achievement; and

     WHEREAS, it has been recognized that the large bureaucracy that is the Department of Education (DOE) presents roadblocks that could prevent DOE and the individual schools from successfully performing their duties; and

     WHEREAS, departmental leadership was decentralized through the creation of the complex area system with the intent of placing a greater number of decisions and a larger percentage of moneys directly in the hands of the individual schools and their leaders; and

     WHEREAS, Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, aimed to implement comprehensive reform in Hawaii's public schools by, among other things, also reducing the bureaucracy that hampers the effectiveness of DOE and focusing more resources and control at the individual school level; and

     WHEREAS, today, DOE remains under close public scrutiny; and

     WHEREAS, an audit would serve to further improve the critical educational services provided by this large taxpayer-funded institution, which absorbs 30 percent of the State budget, by examining in-depth the effectiveness of management and the efficiency of the department, including studying:

     (1)  How well DOE is organized and managed; and

     (2)  How efficiently DOE acquires and uses resources;

and

     WHEREAS, it is imperative that DOE remains committed to providing a quality education for all of Hawaii's children, with all staff members and resources dedicated to that mission; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that the Office of the Auditor is requested to perform a management audit of the Department of Education, which shall focus on the DOE administration from the level of the Superintendent of Education to the complex area level; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Office of the Auditor submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the State Auditor, Chairperson of the Board of Education, and Superintendent of Education.

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

Department of Education; Management Audit