HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	56
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2010
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting a financial and 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, the large bureaucracy of the Department of Education (DOE) presents roadblocks that could prevent DOE and the individual schools from successfully performing their duties and serving the needs of Hawaii's children; and

     WHEREAS, more recently, DOE became the subject of local and national news when furloughs were imposed in public schools, thereby reducing the number of instructional days for students; 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, the public has raised many questions about DOE's operations, including its finances and management; and

     WHEREAS, a financial and management audit of DOE is long overdue; and
     WHEREAS, Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004, aimed to implement comprehensive reform in Hawaii's public schools by, among other things:

     (1)  Reducing the bureaucracy that hampers the effectiveness of DOE; and

     (2)  Focusing more resources and control at the individual school level;

and

     WHEREAS, today, DOE remains under close public scrutiny, both locally and nationally; and

     WHEREAS, an audit of DOE would serve to further improve the critical educational services provided by this large taxpayer-funded institution which absorbs a large percentage of the State budget, by examining in-depth the effectiveness and efficiency of departmental operations, both at the management and administrative levels, including:

     (1)  Organization and management of DOE, especially with regard to personnel; and

     (2)  Efficacy of fiscal operations, especially with respect to spending and accountability;

and

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

     WHEREAS, an audit of DOE would serve to ensure that the agency adheres to its mission to provide all of Hawaii's children with the tools they need to prepare them to be successful in a global society; now, therefore,
     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2010, the Senate concurring, that the Auditor is requested to perform a financial and management audit of DOE, which shall focus on the departmental level; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that 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 2011; and

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

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title: 

Department of Education; Financial and Management Audit