STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1074

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NO. 570

Honorable Shan S. Tsutsui

President of the Senate

Twenty-Sixth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2011

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred Governor's Message No. 570, submitting for study and consideration the nomination of: 

Education Commission of the States

G.M. No. 570

J.N. MUSTO, for a term to expire 6-30-2015,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds J.N. Musto to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Education Commission of the States (ECS).

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of J.N. Musto from the Governor; University of Hawai‘i System; Kapiolani Community College; Leeward Community College; President of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly; Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL‑CIO; National Education Association; ILWU Local 142; Radcliffe & Associates, LLC; and eight individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Musto received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Hillsdale College.  Mr. Musto went on to receive his Masters degree and Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Michigan.

     Mr. Musto has a diverse educational employment history.  He is currently the Executive Director of the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA), a position he has held since 1980.  Mr. Musto also served as a secondary school science teacher, an Assistant Professor at Northern Michigan University, a Guest Lecturer at Hawaii Pacific University, and an Instructor at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.  

     Mr. Musto belongs to several professional organizations and has served on numerous boards, commissions, and task forces, including the Panel of Mediators for the Hawaii State Judiciary's Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution, Board of Trustees for the Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, National Education Association Higher Education Research Advisory Group, and Hawaii Council on Economic Education.  He is a member of the Hawaii P-20 Council which addresses the State's educational interest from early childhood education through higher education. He also serves as a mediator with the Neighborhood Justice Center of Honolulu.

     When asked by your Committee what areas Mr. Musto would advocate that the ECS focus on, Mr. Musto responded that he would like to see the ECS' work group on college completion continue to examine how to ensure that students finish college.  Mr. Musto stated that it is important that the working group translate its findings into real world policies and practices.  Mr. Musto also noted that the ECS should develop a systematic way of communicating with the public on what issues the ECS is working on and its findings thereof.  Mr. Musto suggested presentations by the ECS at community meetings such as neighborhood board meetings to accomplish this goal.

     By virtue of his training, experience, and knowledge, Mr. Musto is well-positioned and well-prepared to assist the Education Commission of the States in its mission of developing effective policies and practices for public education.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominee, has found the nominee to be qualified for the position to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nomination.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

JILL TOKUDA, Chair