STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2526

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 506, 507

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Education, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 506 and 507, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of:

Board of Education

G.M. No. 506	GRANT CHUN, for a term to expire 6-30-2014; and
G.M. No. 507	GRANT CHUN, for a term to expire 6-30-2017,

begs leave to report as follows:

     Your Committee has reviewed the personal history, resume, and statement submitted by the nominee and finds Grant Chun to possess the requisite qualifications to be nominated to the Board of Education.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of the nomination of Grant Chun from the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; Board of Education; Hui for Excellence in Education; Maui Economic Development Board, Inc.; and thirty-nine individuals.

     Your Committee finds that Grant Chun received his Bachelor's degree in political science and public relations from the University of Southern California.  He went on to receive his Juris Doctorate from the University of California Hastings College of the Law.

     Mr. Chun worked as an attorney in private practice for many years prior to serving as the Managing Director of the County of Maui from January 1999 to December 2002.  He currently serves as the Vice President of A&B Properties, Inc.

     Mr. Chun is actively involved in his community, volunteering his time on numerous boards of various organizations.  He also served on the Maui Regional Board of the Hawaii Health Systems Corporation and serves on the Maui Economic Development Board.

     Mr. Chun testified that he believes the Board of Education must focus on:  inspiring change and evolution in education and providing excellent learning environments for students; ensuring that budgets, resources, and facilities are provided to assist educators in effectively educating students; and making sure that benchmarks set for schools and students are achievable, realistic, and meaningful.

     Mr. Chun further testified that he is most interested in serving on the Board of Education's Finance and Infrastructure Standing Committee and Audit Standing Committee.  His professional background provides him with a unique perspective on these particular areas and issues.

     Mr. Chun also testified that he believes that community engagement in the formation of educational policy is essential, especially on the neighbor islands.  Mr. Chun testified that his relationships and one-on-one conversations with members of the community are extremely important.  He will continue to build relationships with the community, engage them in educational issues, and give people confidence that he will represent Maui well on the Board of Education.

Mr. Chun's professional background and dedication to his community give him the skills and insight necessary to be an effective member of the Board of Education.

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that are 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 nominations.

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

____________________________

JILL N. TOKUDA, Chair