STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1485

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 407

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 407, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to grant the Board of Education the authority to appoint and approve termination of complex area superintendents for schools.

Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Board of Education.

Your Committee finds that increased community input is valuable and necessary in helping to reshape public education in Hawaii. This measure grants the Board of Education, rather than the Superintendent of Education, the authority to appoint and approve termination of complex area superintendents for schools. Your Committee, however, notes the testimony from the Board of Education expressing concern that the Superintendent of Education relies on an expansive tri-level group of Department leaders, which includes complex area superintendents. Without the flexibility to hire or terminate the crucial members of the Superintendent's leadership team, the Superintendent's responsibilities to meet annual priorities and advance public education in Hawaii becomes increasingly challenging. Therefore, amendments to this measure are necessary to address these concerns.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Reinstating language that grants the Superintendent of Education the authority to appoint complex area superintendents for schools;

(2) Updating the purpose section; and

(3) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

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 H.B. No. 407, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 407, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

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

________________________________

MICHELLE N. KIDANI, Chair