The Kaua‘i community meeting of Gov. Linda Lingle’s new education-reform committee is set for Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Puhi. Former mayor and former school teacher Maryanne Kusaka of Wailua
The Kaua‘i community meeting of Gov. Linda Lingle’s new education-reform committee is set for Wednesday, Nov. 12, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Puhi.
Former mayor and former school teacher Maryanne Kusaka of Wailua Houselots is the Kaua‘i member of the Citizens Achieving Reform in Education (CARE) committee, which will hold 10 meetings statewide to discuss educational reform and solicit community input.
The Kaua‘i meeting is the first one scheduled.
Priorities and recommendations for improving public education in Hawai‘i will be discussed, and committee members will present a preliminary proposal for reforming Hawai‘i’s centralized public-education system.
Information gathered will be used to help refine the proposal. The committee will make recommendations to Lingle regarding education-reform legislation for the upcoming 2004 session of the state Legislature, which begins in January.
Lingle established the CARE committee, made up of a diverse mix of more than 25 concerned citizens, to work toward implementing true education reform in Hawai‘i, she said.
The heart of CARE’s efforts focus on decentralizing the state’s top-heavy Department of Education in order to place more decision-making authority at the school level, directing more resources into the classrooms, and promoting community involvement.
“Every individual in our state has a stake in the effectiveness of education in Hawai‘i, and that’s why we’re going into the community to discuss these important issues directly with the people,” said Lingle.
“We want to present our ideas and listen to what residents have to say about education and their ideas for improving our schools,” she added.
