House News Release

RELEASE DATE
February 4, 1999
Contact: Rep. Ken Ito
Phone: [phone]

NEW CENTURY SCHOOL PROPOSAL GETS HEARING IN KAPOLEI

A state funded public school, independent and free from the existing Department of Education and the Board of Education. That is at the heart of House Bill 1110, which will receive a joint hearing by the House committees on Education and Labor & Public Employment on Monday, February 8, 1999, at Kapolei Elementary School Cafeteria beginning at 7:00 p.m.

"One of our major initiatives this session is increased accountability of our school system. This bill offers an opportunity to explore one way to address that," said Rep. Ken Ito, chair of the House Education Committee.

Rep. Terry Nui Yoshinaga, Labor Committee chair, praised the proposal’s "new vision" in education structure and said it deserves the community’s support.

The idea, which was introduced by Governor Ben Cayetano in his State-of-the-State speech, would likely designate Kapolei Middle School, now under construction, and the planned Kapolei High School as the first New Century Schools if the measure passes the Legislature.

The bill provides for a school that would be:

• Exempt from existing public employment statutes and budgetary requirements and would be given a lump sum allocation which it could spend based on its priorities and other needs as determined by the school; and
• Managed by a nine-member board appointed by the governor, which would have full control over all school matters.

State Sen. Brian Kanno, who represents areas of Waipahu, Ewa Beach and Makakilo, called the measure an "important proposal for consideration by the community."

The public hearing is the second community-based hearing planned by the House of Representatives this session. The first is scheduled for Feb. 5 in Hilo, by the Agriculture Committee.

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