>> Those are site specific. So, what we've done this year to start developing the PAC is we've asked that those that are on school site council all three school site councils are going to come together and be the PAC. Oh, okay. So, that's how we're representing Okay. Right? And then of course more people can join. Yeah, we want that. That would be that's what we want, yeah, but in an effort to get it launched and off the ground, that's how we've organized it. Okay. And then added the students. Okay. Thank you. Do you ever recruit people to be on these like the teachers or like I remember when I was on school site council, like we would like be like, "Hey, you're you'd be good on this. How about you? Would you do it?" And sometimes they'll say yes and sometimes they'll say no. I'm just curious like if you've ever done that.
I'm Andrea Diaz Machado. I'm the president of Ke Kula O Ka Wahi O Eva. And I'm sharing testimony in strong support of SR 153 and SCR 162. I stand by my written testimony, and I'd like to add that these resolutions provide a pathway for the Department of Education, the UH system, and the community, which is really the key part of of this resolution, um to achieve collective impact together through a common agenda that will center the needs of our Ke Kula Kaiapuni or our our Kaiapuni students. And will create a critically needed K-12 Kula Kaiapuni in Kapolei for generations of Hawaiian immersion learners now and into perpetuity. Mahalo nui for your time, presence, and the opportunity to testify. E ola mau ke ola Hawaii. Mahalo. >> Uh Kiana Rodrigues. Present, Kiana. There you go. Aloha mai kakou. O Kiana Rodrigues ko inoa. Noho au ma Halawa me ko ohana.
Um, this started with uh an effort to help seniors get to graduation and over the last couple of years we've asked that it be expanded to the other grade levels and it's helped it's helped quite a few kids. So, we found that some of students because of transportation reasons really needed to attend the school closest to them. So, and as you can see that that regular slate of classes that you would expect. Finally, on the advancement side for high school, Janet Hartoff uh is offering a semiconductor summer camp. And over the different summers, Janet has offered different types of camp. Um this one is is a little bit unique. Uh it is the semiconductor summer camp and she's working with um different companies to actually host it. Um there will be companies coming in on the last day around stations. There will also be companies coming in to talk about jobs um future trends and then CUSD will be in there to talk about programming and pathways.
I'm just trying to get the list to you so that we can have clarity about what you'veed and what you've not okayed. Um, >> we're kind of jumping we're jumping to next month, but I don't mind doing that. I mean, what I would plan to give you is >> to make sure that you have the list of the 80 novels and the other supplemental text that you have the comprehensive list of enrichment pieces. Those you did not approve in May. It has the 11 that you mentioned plus many more. We interpreted that to be none of those. So, we put none of those in the usable category. What we need direction on moving forward from our board is how do you want to go about that process? Is it going to be a take the novel that that you just mentioned is it going to be a majority vote?
Our chapter 70 numbers were a lot higher and Paul has that data and you know he shared it. We had a couple couple years of big spikes, right? Um where we actually had an 8% increase one year in the budget. Um we typically operate um from a policy standpoint starting at a 3.75%. Uh and then we try to navigate from there. This again, athletics frees up revolving for onetime capital investments. Mike Mike was talking about the um pilot program. One might think pilot program means free. It's not about $97,000 for the pilot program. most likely close to a million when we're all in for K through five with all of the materials, the ancillary materials, the professional development. Uh that's coming up. We have to switch our literacy program. The state has been pretty clear with us even today. Um we have to do that.
And um, it I'm reminded of the initiative that Carol was talking about when um, we did the raffle fundraiser and the whole staff was willing to do silly things. our custodians dressed up and our kitchen staff, I forget what they did, but every IA volunteered to do something silly just to get the kids excited. Um, and it's because they're all here for the kids. And so I think they're really amazing. Um, what we I need from you. I think just a a continued commitment to early literacy um and some patience as we roll out our restorative justices, our restorative practices work um because that certainly takes a lot of time to see uh the culture shift that we're we're hoping for. So, thank you. >> And can I just add one thing about what um you were talking you were talking about having a committee or a task force.
And um, it I'm reminded of the initiative that Carol was talking about when um, we did the raffle fundraiser and the whole staff was willing to do silly things. our custodians dressed up and our kitchen staff, I forget what they did, but every IA volunteered to do something silly just to get the kids excited. Um, and it's because they're all here for the kids. And so I think they're really amazing. Um, what we I need from you. I think just a a continued commitment to early literacy um and some patience as we roll out our restorative justices, our restorative practices work um because that certainly takes a lot of time to see uh the culture shift that we're we're hoping for. So, thank you. >> And can I just add one thing about what um you were talking you were talking about having a committee or a task force.
All right. Thank you. Excellent. All right. Can we move on to sub committee reports? Right on. Policy. Um okay, so the policy committee met um last uh on the 18th of March um and we started going through the student discipline policy. So, given the concerns of the board um the last time this came to the board, we've decided with Mr. Frasier to go through page by page item by item and there are some um language concerns that some of the policy committee members brought up. And so, we felt agreed to go um away and come back to our next meeting, which needs to be rescheduled by the way cuz they're not available. Um and uh we will bring some suggested language. We're looking at other policies. One of the things to know about this policy and I think I've said this before, but um we are currently discipline policy is from 1989 and has not been updated and is a couple of paragraphs and is very broad.
Okay. But I mean, you're a parent, right? And the teacher but I mean just other just like not teachers but parents do as teachers do you ask parents, "Will you be on this committee because I think you would do a good job?" Yes. Curious. We would appreciate that. In their defense, like they're new committees, right? No, I just meant saying like the school site council or PTC and all these things, you know, you probably send out to parents and sometimes they're not voluntary. You say, "Hey, if you ask them, will you and they will?" Yeah, I did solicit the principals like, "Hey, who do you think would be great to to ask for like the the DELAC and ELAC?" Right? They did a great job and they they've reached out and helped with that. Um >> [clears throat] >> And then our um translator Daisy helps me make phone calls to those folks and and kind of get them excited about being involved.
Aloha everyone. My name is Kiana Rodrigues. I live with my ohana in Halawa. Um I am here today to reaffirm my support uh for these resolutions. Accessibility to Hawaiian immersion education is an important issue to my ohana, especially as a Kanaka OEV who was raised in the diaspora. Uh when Ke Kula Kaiapuni O Kapolei opened its doors, my daughter was given back the opportunity to continue her Kaiapuni education after graduating from Waiau. For many Ohana in our position, traveling to Palolo, Kaneohe, or Kahuku to attend other Kula Kaiapuni is not a feasible option due to the distance from home and work. My son will be entering kindergarten this upcoming school year, and currently the high demand for Hawaiian immersion in the Ewa Moku means that the only elementary option is at capacity. These resolutions will create an actionable plan so Ohana will not have to face uncertainty around their Kaiapuni as attainable.
So in addition to uh that Chandler online has advancement uh opportunities as well. As you can see Chandler online offers two different sessions. Uh this year health will be tuition free and they have quite a lot of courses that they can offer students. So questions. >> Thank you so much everybody. I really appreciate a clear debriefing and just acknowledging the deltas and room for improvement and taking action on that. Um that is really refreshing um to hear acknowledge and the the solutions that you brought forth. Um we are short on time so I'm going to check in with my board members. Um, and I did want to just quickly ask for the K through six academy, we have a wait list. And something that we've heard in the past, right, is the drop off when there isn't consistent communication um, checking back in with those families so they don't go elsewhere with the acknowledge competition that exists.
Is it going to be a you all decide collectively? You can pick that. It doesn't matter to me. >> What you do is you provide us with that graph and the information. What's the Lexile score? >> I just want to make sure we give our teachers clarity about what's okay and what's not okay because I think their fear of not having clarity. Well, I think part of that came from there was an existing Google sheet that was available for them to pick novels from and that vanished. I don't know where that went. So, there is something that is sold and separate apart from this curriculum where it was already approved by any board members that came prior to myself or other individuals that are serving on this board that was taken from them. There was a message sent to them that they are not to deviate from a certain mapping and that is in contradiction to our district policy.
So, how we pay for these one-time expenses should really be out of our one-time revenues like school choice, but we're so reliant on school choice to fund salaries and operations that we would have to then possibly reduce somewhere else in our operations to fund even the pilot program. So, I mean that was a number that was a shock today. You know, Mike got the quote while we were sitting and talking and but we have to pay for it. We've got to figure it out. It makes good sense coming out of school choice. It just does, right? Um it would make good sense for the 900,000 to be part of our operations because it's materials every, you know, every year. But to start with, if we have the opportunity to utilize our one-time funds for these major onetime expenses, that's the right approach. Um, otherwise we're have having to go and and ask the town for additional funding just for these things.
I think you said right. Um so I would just ask that um any task force or any people that work on it be really engaged with gathering information, right? Don't don't make assumptions or listen to one or two things. Just really come in and do a real look at it because I I think what if I believed what I was told when I went to Newton, I wouldn't see what I saw. Right. So it's super important I think to if you're studying something to really engage with the people who are actually doing the work assume positive intention and figure out okay so what's the problem we're trying to fix and you know please keep people engaged because they they would have a lot to say and you would get a lot of really important information from it. One more thing too. Sorry, just one one more thing.
I think you said right. Um so I would just ask that um any task force or any people that work on it be really engaged with gathering information, right? Don't don't make assumptions or listen to one or two things. Just really come in and do a real look at it because I I think what if I believed what I was told when I went to Newton, I wouldn't see what I saw. Right. So it's super important I think to if you're studying something to really engage with the people who are actually doing the work assume positive intention and figure out okay so what's the problem we're trying to fix and you know please keep people engaged because they they would have a lot to say and you would get a lot of really important information from it. One more thing too. Sorry, just one one more thing.
And so, we're approaching this policy as a brand new policy, as a policy that we do not have. We do not currently comply um with the recommended and legally required uh sort of sections that Shipman and Goodwin's policy or Caves or whoever's, you know, policy you put in place um requires. So, that is where we're coming from um with this uh policy. We also started the um PPRA student discipline >> [snorts] >> uh or student privacy policy, the 6162.51 that has come to the committee before. We're doing the same thing. We're going page by page addressing language concerns um and that will be brought to the board uh for first reads. Both of those will be brought to first read hopefully after the next meeting depending on um how we're able to uh come to the language. And then there's a couple of other policies that we haven't gotten to that will continue to remain on the policy agenda um outstanding policies that the board has sent back.
And so, I've made it sometimes um in my experience, some of these committees can feel intimidating, right? Because there's a lot of like school stuff and so, we just make it sound like, "Oh, like it's going to be low-key and we're just we're talking about your kids, right? Like we we want your feedback and it's going to be as relaxed as we can as we can make it. Sometimes we have to do some business like that's required, right? By law that And we always have snacks. Makes it nice. I can get in there. Okay. Taran, did Vaseline go from a PTA to a PTC? We did this year. I noticed that. It kind of made me a little sad. Um PTA has an advocacy group to it is which is where a lot of us got involved with being more of an advocate for public education and PTA has a national voice and um but it's very hard to get people that will do it and I get that and I'm just a little sad about it because the voice it is, you know, they're lobbying and they are helping trying to raise awareness and so, anyway, but you know, it's understandable.
Mahalo nui for the opportunity to testify. E ola mau ka 'ōlelo Hawai'i. Thank you, Keanu. Let's see. We have um 27 were in support, no opposition, four comments. Uh that is all the ones that signed up to testify in person. But do I have anyone here in the audience wanting to testify on this measure? Just identify yourself, please. Thank you. Aloha mai kākou. Uh thank you for the opportunity. I'm a humble servant from Pauoa Valley, up the valley here. Born and raised here with my grandmother Mariah Namahoe from Waiahole. She taught me, "Learn your 'ōlelo because it is the foundation of who you are as a native Hawaiian." And all of that has stayed with me all my life. And I live in Pauoa. I love my valley of Pauoa. And I'm proud to say I'm a proud native of it. I say this because I'm here to lend my leo kākou, my voice of support to the resolution in support of establishing the very first Kula Kaiapuni in West O'ahu, in Kapolei, to benefit all of our Ohana out there, as far as Makaha, Wai'anae, Makakilo, Kalaeloa, Nānākuli, and Ma'ili.
So, are we really, you know, handholding and making sure that we are in constant communication with those on the wait list to make sure we keep them hopefully? >> Yes. I uh recently sent an email update to the families just letting them know uh a little bit of our timeline for hiring teachers so they have an idea by when. So, we told them by the end of April we should be able to finalize uh classes. So, we're keeping them and they're emailing uh me directly. So I am in direct contact with families um for our kinderbound program as well. Uh we have some recommendations and we those are sometimes even phone calls we make to make sure that have you seen our email because sometimes if they're not checking their email they might not know. So we we are making sure they know we're still working on uh hiring teachers to be able to open more spots and also they can see because this time that we're using Qualrix.
they should have some freedom to teach as they see fit within some bumper lane of teaching. Um, I do think that there's still some misunderstanding here on what I'm requesting. So, I'm going to try and be a little bit more clear about it here. If you were to present to us that grid of information, okay, everybody here has access to it. Just as we all do our due diligence before we meet for these meetings and we review agenda items, we research information. We can see if there's anything that catches our attention, something that one of the other board members here might find is not savory for a certain grade level or age. We can have that discussion here in full transparency during our board meeting from the deis. Um then that would go back to you at that point. Whatever we decide to discuss or approve then would go to the committee.