001good afternoon welcome to the 3:00 meeting of the committee on education members we are going to start our meeting with hearing Senate Bill first this Zoom meeting and you YouTube live stream event will include the 3:00 agenda for this committee on education in the unlikely event that we must abruptly end this hearing due to Major technical difficulties the committee will reconvene to discuss any outstanding business on Monday February 5th 2024 at 3:01 p.m in this room 229 and a public notice will be posted on the legislature's website I'd like to take this time to remind our testifiers that due to time restrict rtion on our hearings we will be limiting testimony to one minute per testifier per bill for people participating remotely please remain muted and video disabled until shortly before it is your turn
002to testify when I call your name unmute yourself and your time will begin after your minute is completed staff will mute you so that we can move this hearing along in an orderly and efficient manager so members again we are going to start with Senate Bill 2635 to open our agenda and 2635 is relating to education appropriates funds to the Department of Education for operational expenses including the hiring of Staff declares that the general fund expenditure ceiling is exceeded superintendent please kidani members of the committee Kashi superintendant testifying on behalf of the Department of Education the department stands on its written testimony in strong support of this measure the department appreciates the budget that was put forth by the governor as it covered some of the Department's essential needs however there are key initiatives that
003the department still needs funding for in order to ensure that we continue on our positive trajectory that we have already set um I'd like to also share that looking at the national assessment of educational progress the nape assessment also known as the also referred to as a nation's report card Hawaii leads the country in academic recovery in fourth grade reading and also uh we rank we're ranked right now in fourth in fourth grade math and this is a contributed to the efforts of our teachers our students our administrators and all of the staff at all of our schools our Smarter Balance assessment scores also indicate a strong recovery um amongst the strongest amongst smarter Balan states that administer the same assessment and we ask for your support in investing now in our public education schools
004so that we can remain on this strong trajectory as we invest is also an investment for our future thank you very much thank you members questions if not thank you superintendent thank you is there anyone else here who wishes to testify this measure members I'll point out that we have testimony and support from the Democratic party of Hawaii uh their committee on education and and their education caucus superintendent can you explain the essential operations need I I I see that um the department has requested $198 million and the governor has appropriated uh only $11.5 million so what is that going to do uh to the education department thank you very much uh for the question chair um to go more into detail we do have uh our Chief Financial Officer assistant superintendent for the office
005of fiscal Services Brian hel I think first first is just uh good afternoon first to just recap what we received in the governor's budget we we got a lot of funding for our sort of basic critical needs our our core operations are are sort of fixed costs in a sense things like student transportation weighted student formula I'm sorry not waiting student formula utilities um bus service what was what was really lacking in food what was really lacking was funding for our instructional and student support programs um areas such as weighted student formula social emotional programs so so that's I think what what the superintendent alluded to earlier about trying to maintain the trajectory it's those resources that are really going to be critical in in combination with the basic critical needs funding um to maintain
006the trajectory so this is a 43% cut basically from what the uh doe request and what the governor is providing um what um what would be different how much are you guys going to have to cut and where are you going to cut specifically if we do not extend more money to this Bud thank you very much for the question chair um uh this These funds are especially critical now uh in light of uh the SR fund Federal Sr funding uh ending at the end of this year uh the supports that would be cut would um be uh critical to um our students uh our school's operations uh which may include things like tutoring um Personnel supports for our for our students um perhaps Summer School uh um for for students that uh need need
007those kinds of supports social emotional programs that were very critical in in the whole that lent itself in support the academic recovery for our students and as as we all know coming out of the pandemic um and we we still are feeling the in effects of it uh that our students counseling uh emotional supports is is critically important that we are able to assess and then um uh be able to support students with effective strategies and so these the funding that we're requesting um includes some of those programs additionally uh the weighted student formula supports for our schools that give our principles uh that flexibility to address uh unique needs of each school and each School Community is is part of what our request uh entails thank you and speaking of school communities we know
008that and looking back at what happened in the with the fires Etc that there are some um very immediate needs so do you can you give us an example of what percent of this budget is uh going to Lina which is a one not maybe a one-time expense for some of the things um the the U and uh CF can can jump in after I share little but uh the much of what our budget is requesting for uh is uh all inclusive of our department uh which includes supports to the for social emotional supports uh to be able to provide the academic supports for students as I Shar tutoring um I I do know that our um uh out of the office of student Support Services uh here to help program also offers many kinds
009of supports for our students and so to answer your question uh the L supports for our L schools as well as overall Maui schools are are Incorporated within our budget request and is there um particular CIP um additional CIP needs for La um chair yes they are um our I believe our request though is focusing for this um this ask on our operational budget um but the answer your question is there they definitely are uh Capital Improvement um supports that we do need okay thank you members questions yes questions um so superintendent during the budget briefings I think the chair brought up the uh issue about have you folks looked at what areas and what programs perhaps is not needed anymore or can be cut and so want to go ahead and answer that thank
010you um um uh Vice chairman M the um from our last our ways and means hearing uh the department we are uh our assistant superintendents are taking an assessment as far as at the state level um what programs have are are still um uh effectively being used um I I believe um many of them are if not all of them but we are doing that assessment of the the supports that on a tri level system between school complex and State uh State offices uh I believe that it is really a comprehensive support effort that we're able to uh see the gains that we have over the last um several years coming out of the pandemic uh but but we are definitely have heard uh Ways and Means and we are doing a review of um
011of our programs okay well I think it's more than just what programs are being used but what are the priorities what are the new priorities perhaps that put things on a lesser priority and you know I keep bringing this up it's like the kindergarten assessments we did we expended a million dollars for that program that's only going to be good for a short per of time and I think we raised this prior to you folks pulling the trigger on it told you guys that maybe you should come in and ask us to amend the thing and you guys didn't you kept going through with it um so it's those kinds of things that are embedded possibly in your budget that can be looked at and can be cut and you need to be proactive about
012this and not just wait for us to ask you because you know year after year your budget there's less and less money out there right and you never know when a pandemic or when uh Wildfire will hit and then you even have less resources yes um coming out of our looking at our bar strategic plan uh that you know based on that kindergarten our kindergarten assessment Readiness assessment and then um really helping to focus our efforts in the K through 12 Continuum I we are focused on several areas and um and priority strategies within the department uh that which include uh a focus on Workforce Readiness as we know that we want our students as they graduate to be uh not only well globally competitive locally committed and Workforce ready so that they're able to
013earn a living wage and stay home here in Hawaii so that's become a new priority sort of that the workforce priority um with our uh strategic plan uh those eight strategic initiatives definitely Workforce Readiness is one vulnerable populations is another and so part of our ask in our operating budget request includes supports for our eel students for special need students uh um for those families who are disadvantaged yes but the budget keeps growing and growing you already about 35% of this budget is education of the entire state budget yes so again there's only so much of the pie will be left to grow so we have to be more strategic on how we do this prioritize because you know we can't be everything to everybody right and I know parents want to just drop off
014the children and that the teachers teach them everything but there has to be some some responsibilities by the families as well to some of the the things that we try to do for all of our students yes um our our schools do work um really hard together with the families I know that uh you know our our um our teachers our counselors uh School administrators support staff U really look to focus on supporting uh supporting our stud understand they do a good job at that but again you know St stuff like potty training kids or or having the teachers having to take on some of the medical issues I mean those are those are some of the things that teachers say they they they didn't they didn't sign up to be teachers to have to
015do some of these things so you know we hear them so there the things we have to think about going forward thank you thank you thank you members uh and for the audience the request from the Department of Education is for $198 million what is appro being appropriated by the Govern govern is1 $12 million and so one of the thing some of the things that um have been really cut is weighted St student formula at 33 million by the department request is zero for the Governor's budget student achievement and enrichment $38 million for doe and only 500,000 for the Governor's budget special education and mental health supports $19 million for the doe $8 million from the governor's budget teacher and staff retention 23 million for the Department's budget1 18 million from the governor essential Support
016Services 15.5 Million by the department 10 million by the governor infrastructure 20 about 22 million from doe 17 million from the governor student meals and transportations 39 plus million um and that stands with both the de and the governor school safety uh which is one of my bigger concerns is um 8 million in the Department's um budget and18 million in the governor's budget budget so what specifically in the school safety um did you guys miss that the governor wants to put in or are you aware of what that is it's that's $10 million for school locks door locks and and blockers um we had asked for it to be to be allow us to repurpose some some old Appropriations that's how we asked for it in our Department's request Governor is looking to fund it
017with new money and and thus the comparison where it looks like the governor is asking for 10 Mill more than the department had requested but in a sense he's ask it's asking for it in a different way than what we had asked for so are you saying that you already have the money in place from another year or is it you ask we were asking to to allow us to reallocate funds that had previously been appropriated for repair and maintenance F use which you still have which we which we still have this year thank you members questions one last question so um the Govern I released what $8 million for the Fort chapter relocation school youw that um I'm not sure on that in fact Senator I was just at chter today and um I
018know that there are some some concerns on well I wanted to know how much of that was the Federal Government picking up or are they picking up anything U it's 8020 8020 8020 80% for the federal government 20% for us so 80 million is our 20% no 80 80% is the federal government cost we know right but the governor released about 80 million right or close to that amount we we can get that exact them all for you cuty superintendent uh Senator um we just got word that the military would want to discuss with the state to move the shaer school to a different location right but then the governor released just the other day I got the notice that he released almost $80 million for this relocation so I'm wondering what portion of that
019is the federal government P okay I haven't seen that but if if it were the the federal government if it's 80 million that would be federal dollars that we'd have 20% of that state match so he's releasing 80 million of the state monies but then the federal is going to reimburse us for 80% no because it's not 80 million yeah I think Senator um we want to be sure we get you the correct information so we'll get back to you on that a lot of money yeah could could be going to one a school project it is a it is a total rebuild of a totally new campus yeah I just want to make sure the FED is paying 80% yeah sure we'll get the V vum thank you um yeah thanks uh superintendent the
020you know we talked about Senator County brought up about the school safety and you said it's a different bucket of how how they're appropriating there been a lot of concerns and you saw that um with the in operating or inoperable fire alarms is that funding going to take care of that in numerous schools across least on the big island um once again 10 million is is not it is not part of our budget Center okay is there money there to fix this because this has been brought to my attention we we are um looking at a number of different solutions for that um uh but we will definitely get back to you on the amount additional amount it's a fire alarms definitely is urgent for us uh it is a priority it it um it
021uh speaks to safety of our students so we are moving exper as expeditious expeditiously as we can but we will get back to you on that on that information very soon appreciate that and deliver to the chair thank you okay thank you thank you further questions members thank you thank you move to the top of the agenda Senate Bill 3091 making an emergency appropriation to the Department of Education for Food Services good afternoon chair Vice chair members of the committee curo Deputy superintendent for operations um the department stands on Department stands on its written testimony and support of this bill we appreciate your consideration and happy to answer any questions thank you um Kur what was the cost for Food Services last year the total cost for the Food Services operation is about 100t 56
022million um food cost alone is a approx last year it averaged about 67 million 66.9 9 million so 67 million um our reimbursements on that 67 million from the USDA was approximately 60 million 60.8 million so already we're running at a deficit just on reimbursements from the USDA so the the amount I don't have you have a deficit of $20 million no right because we but that's for what amount I don't have the amount listed here oh okay so uh the Department's expenses are broken down into food costs which primarily was uh used to be about food cost was about 35% pre pandemic of the total operation that has now risen to we're anticipating 50% just food cost food milk um the other expenses are the overhead uh salaries uh Food Services pays for all
023the cafeteria uh staff workers in the schools um the revenue sources that we collect are basically three so uh paid so some students do pay but it's a smaller amount we get reimbursed from the uh USDA and that was a 60.8 million I said um the third is General funds coming from you all so that's that average is about 35 135 million hence the approximately 20211 million shortfall so food and milk costs were 40.4 million is this last year's budget that was last year's bud and then um and it's going to go up to 67 million approximately and I can I can ask our administrator Lindsey Rodriguez to share more detail hello can you hear me oh hello U my name is lindsy rodrig so um the 40.4 million was um in school year 2018
0242019 preceding the pandemic um but it is risen um to 67.1 million as Deputy uro um said and that was for last year it's about 50% now food and milk of our total budget so the 67 million is for both food and milk that's correct okay and so over the past four years it has gone from 40 million to 67 million which is that's correct yes yeah like a 50 plus 50% plus increase and is this typical of across the United States yes with haai yeah yes and just in general with inflation during the pandemic and questions so I know that there's measures are looking at adding breakfast and and lunch and completely free what kind of cost is that would be if we had to add that on the average weight of a cost
025of a meal according to Lyn is about $761 right now so if is free so and you got to remember now what we say 100,000 meals a day it on an annual basis that adds up to like 18 and A5 million meals so every time we serving a meal it it'll cost the state and by Statute we can charge no less than 50% as you know so what portion of that if we were to take out would the would we get reimbursed by the um FDA your state yeah so it's a smaller percentage um about 73% yeah yes but we are looking um I know they're going to be doing a school meal cost study for school year 2425 but hopefully results in um 2027 and so fully that will get us to a higher
026reimbursement I guess this goes back to priorities as to we got to fund what we already committed to and taking on new stuff will just exacerbate yes so um do you get a lot of complaints about school lunches we've heard of some some away a lot of yeah so I I you know what what can we do better to provide lunches that are more satisfactory to our students that they're going to eat yes because it's okay to just throw stuff on the on the tray but half or 75% is going to go in the trash because the students don't like what you're serving I mean what what have you guys done to look at the issue talk to the cafeteria managers students what so we're a large operation um we understand we need to have
027more streamlined ways of communicating and getting that feedback so we have launched a software called neutr SCE part of that software it's a digital dining menu um so you can go to a school website and kind of just see the menus you can see pictures we're starting to add pictures the nutritional information and whatnot and there's also a place for comments and feedback reading the meals and so that's something that we are starting to look at in terms of student feedback um and we also do um when we do add new items to the menu we do get student feedback and whatnot uh so but we are looking at that system to help us be able to put something on the menu That's may be more appealing we are we also looking uh in the
028future at Regional menu planning because we know we serve whole state on a 4-we cycle menu that doesn't serve everyone so looking at maybe different menus for the different districts um food waste is something that we are going to start looking into further um there is a serving um method called offer versus Serve by USDA it was put in place in the 1970s and um required for high schools to implement it and what it does is for lunch for example you have to take five components so your milk your meat your grain Etc fruit and vegetable students can take three out of the five for a reimbursable meal now they're offered all we encourage them to have it but they don't need to take all of them for a reimbursable meal so additional education with
029our schools and whatnot um will help with food waste if they don't want to eat it all and they might think that they need to take it all um and then of course that will help our food expenditures as well do you um do you you ask students what they like to eat or I mean somebody must notice what they're throwing away but you keep serving the same thing well we do change our menus um but yes I that is something that we are going to be looking at more in food waste and but like I mentioned with neutr SCE that is a software that we're using to get feedback and it's Statewide so we're seeing a lot more feedback that way thank you Senator Kim what does it cost us for the these softwares
030and these surveys and stuff so neutr SCE initially was 86,000 um and for every year would be 60,000 60,000 and it's not just for student feedback um we do need to have our menus translated and so that to different languages and so that helps us considerably because otherwise we would have to get translation services which is also costly um it provides information especially for students with special dietary needs that they can just go on and get that information such as um carbohydrate counts and whatnot um I'm sorry but 86,000 60,000 what if it happened to basic like you said oh we're starting to look at Food Wass why is it you starting to look at Food Wass isn't that the first thing you would look at to try to figure out what students are throwing
031away then we don't have to have a software and then what happens to having in classrooms and have a teacher just pass out the paper and say students write down what you thought about the lunch and what would you like to have why do we have have to pay thousands and thousands of dollars to just to get a software and to get and half the kids or more than half the kids are not going to go on there and then you know I understand translation but you know a picture of an orange and a picture of an apple I mean how many translations do we have to get and hire people to translate it so you know we're losing common sense with this world of technology I'm sorry um you know I come from a
032basic and and poor family that I mean $86,000 come on on and that's what I'm talking about when I talk at the superintendent are we looking at priorities where are we placing our priorities I mean you know you cook for your family at home you kind of know you don't have to have a survey to tell you what they like and what they don't like you kind of know the Hawaii kids whether they come from wi or they come from papaa I mean there's you know certain areas would like more Po and others might like more rice but I mean come on this is Hawaii we can't we can't figure this out I think we got to have on S that cost us 60,000 86,000 to tell us all of this stuff software does more
033more than that but no I know but still software can do everything you want it to do but it takes out the human element you know just because the software tells me that my my kid might want to eat this well he's allergic the software doesn't tell you that and he can't eat cheese so I mean these are the kinds of stuff that it's missing and we need to really take a look at that and you know do some some Abacus of something to figure things out instead of going to a u all the 60 it's easy to say but then you folks are short of money and we don't we cannot buy everything sure nice to have and that's a message that we'll carry on there's going to be a training this month um
034superintendent is urging us to do it for why is this message we got to talk to the cafeteria managers right that that's what it's face to face like this and ask exactly what you just asked for I'm sorry I'm I I've been doing this for so many years and I keep hearing the same excuses and stuff and then we just seem to lack basic Common Sense on how we deal with this and deal with our students I mean each teacher can easily survey the kids without having to have them go on a software pass out a little form and say what did you guys think of the lunch today or what did you think of you know these menus I mean what happened to that what happened to each classroom telling the students what's on
035the menu for today having translators okay thank you sure Senator yeah um you've heard the concerns um there was a farm to table initiative in Kohala high that worked quite well cost per serving went up but the overall cost of the food program went down because of the wastage and what um Senator Kim was referring to I know there was a study done I think it was Kansas State where they evaluated the cafeterias there and there was about a 40% food wastage have to imagine that's probably pretty consistent Across the Nation so we already know we have a wastage problem there's supposed to be a big push for the farm to table for doe and we were supposed to have a first blush of what that menu might look like by this legislative session haven't
036seen anything yet we increase the quality of food that we deliver we decrease the wastage I me this is what the Senate is asking why aren't we pushing harder we've already done the Prototype how do we get that going and I you know we'll get into analysis paralysis where we just evaluate evaluate but don't actually do so where are we with the farm to table and how do we make that go further the Kohala pilot um that there was a lot more scratch cooking and local so we are looking um at that in terms of the um report and whatnot that is the legislative report is coming we uh are at 6.14% um local so right now we're looking at this Statewide and how we can add more local to the menu Statewide um I'd
037have to look at the pilot for Kohala to see all of the different characteristics that made that program successful we would have to we could take the waist um piece of it I was not familiar with that I I don't want to waste a lot of time going over it the point is the pilot project was done to give you that information and why do we have to go now look at it we should have already looked at it so um I'm going to ask you to do that and like I said I don't want to waste the committee's time on this but my expectation is that you'll deliver something back to the chair in reasonably short order thank you chair question um so the additional budget that's requested it's how much more than last
038year's budget for Food Services their request last year was 18 million this is 20 million so has the student population increase or is this just food cost or is this because I believe you're also asking for more staff is that correct I an increasing staff no increase in staff but again well the department request is 1998 million plus dollars the the governor's request is 111.5 million that's $86 million difference so I'm I'm baffled as to why it was cut so much did they go through the budget and see something that we're not seeing yeah you know that that was a unfortunate reduction um and so food cost was one of them Summer Schools another um so we're not asking to increase staff in Lindsay's area they only have 30 30 30 FD the other staff
039that that she's paying for is in the the schools and we're evaluating that as well maybe the levels need to be adjusted uh can you please provide this committee with the the cost from uh last year so you can take another look at this thank you ask one more quick question the software that cost those $86,000 how long ago did you purchase it last year just last year so from now on going for 60 okay I'm going to have you cons reconsider that because I'm going to ask you about that next sure too $60,000 is an annual salary for somebody to pay for a software okay we'll write up something for you software thank you sure Senator faill what is the kids are paying for lunch today why is the kids lunch they paying for
040today so for breakfast it's $110 and for lunch it's 250 for up to 8th grade grade and 275 for high school teachers lunch 550 550 when you get um just wanted to just get a comment so my colleagues know I was a custodian at Campbell High School I didn't understand the concept of taking every single item I was against that because I seen all the vegetables all the fruits all the milk they didn't even like the mean corks they take a bite youw everything in a rubbish can so I don't and and I'm with Senator Kim and spending this kind of money when you guys can get the data from the schools so kids got bu buckets donated by the Lions Club and they did their own survey on waste a lot of schools do
041that did you guys even look into the schools and had programs that look into school waste on how much food is being wasted I know you guys don't look at the kids as customers um probably not but I understand we got to eat well feed well and do well but the kids go home and eat pizza burritos drink juice so I understand the federal mandates and all this but we got to end up to our customers kids are the customers we got to make sure they eat what we or they like to eat regardless of what we think is good for them because if they not eating that at home how you going to duplicate one apple if I want to eat so you and rice or parking beans and hot dog how you going
042to make one kid eat what you guys are providing so I don't understand what you was explaining and I wasn't here the whole time on what what is the real need for a program that costes that much and and what is the concept and what do you guys trying to accomplish with all that money being spent on one program when you simply can go like this and we get Kansas here each school to do the L survey every senior a class doing survey and get that from the kids they was weighing it every bucket how much waste there was only one class yeah I counted 562 apples thr away that was one building and I did that on purpose not knowing I was going to be the senator but I had a problem with food
043weeks cuz we get elderly in the community that could use it so how is this program going to help a community like Ela Beach to promote them to eating all their stuff on the plate because you can have all the surveys and all what you like nobody going to click I want salad so how is that going to really I mean I wasn't here sorry Senator Kim but how is that going to right so that's that's a great Point thank you um so looking at let's take fruit we could be doing more surveys that maybe are more targeted on okay what kind of fruit how do you want the fruit how do you want it cut um we do also have to look at cafeteria sta prep staff prep time and whatnot but these are
044all good ideas and so maybe we can focus then on maybe specific items if we're seeing and targeting all the apples going in the trash how do we get the kids we do have to offer fruit everyone I think knows that it's part of the federal requirement but what kind of fruit do they want to have how do they want to eat it and then also educating them on the offer versus serve method which is not having to take every single component and then regionalizing menus we think that that's going to be really important so what was the requirement you said what what was the requirement why they have to take everything what was that requirement for so we have to offer five for lunch as an example state federal federal federal we have to
045offer for lunch five different components fruit is one of them um and so apples could be one idea we do sometimes say Okay fresh fruit managers can choose they can work with their students to see you know maybe what they want on the plate more and that's a way to reduce waste um offer versus serve as I mentioned uh where they don't have to choose everything they choose three out of the five components to be able to get reimbursable that was also implemented years ago to in an effort to reduce waste but I think just regionalizing menus getting knowing what the kids may be in L District when in the district they might want different things how much money does the federal give for a lunch program 67 million 67 million how much the state
046I'm sorry 60 60 million 60 million how cost 67 million how much the state the state is is million so majority is from the feds yes so what about now when you come with this program and you get the money for this program how is they going to collaborate with our farm to table for the the 20 million you mean oh when you have this program how is it going to collaborate when for form to table oh we're Focus growing our own food and right so we're focusing on the legislative goals so the 30x30 um and so Statewide looking at how we're going to be be able to increase that and so looking at it from just different food commodities and how we can add that onto the menu and then in the different districts
047seeing if there's certain food commodities that are available in certain districts how we can get those on the menu we need to educate our our students on the value of of nutrition right in general we've seen that in other schools and so if they know what components are there and make it part of the educational process then when they go and eat it then they'll know they'll be more comfortable instead of just seeing it on the plate right right so these are things that we but I agree with you we got to survey the kids so the reason why I bring this up um I never come this fat because I atat school lunch um the school lunch when I atat the school lunch you know we work it off as kids right the Pizza
048the cookies the whatever we get in sports I never gain weight till I got on a high school just two years ago um but what I'm saying is I understand the federal mandate but we need to Advocate to legislation in in Washington DC that Hawaii is different our kids are different we eat different our Styles and ethnicity is different it's not a one blanket not everybody is Michelle Obama you know what I mean I understand her her concept and I think it was a great concept but it doesn't fit all the federal mandate should fit the state and the state should dictate on the federal what we should have the kids eat not because you know Michelle Obama said you got to have the Apple the juice the milk the cookie but have they fill
049the plate half is in the rubbish can so that's something that I guess you know maybe you guys can help us um before you guys ask for a program like this work with the delegates and see we can custom make our food in Hawaii that we can have more tarot po look at adding yeah yeah great G be happy okay thank you sorry one one quick thing I'm just want to caution you you you made some comments about what they want how they want it cut we can't get you got to watch that we don't get into the Leeds how they want it cut come on some of these things got to be made by the professionals or the people doing it and so you know so be careful when you when you say these
050kinds of things because then it costs more to have a cut a special way um sorry I didn't mean I just meant that sometimes if we serve it whole maybe that's going to reduce the likelihood of them eating it but you can you can know that if you seeing being thrown away and you know it's easier to bite things if it's smaller so again Common Sense comes into a lot of this stuff so you know let's not burden them with how would you like to see food cut I mean come on right don't forget to u u yeah but lot of kids don't like the tast moving on thank you thank you um Senate Bill 3092 making an emergency appropriation to the Department of Education for Charter Schools um Brian aloh CH kadani Vice chair
051c members Brian h prot fiscal Services uh we stand on a written tone testimony and support of this Administration bill for emergency appropriation current year appropriation thank you Brian can you explain the 4% growth that uh for the public charter schools is that um a new count is that anticipated or is that an actual count I believe you're you're referring to the attachment that was um on the last page of Our Testimony yes I don't I didn't calculate the percentage growth but if you're looking at the uh the first grouping of numbers at the top the appropriation was based on a projected enrollment and then we do a trup based on an actual October 15th count so it was October 15 2023 that reflects their actual enrollment and it it was higher than projected as
052was the du's enrollment was higher than projected but the essentially to summarize why there's additional funding required because the department had to transfer $6.6 million to Charter Schools to maintain per pup funding at a comparable level um there were a couple of flaws with with the way the appropriation was set so when the true up happened it was much higher than than historical experience this year uh one one reason was uh enrollment count was low for for charter schools and just the calculation was a little bit off so but this was just found out this past year or was this something that happened previous years as far as I think previous years we we've been within plus or minus a million dollars um in any other direction either Charter Schools sending doe or due sending
053Charter Schools this year I think it was is a one-time hopefully a one-time error in in how the appropriation was made for edn 600 the department is is working more closely with with both budget and finance and the money committees share spreadsheets similar to this to hopefully ensure the calculation follows statute okay so um what is the doe growth uh this year do you know I I apologize I I don't know off the top of my head okay but what is okay then what is the uh um percent of funding requirements that you're asking additional percentage over last years oh with the with the $198 million request that's something that we can provide the committee and and as we talked about it at the in the budget briefing um it's it's really not a plus
054198 million because we actually have less money next year than we we have this year in our appropriation yeah so I'm assuming that this also takes into consideration the uh King 3 School the the the need to replace that school um that's that's not so much a factor that may have contributed to to some of the impact on the October 15th count date and and why the numbers were they were as they were U maybe perhaps on the charter school side we saw some increase there um on Maui more than was anticipated um but I I I can't estimate at this point the the amount okay members further questions if not thank you Brian thank you okay okay moving on to senville oh yes sorry sorry didn't mean to skip you Alou president hsta uh
055chair Vice chair Malo I just want to say before I start on this one if we wanted to talk about the school lunches we have a whole bunch of students here who I think could provide some insight as to you know what they like and don't like I saw them like anxious to have their voice piz anxious to have their voices heard maybe so possibly um with regards cheat to our offices and oh with regards to this bill we just want to say that we're in support um the charter schools are growing 4% and they deserve um proportionally what they deserve relative to the doe um and they already struggle as it is so anything any help we can provide our charges please model thank youa members questions thank you sure please hi everyone I'm
056Trinity I am a public charter school teacher out on the West Side um I just wanted to kind of give an insight to those of us or to those of youall who may not have the perspective of how public charter schools work and we are the newest public charter on island and it ends up being something where we're constantly looking for Grants constantly looking for funding um and luckily our staff are well um connected and are able to get grants um but for the sake of equity you know we might consider how what about those charter schools that are starting up that aren't well connected like where does that money come from for their new facilities you know and our charter school started out next to an orange therapy like in a strip mall right
057um and so giving you know facilities for charter school so that they can feel students can feel a sense of Pride for where they are I think is highly important um I think it's important that that is an additional fund and then we're not taking that away from say full doe schools thank you thank you good afternoon Tiffany Edwards hunt I'm actually a teacher at K Middle School on the big island however I did a stent of teaching at all of the Puna charter schools and I'm a charter school parent who brought my kids over to doe the reason why I chose for my kids to initially go to Charter School was more freedom for things like Farm to Table and um as a result of the inadequate infrastructure I decided to change my path
058for my own kids and my teaching um I was one of the teachers that was pushing around a cart to teach uh at kol Okala public charter school after after the lava inundated um the KU Okala campus in koho and before that we were able to be in the low E and be able to um teach and really give the students kilo so there's a lot of amazing things that are going on at the charter schools there's amazing teachers um having elementary school children use porta potties is a nightmare and so we have to do better as estate and you are so on point as a custodian's um point of view looking at the food waste we have to do better thank you for your critical questioning um we it's time to get real these
059are our kids and um I appreciate your scrutiny I also believe that we need to adequately fund things we need to prioritize and we need to get real thank you so much Aloha thank you I just can I say something I just want to say that if if our do schools had to struggle like our our charter schools in prioritizing and making do what they have then I think maybe we would have more efficiency so thank you hope mck Hilo Hilo uh born and raised in Hilo um strong Public School advocate I did most of my teaching career in Hawaii emerg school started in White Elementary at kapuni there moved to Hilo um taught at k for 14 years um and I understand the struggle of charter schools cuz what ends up happening is the
060the defun of doe schools ends up sending these students into Charter Schools but Charter Schools don't have the same Services nor they offered the same Services many times by the doe it's a struggle to get those services for our Ki there's so many reasons as he was speaking why these schools need that money it's because parents are unhappy in doe schools and they move them to Charter Schools mid year but the charter schools don't have that money for that kid so it gets really sticky on another note um there is amazing Innovation happening at our charter schools and that same Innovation should be happening in our department schools it shouldn't be left to the charter schools to have that Innovation all of our teachers should be given that opport opportunity to have that Innovation and
061one critical question thank you guys so much for asking those critical questions about the food should be asked is there a food and beverage person working in that office that actually understands how Food Works because just so happened I ended up with a food and beverage person and when he seen the meals that I would send him from my students he was like who is planning that menu is there a food and beverage person and Kohala was successful because they had a chef on board and he made that successful so I know sometimes it's a lot to pay for but it's our Kiki and it's their food so M thank you anyone else wishing to testify on this issue thank you moving on um we are on Senate Bill 3207 relating to education and increases
062the superintendent of education's salary to not more than $350,000 and I think that's worded incorrectly this is not a bill to increase the superintendent salary this is a bill to increase the cap and could it could but I I think that uh um if you look at some of the the schools on the mainland where they're much higher than that I think uh this allows um and if we don't increase the cap now [Music] got it shall be anyway there was a a statute June if we don't repeal by June 30th 2024 the current salary cap will revert back to $150,000 that's the main reason we're doing this okay so um we have someone to testify on this is there anyone here to testify on Senate Bill 3207 oh thank you okay Brian re okay
063who who are they pointing at students oh Warren Haruki please board board chair I didn't see him sitting back there good afternoon chair kidani Vice chair of Kim good afternoon members of the committee I'm Warr heri chairperson of the Board of Education We Stand by um our written testimony and strong support of this Bill and as you just um clarified Senator kidani this um raises cap is it does not confirm a raise on the incumbent Superintendent at the moment um so I'll stand by for any questions you may have the current cap is what 250 250 and what the salary is now 240 240 you folks recently um denied a raise we deferred we defer taking action on that and that was from how much to get it to the cap to get it to
064350 no 250 to 250 2 250 yeah okay so you anticipate revisiting that we are undergoing um we were're trying to utilize a compensation consultant rather than relying on the Department of Education staff to make recommendations so and how much is that consultant going to costess we don't know the RFP just went out yesterday I know again why do we have to just put a consultant to tell us how much we should be pay well these these Consultants specialize in the K12 field so we're going to see what they come back with can't you do a survey across the country I mean just because they that's what they say doesn't mean that's what we should be paying right correct we we we're asking for much more information than just a simple survey they need to
065look at uh the breath and the scope of each of these positions the positions include the superintendent the deputies assistant superintendents and the complex area superintendents many of these positions may carry the same title but their responsibilities very differently so if the study comes out saying that we should be paying them 400,000 or 500,000 what's the board going to do we're not going to it's just going to give us a range that does not mean we're go to that spot no but I'm just saying that lot of times we get these studies and stuff and they tell us stuff and then we either agree or disagree with it but I'm just saying we're going to spend all this money it's GNA come out and then it's a justification I mean yeah okay so we we
066still say here and this bill will help do this that we need to continue to keep the evaluation requirement for the board to annually review the performance of the superintendent okay I just so we just said we recently we were behind the calendar this year and because of the wildfires and a lot of turnover and staff but we did uh establish the target goals for the superintendent recently and come towards the end of this school year we will be doing an evaluation of the performance I'm going to go on record I don't support hiring a consultant cost to tell us how much we should be PID I think that's something we could figure out than on the B of Education meeting um came up for the for his raise how much percent of uh the
067maximum of the raise that the superintendent high on how much percent what percent is the 10 10,000 over the 240 no what I'm saying is okay so what I was what I heard when I came to testify in opposition to that race was that he came up with um like 75% of his raise already that's why you guys wanted to just give him the 10% at that time was it the 10% was it 10% no it was $10,000 okay $10,000 ,000 it was something less than 4% I want to say it's like 3.8% so as as um you said in the cap higher I know a lot of confusion in the community thinking that after today the bill pass that's what you guys going to start paying him um soon as the bill become long
068um what is the parameters of this we set this cap at this point what the parameters that this is not going to be Revisited uh on the board or in legislation two years from now to make home 500,000 yeah sen my my understanding is this the the current cap of 250,000 was established 10 years ago and at that time 10 years ago it was 150,000 so it increased 10 years ago by 100,000 to the current cap of 250 and this proposal is to use that same $100,000 to get to 350 so it was a 10-year interval that statutorily you the set the legislature would review the cap excuse me the only reason why I said that is because the there's just kind of confusing on that you know we know 10 years uh and the
069cap and and the percentage but again um it's a big table yeah I mean there's plenty other parameters in there so I just like to know because this is coming from uh teachers in my district um how is it um an even playing field for the other uh people that is on the food chain how high are um are this going to go and then how we going to be able to explain to our teachers or other administrators CES what what going forward on what kind parameters that we're going to set for them what is the cap or what is the increase that they never get some of my colleagues told me before I came here they never get paid for over 10 years in raise or maybe more those are the parameters we saying
070that you're going to hire a consultant to look into him well we was apparently was uh due for raises before I came here and they didn't take it the Judiciary uh the governor's office everybody else took their pay raise icept the legislators yeah because it wasn't good on the taxpayers or the people's perspective of the pay raise so they didn't take it but again we're talking about 10 years I go for that so that going to be the standard for everything across the board because I understand that don't get me wrong 10 years is a long time ago but that kind of money did you guys look it into any other positions within the doe on how they set those scales because I'm pretty sure all the cazes and everybody body in the room all
071get paid differently um you know Heidi and Sean and everybody get paid differently so I just want to know how is this is going to set a precedence after I's say he's going to get the money and a community not everybody understands that but I want to say we support we support this 10 years from now 500,000 600,000 more than the governor and the president I mean what I'm saying is that if I support something like this it has to have more of a parameters that have a 10year um Time Life yeah cuz me that's a lot of money correct yeah so that that's just my take so if you can let me know on how you guys set other positions beside the superintendent I mean I know that's big whatever you can I think
072you've been very um present at a lot of these board meetings so thank you we did Cover the uh complex area superintendent and assistant superintendent and Deputy superintendent recently and those were they were increased um you if you recall there's been a lot of collective bargaining increases so they got um pretty similar percentages in the case of the superintendent though the $10,000 was something in the order of 37 or 3.8% his proposal was the least amount that was being requested and actually he was the last person Within entire department to have any kind of compensation increase put before us um the other ramification of this bill as Cher kidani recently mentioned is that there is a statute section 302a 621 that says that the salaries of the Deputy superintendent assistant superintendent and complex area superintendents
073shall be set by the board provided that the salaries of these positions shall not exceed the superintendent salary so if the if this bill that we're contemplating right now doesn't go through the current statute has a Sunset date of June 30th and if it doesn't get changed then it reverts to $150,000 which is 10 years ago so virtually everybody in those three classifications of Executives within the doe would proba would have a pay raise because nobody can be higher than the superintendent than 150 so this is a critical Bill thank you thank you for thank you chair other questions members um just follow up and I appreciate the comments of me and chair I do appreciate your clarification on the bill uh and I to some degree this is a housekeeping Bill to to make
074sure things I got that coming forth however this also gets a venue for the public to State their feelings about what's going on and that's what we are talking about here we hear from our community we hear from our um our students and our teachers the frustration level and so though I get the the housekeeping portion of this this allows the conversation of the bigger picture which is what is problematic here and that's that's why I think we all as senators are listening very carefully um I know we have to do something but this is also giving a way for people to talk about this so I hope the board is listening very carefully to the people as well okay thank you chair thank you questions thank you thank you Warren Aloha my name is
075l Paulo a high school student in Hawaii I'm testifying opposition of Senate Bill 3207 I'm only a senior but I'm well aware that the funds of his salary already more than sufficient the research have conducted the state of California superintendent is paid $300,000 but has a public school student count of 5 million students however Hawaii only has 170,000 I understand that his job is important but so is the job of our Educators who salary barely scratches the surface of $100,000 so why can't we increase their cap not only that but why don't we also take into consideration the bus situations they're expensive over $500 for one round trip but the average class size needs two or three so and they're very barely available so why can we also fund our Ki why can't we give
076them a bigger cap Mahala for your time what was your name please Lauren Pole thank you is Anella K here Angela Melody young Vanessa art Leonard Naka Alisa hamasaki Nikki hey open my you hear me yes okay you going hear me cuz hey um I told you against this um $350,000 to one guy one guy you guys all bring out the the L fire and all that kind stuff yeah that's how you got like fun all these guy yeah but you guys just um the school bus just got discontinued for the dis Place Hawaiian from L they got move to K now they going to display this continue the bus service to get this kid to L and then you're going to give this guy hundred more thousand I don't care 10 years whatever you
077guys give that sad story you try do $100,000 in the freaking out of the 250 that's over 40% at 40% gain okay I I'm I used to be a new rep hey I know about this union pay what they get a half% 1% all the kind stuff now I give this guy 40 some per in 10 years that still adds up to like 5% each year okay and um plus this guy he brand new he brand new so what you give him I don't know how he got $10,000 to begin with he if he wanted the position he get that position and whatever pay it is and then he got a deserve to get one 10,000 rate and then you got give him hundred more thousand oh my God you wait up the floor I
078go come to over there present and be present and represent the people of ma and mad but we piss off okay guys hear me coming thank you thank you we're not giving him a raise we're raising the cap yeah I know the cap that's talking about the cap 10 years what 10 years years ago you want question hello thank you um where am [Laughter] I I guess that was l in the AL Alysa hamasaki uh aniki Michelle Piper and Lauren Michelle hello chair Vice chair and committee members who serve the public I oppose Senate Bill 3207 as a teacher of 24 years witnessing firsthand the social and economic hardships of our community indoors I find the proposed superintendent pay increase misalign with our current realities over 6,000 individuals are homeless on Maui a mental health
079crisis a consistent rise in fentol cases and inflation that has escalated the cost of basic needs the challenges compounded by the displacement of residents due to non-resident land purchases demand our urgent attention and resources during the Furlow Fridays I alongside my fellow Educators accepted a pay cut contributing to the state's recovery efforts it was a shared sacrifice for the greater good in these trying times when our community faces multifaceted crisis allocating funds for a pay increase at the administrative level seems out of touch with the immediate reality and the needs of our people I urge us to redirect our focus and re resources towards supporting the most vulnerable Among Us and improving our educational infrastructure ensuring every child and Ohana has the support they need now is the moment for Collective sacrifice and unity not
080for enhancing administrative compensation let's prioritize the well-being of our community and lead by example showing that we all are committed to navigating these challenging times I am a teacher um my name is Michelle Piper at nanakuli high school um thank you for allowing me to speak and if I can I just want to add on I do compost food scraps at nanakuli high school the students do and you're going to have to work on getting the custodians on the janitors to do it because nobody will do it so I already know we diverted 10,600 last school year and that's just one little tiny School imagine what all the other schools are doing the students weigh the buckets weigh the data put it into the calendar and they can see what waste is matching up with
081what meal was that day so I have a lot of data and this is going on for the third year I'm actually on sabatico right now so thank you for allowing me to jump on and still continue to work for the Department of Education and the students of our of our Hawaii Mahalo Mahalo thank you Michelle Lauren is there a Lauren who wanted to speak thank you anyone else here wishing to speak on this measure hi folks this is Trinity again um proud public school graduate k through2 i Now teach at a public charter school out in Eva Beach um I think I I understand Senator you speaking on this is a conversation about about the cap of a salary um but I think it also comes down to a question of values and who
082in our education system we value um I'm going to tell a story about one of my co-teachers during my first year of teaching I spoke to my math co- teer sixth grade I was teaching spe special education and I asked her what is your advice for me as a young teacher and she said don't do it she said don't get out and her reason for that she says you know I went to uh I got my teaching degree I'm still in debt and she is in her 40s she has two kids sent them off to school um and I said well what's going to happen she says I'm not getting rid of this like this is my life I'm going to be in debt till till the end of my life um and so having
083that perspective you know and as someone who hears teacher stories all the time when I hear that teachers are living out of their cars are moving away from the island cuz they can't afford to live here in the place where they grew up and when they have this debt that is falling them until they die I find it disheartening that we're having a conversation about someone who already has a six-digit salary getting more um again it's raising the cap not raising consider if the cap stayed reverted to that 150 um that's that's a lot that's three times my salary so um I think that'll be okay I think people will survive um we are teachers we are here we are hurting um I want to emphasize that and to bring our attention down to who
084we prioritize within our education system thank you for your time thank you thank you uh for your time share and everyone you guys are very busy uh a couple key points my name is Ryan Luther and I oppose uh the SP 3207 I am aware that it's just raising but just before we heard about SB 2635 which we're exceeding the ceiling so I mean if we don't have to raise anything right now and move anything I think that'd be a betterment then I heard someone talk about a an HRS code something about how we needed to make this happen before it changes something like there's kind of a deadline um I did read about in 2018 there was uh try to do an amendment from the constitution of Hawaii to try to get more appropriate
085funds from taxation of certain properties um investment properties I think there's other avenues that we can look at first before we just initially just raise something and not just that the this year I mean the last couple years we've hired two assistant Deputy superintendant um I think at 196,000 um he did that they said the minimum was 10 grand it was the max he could do was 10,000 in his first year without even doing that so we've already gotten our raise to the superintendent already um then there were some things in this bill where we verbiage wise they said it didn't need to happen instantly but they struck out on page 3 8 through1 13 which says finish contracts they're not going to finish the contract that's current so it's kind of showing me that
086they're ready to do it right now I mean why wouldn't you just finish your contract now then there was another thing I had questions I would like uh to be looked at or deferred until it's answered you have 12 through 14 on page one says provide that nothing shall prohibit the Boe from conditioning or proportion of of the salary on performance so what's what would prohibit what percentage of the salary equals a portion under the conditions what elements describe of performance is that academic how how are we how are we evaluating um that's a there a broad term because I have some evaluations being involved with the school district the last couple years and there is a lot of fault as you guys are hearing and aware of so I I would uh like this
087defer this just because of those open-ended questions it doesn't specify if the funds are coming out of the general funds which I believe it is we've already exceeded the ceiling so I I do believe that looking into other there are other avenues that can be looked at than just automatically raising this because something else is going to happen conditionally um with the complex superintendence but again you know it's as far as this bill goes you know it's I do strongly oppose it and I I just know that exceeding the baill is just not the right time to do it so and again just as I stated earlier the statute requires that it revert back to 150,000 if we don't do does it does right but I don't know what happened with the 2018 looking for
088funds I know statutes can be revised as well multiple times HRS codes are always revised you strike out and you go look at so that's not an excuse just to make that reason there's other avenues that we can look at in be proactive with versus just you know allowing them just to do it because something might happen so I appreciate your time Meers your efforts questions thank you all okay we have to be out of here in 20 20 minutes yeah go ahead hi my name is Sarah toiki I'm a middle school band director uh 16 years in the public schools here in Hawaii born and raised in Hawaii uh I think there's a lot of fixation on the $350,000 number and I understand that because it's quite alarming I also understand the logic behind
089it so I'm not going to I'm not going to talk about that number although I do feel like $350,000 as a teacher who has been in the the system for 16 years who has colleagues that are living four people into in a 700t condo is is alarming because that's a lot of money that that could be spent uh going to the people who are in the schools what I want to focus on is the efficacy of the evaluation system that we're going to be using that this this bill is supposed to be setting forth that the the Board of Education will evaluate because I just listen to an entire 45 minutes of testimony asking questions about decisionmaking and I have strategic plan fatigue as a teacher too much strategic plans and to be honest if
090there were no super attendant but there were students and teachers learning would happen and it would actually probably be better than if there's some strategic plan that's completely out of touch of what reality is and we are completely out of touch of the students that we have because students on Ki are very different than students on neow even though the islands are right next to each other and so therefore how are we really evaluating the superintendent and I'm going to tell you the number one way that you can evaluate the superintendent I'm kind of glad that the Board of Ed chair is here and I'm not sure about the r rules regarding whether I'm supposed to talk to you or anyway but hopefully somebody's listening that the the happiness and the stress level of the
091teachers and the EAS and the cafer workers and the custodians and the administrators that should be how we evaluate how schools are effectively run by the superintendent because if we have strategic plan after strategic plan after choosing new programs that doesn't matter as much as how much we have to be here than you um so yeah I'm going to limit the testimony to a minute so we can get out of here on time so if anybody else wants to speak come forward what she said you heard it today consultant after consultant after strategic plan we could teach so much better can you state your name please oh gosh so sorry for the lack of formality to Tiffany Edwards hunt and we have as hsta as amongst our priorities trying to put a teacher on the
092board of education and we might be able to have these conversations at the Board of Education if that were to happen but because we don't here we are and thank you Senator Richards for saying that poignant comment about something like this even though it's it's a cap right this is where we get to have that conversation and we get to get real and my colleague from Ki she said it best so we're going to honor your time but we're over here going amen sister amen so thank you aloha aloha thank you hi Senator I called your office to sign up to speak and you didn't call my name I'm sorry what's your name please Julie ryaz go ahead Julie good afternoon members of the Senate education committee my name is Julie ra Oda a teacher
093at non high in intermediate and I strongly oppose s SP 3207 the bill is about far more than increas in the cap for the superintendent by 40% from 250 to 350,000 when superintendent Hayashi initially got this job the Board of Education agreed to pay him 96% of the cap as part of a three-year contract except less than halfway during the contract one of the board members got an idea to Max him out when the state didn't even have to we're in a close-ended contract with him he's only 10,000 away from making the max anyways and the board seems to have a lot of aloh when it comes to a superintendent or appointed leader pay do you remember what the public thought of the city council pay raises of 64% and that was just for them
094to break over a 100 Grand what would the public think of this please keep in mind we don't use Consultants or Mainland comparables for the rest of the dewe employees regardless of the title or how much turnover is I have never seen a lack of applicants for Superintendent at that original salary also for a perspective the governor makes a little over 100 a little under 185,000 we need to keep the conversation on the lack of funding for schools a bill like this goes against funding schools vote no on this bill or amend it to 250,000 thank you thank you was there anyone else online I can't see a name okay go ahead state your name please can hear you hi is it my turn yes hi my name is Alisa hamaki I would like to
095oppose this bill um I would like to um just copy and mimic everything that everybody else said um previously stated from the kaai teachers and from Ryan Luther um I would like to just have a more have more of a discussion about raising this cap and if it is possible to continue just having it at 250,000 um we do need to look into more of what we can do at a school level and for our students of hobai instead of um increasing the pay for our superintendent so thank you for your time thank you is there anyone else SE hello chair kidani Vice chair Kim members of the committee Shanta complex area superintendent for the Campo cap complex area testifying on behalf of the 15 complex area superintendents of the Hai State Department of Education
096we are in strong support of Senate Bill 3207 our superintendent Keith Hayashi oversees the largest Department in the state of Hawaii he has a magnitude of responsibility and oversight is tremendous he continues to successfully lead the department with a strong sense of purpose and focus uh superintendent hasashi continues to receive strong support from our school administrators and that's based on his strategic decision making and decisive leadership in supporting our public public educational system the 15 compx area superintendents appreciate the Senate's consideration are grateful for the opportunity to provide testimony in support of Senate Bill 3207 thank you thank you Sean members questions thank you I think that's the last testifier we have we have one more bill that it question sure sure so all the phone calls I was getting TR to explain to them
097um I understand you said um keep um as the largest department but when I looked at this about the cap and the falling back to 200 something, whatever I never take in consider ation of anything to do with him I know a lot of people don't you know have the same ideas as him and not everybody likes him for whatever reason when I looked at the bill I didn't looked at it as the person I just looked at it as a sense of going forward and that's why I just was understanding I understand you said that he has the largest um department but I looked at it as a point that um had nothing to do with him getting the raise cuz you guys know I opposed the board of education pay raise um for
098the facts of what we had talked about so that's the reason why when I was trying to explain teachers and constituents that it wasn't playing the part of him getting the money but then what is the parameters that we going set if we go forward and he not in a position somebody else come and want 500,000 we have no superintendent I want to make sure if we do go or we we do decide whichever way it doesn't matter and we going to make sure that it doesn't keep Rising every 10 years because like some of the teachers and people had said earlier you know what are we putting first what are we letting our children know the priority so those are the things that I just wanted to share a little bit on thank you
099Senator um just to add to I totally agree with you on that and I think my testimony I tried to keep it concise and so I wanted to make sure I got in um testimony about superintendent hayashi's performance and um I agree that you know this bill moving forward it will potentially affect the current superintendent but it's many need to look forward at Future superintendent because Keith won't be the superintendent forever and ever um I think I think the cap is Justified the raising the cap is Justified for his performance and I think for moving forward we always talk about um making the salary attractive to attract the best and brightest um we also don't want to send the message that we want to attract people who want necessarily a high salary who are not
100a good fit for the position I think the flip side of that that that I think about is what I would hate to miss out on if there is somebody who's qualified for the position and is a good fit doesn't want to apply because it's not financially worth their while to do that so I think as far as attracting people I would rely on the selection committee to find the appropriate person but I also wanted to make the salary attractive enough that if there is somebody out there who is the best fit that it is worth their while to apply for the position I totally respect your comments yeah the only thing for me is that okay so it's attracted at 350,000 um keate leaves what is the attraction now 400,000 see that's the part
101that I kind of confus with the bill is because it's not again we keep but if we set one cap how long the cap is going to be set for 20 years forever you know what I mean I mean everybody's economy teachers us everybody got to go according to go inflation and what we understand that but having the skills tipped the way it is at this time with the L of fires and everything going forward you know I just you know what everybody was say and that's the reason why I Tred to keep out uh Keat as a whole and how we're going to go forward with the cap being 350 thank you chair thank you Sean thank you I I don't want to prolong this so I wasn't going to ask your question but
102you know when you keep talking about performance and the fact that you know all the CES and support them but what about the Performance Based on the teachers based on the students based on how they feel do they support it I mean can it be just based on the administration portion so it seems you know what I'm saying so when you talk about performance it shouldn't just be based on what you guys think and what you support but what about all the schools and everybody else so you cannot you know have your ignore that portion of it sure thank you senat I think everybody has a opportunity to share testimony I'm I'm sharing on behalf of the 15 CES who work directly within um yeah but you folks have to serve the we have to
103serve the the students and the the teachers and the public out there feels that Doe is top heavy I'm sorry that's how they feel stop heavy pay compared to what they have on the bottom level so thank you further questions members thank you we are in recess reconvening the committee on education the committee has met to decision make and starting with Senate Bill 3091 recommendation is to pass in Bill 3091 with technical amendments that are nons subst itive on Senate Bill oh okay sorry for the vote U well also to make um statements in the committee report regarding surveys and um assessments being done within the schools and not necessarily utilizing Consultants or software that's going to have reoccurring costs and that will be in the committee report right okay for the vote the recommendation
104is Senate Bill 3091 be uh passed with amendments chair votes I chair votes I Vice chair votes I Senator Hashimoto I Senator Richards I Senator FLL I five members present all voting and the affirmative recommendations adopted thank you and for Senate Bill 392 also recommendation is to pass with technical amendments that are non-substantive okay recommendation pass Senate Bill 2092 3092 with amendments chair vote by Vice chair V side uh any members voting with reservations any members in opposition if not all five members in affirmative recomendations adopted thank you and for Senate Bill 3207 the recommendation of the chair and the committee is to uh increase the superintendent superintendent of Education salary to cap not the salar yeah the cap I'm sorry to not more than $300,000 not $350,000 and makes permanent the annual performance evaluation
105requirements any check amendments um we did we have Tech no Tech amendments okay recommendation is to pass Senate Bill 3207 with amendments changing the 350 to 300 uh any member voting no any member voting with reservations you're chair no I'm sorry yeah I was going to vote no on the 350 but you we have to have a eal medium um I was cing for a 250 but 300 is okay so I'm going to vote with a red reservations okay I had similar thoughts but fine anyone else work voting reservations yeah um V CH I'll be voting with reservations for the same reasons that Senator flla expressed Okay so two reservations anyone else if not your recommendations adopted M chair thank you and for the final agenda uh item Senate Bill 2635 recommendation is to pass
106as is any members voting no any members voting with reservations hearing not all five members in affirmative recommendations adopt okay we are adjourned thank you members