Ige picks volunteers for group drafting public schools ‘blueprint’

Gov. David Ige has named volunteers to serve on an advisory group he’s charged with developing a “blueprint” for Hawaii public schools that is consistent with a new federal law that gives states more authority over public education.

The federal legislation — called the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA — replaces No Child Left Behind and significantly shifts the balance of control over education policy away from the federal government and back to states. It covers topics including school accountability, teacher evaluations, student testing and support for struggling schools, and is scheduled to be fully implemented in the 2017-18 school year.

Ige has said his so-called “ESSA team” will ultimately be responsible for assessing the current public school system and identifying areas of need.

The governor announced earlier this month that retired principal Darrel Galera, who now heads the Education Institute of Hawaii think tank, would chair the advisory group.

The other members, announced this afternoon, include educators, community members, lawmakers and business executives. The governor’s office said members were selected by Ige based on recommendations and applications.

“Our goal,” Ige said in a statement, “was to get a good cross-section of stakeholders with diverse backgrounds and experiences. The work of the ESSA team will be an inclusive process that will involve town meetings and a summit to allow all to participate.”

The group held its first meeting today, but it was not open to the public. The governor’s office said in a news release that meeting minutes will be distributed to the Legislature, DOE and Board of Education, and will be posted online at governor.hawaii.gov.

The members are:

• Philip Bossert, Director of Strategic & International Program, Hawaii Association of Independent Schools
• Catherine Caine, teacher, Waikiki Elementary
• Kamanaopono Crabbe, CEO, Office of Hawaiian Affairs
• Darrel Galera, executive director, Education Institute of Hawaii
• Keith Hayashi, principal, Waipahu High
• Sen. Michelle Kidani, chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee
• Brennan Lee, Board of Education student member
• Ann Mahi, Department of Education complex area superintendent, Waianae/Nanakuli
• Hubert Minn, retired teacher, Board of Education member
• Lauren Moriguchi, executive director, state Office of Early Learning
• Steve Nakasato, principal, Pearl Ridge Elementary
• Alan Oshima, president/CEO, Hawaiian Electric Co.
• Catherine Payne, chairwoman, state Public Charter Schools Commission
• Amy Perruso, teacher, Mililani High
• Stacey Roberts, professor, chair of the Educational Administration Program at the University of Hawaii
• Carol Shikada, DOE educational specialist
• Linda Takayama, director, state Department of Labor & Industrial Relations
• Stephen Terstegge, parent, Castle High School
• Rep. Takashi Ohno, vice chairman of the House Education Committee