Governor chooses new BOE members

Remember when debate raged over whether the state Board of Education should be appointed or elected? It’s now nearly eight years since Hawaii voters, in the fall 2010 elections, decided to switch the board to a governor-appointed body. The theory was to create a direct line of accountability, from the governor to public-education performance.

It could be debated today if that switch has brought significant improvements. At any rate, Gov. David Ige this week made three new appointments to the nine-member, policy-making school board: former teacher and principal Catherine Payne and University of Hawaii administrator Dwight Takeno, with current board member Margaret Cox being reappointed.

Seeking to expand retirement savings plans

Hawaii company human resources offices already manage multiple parts of employees’ financial lives, not the least of which is health care and, perhaps soon, their paid family leave as well.

Many also handle retirement savings plans, but, according to lawmakers, about half of workers don’t have access to one through their employer. If Senate Bill 2333 passes, though, there will be a study done on feasibility. The bill, which would authorize a study of the costs of such a program, will be heard at 1:30 p.m. today in conference room 308. Now’s the time to speak up, yea or nay.