HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES H.C.R. NO. 82 TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2014 STATE OF HAWAII HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PROVIDE MORE TRANSPARENCY IN ITS MEETINGS. WHEREAS, according to the Superintendents 23rd Annual Report, in 2012, there were more than one hundred eighty thousand students enrolled in the public school system; and WHEREAS, the Board of Educations mission is to promote excellence and equity in Hawaiis public schools and enable all students to meet their own unique and varied potentials; and WHEREAS, the Board of Education is tasked with the responsibility to oversee and manage Hawaiis public educational system, as well as the development and implementation of statewide educational policies for Hawaiis students, while ultimately ensuring appropriate academic progress for every student; and WHEREAS, the policies and programs that the Board of Education implements to carry out its mission has a major impact on students education and future as they become the next generation of leaders and every person should have the opportunity to express their thoughts and concerns on matters that affect the States public educational system; and WHEREAS, in light of the importance of educational policy decisions on the State, citizens across the State deserve the opportunity to comment on and be informed of the policies and actions that affect the students education; and WHEREAS, printed material of the Board of Education meetings present only a limited view of the matters to be discussed and the business to be transacted at the meetings whereas audio or video coverage of a meeting captures the actual proceedings; and WHEREAS, people can effectively express their thoughts, ideas, and concerns when the board meeting is within their community; and WHEREAS, many parents, educators, staff, and members of the public are unable to attend board meetings that occur during the day for a number of reasons, such as work and other conflicting obligations and lack of transportation; and WHEREAS, because of the important role played by the Board of Education in ensuring that student educational standards are met, and the fact that it is a state entity and therefore subject to Hawaiis public records and open meetings laws, it is important that the Board of Education operate in a manner that is more transparent to the community; now, therefore, BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-seventh Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2014, the Senate concurring, that the Board of Education is requested to provide more transparency in the conduct of its meetings, the way it notifies the public of its meetings, and the way testimony is submitted at its meetings; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education is requested to consider the following approaches to increasing the transparency of its operations: (1) Publish board members email addresses and make them available to the public; and (2) Ensure greater public input by holding public meetings after regular work hours or on weekends when possible to accommodate people that may not be available to attend the meetings held earlier in the day; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Education is requested to consider broadening public access at its meetings by: (1) Holding its general business meetings in each county at least once a year; and (2) Publishing more detailed and specific agenda items, as well as an email address of an appropriate contact person to ensure clarity and transparency; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education and the Superintendent of Education. OFFERED BY: _____________________________
Posted on: Thu, 17 Apr 2014 00:09:30 +0000
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