Nonpartisan Races (Only Contested Races Profiled)
Malcolm Kirkpatrick
Age: 58
Job: Math tutor
Past: Department of Education teacher, 1982-1995
What qualifies you to be a Board of Education member?
I have studied the relation between institutional variables and system performance. Parent control and student motivation are critical. Jurisdictions which subsidize parent choice generate higher overall system performance. Parent control places decision-making in the hands of people who know individual children best and who are most reliably concerned for their well-being.
Do you support or oppose closing or consolidating schools with low enrollment? Explain.
The State-monopoly school system increasingly will face competition from more efficient and more humane suppliers of education services and pressure on government budgets from the impending retirement of the baby boomers. Students, parents, real classroom teachers would benefit from expanded K-PhD options (e.g., school vouchers, charter schools, subsidized homeschooling).
Should existing Department of Education funds be used to pay for drug testing of teachers?
In the current State-monopoly system, this question requires a system-wide answer. Given this system, yes, the DOE should pay for drug testing. More appropriately, it should be up to local school boards and local bargaining agents.
Do you support or oppose the creation of a statewide preschool system? Explain.
I oppose any state-funded preschool policy which excludes the option of subsidized care by relatives. Institutionalization harms children. Studies which find a benefit to early institutional care improperly generalize from programs which treat children of poor or incapable parents.
What can be done to ensure that every Hawaii classroom has a highly qualified teacher?
The system will not reform itself. No one in the current institutional environment will support meaningful change. Outside this environment, there are several policies which would yield better teachers: subsidize competition for teacher services (school vouchers, etc.) abolish the Teacher Standards Board, authorize Teach For America exceptions to current license requirements, allow principals to determine the credential requirements of their own staff and use on-the-job training of teachers’ aides with real subject-matter degrees instead of useless College of Education coursework.
Carol Mon Lee
Age: 61
Job: Former teacher, retired law school administrator, lawyer
Past: Business experience, community volunteer
What qualifies you to be a Board of Education member?
The BOE needs new blood with fresh ideas and different perspectives. My unique background, including experience from decades of working in this community, makes me particularly qualified to join the BOE. I have worked in education as a teacher and administrator and have also been involved in school governance. I am also a lawyer with business experience. I have a practical sensibility with a willingness to work hard and dig deep. I can invest the time necessary to devote to the board to help our state public education system meet its full potential.
Do you support or oppose closing or consolidating schools with low enrollment? Explain.
Low enrollment should only be one factor in determining whether a school is closed or consolidated. A larger analysis of the issues would include seeking input from the community and other affected parties and broadly soliciting suggestions for alternatives such as sharing space with new preschools or conversion to charter schools. Decisions could then be made on a case-by-case basis.
Should existing Department of Education funds be used to pay for drug testing of teachers?
Existing DOE funds should not be used to pay for random drug testing of teachers. I support the BOE’s position in rejecting using classroom funds to pay for drug testing. Funds should not be taken out of existing school budgets and should not affect teachers’ salaries or allocations for repair and maintenance.
Do you support or oppose the creation of a statewide preschool system? Explain.
I support early education and believe it is a vital step in preparing our students to achieve their maximum potential. A statewide system of preschools should be a part of our public education system.
What can be done to ensure that every Hawaii classroom has a highly qualified teacher?
Our teachers are the lifeblood of our school system. Effective teaching leads to good education. Good education results in better students and an improved society. We must provide teachers proper teaching environments, make them feel valued, offer educational opportunities to enhance their areas of expertise, give them control over their classrooms and respect them as the holders of our children’s future.
Denise Matsumoto
Age: 47
Job: Preschool teacher, currently director of Children’s Ministries at Island Family Christian Church
What qualifies you to be a Board of Education member?
I have served on the Board of Education since 1988. As a current member, I have been an integral part of many of the improvements and reforms going on right now in the Department of Education.
Do you support or oppose closing or consolidating schools with low enrollment? Explain.
Small schools can be high performing, I support the concept of closing schools with really low enrollment. But I also support creating magnet schools, leasing unused school facilities and the board having control over the land to use the resources to generate revenue for our other facilities needs statewide.
Should existing Department of Education funds be used to pay for drug testing of teachers?
No. The Department took budget cuts in the legislative session, we have additional restrictions and could have more this fall. Our schools are already underfunded for supplies and equipment. Paying for drug testing will be taking money from our schools.
Do you support or oppose the creation of a statewide preschool system? Explain.
Yes, I am a preschool teacher and see the benefits, especially our four year olds first. And Keiki First Steps is a great plan that allows for parent choice of programs and includes provisions for public and private sources of funding, including parent fees.
What can be done to ensure that every Hawaii classroom has a highly qualified teacher?
Here’s a few of the myriad of things we have to do: Implementation of our state plan to help existing teachers become highly qualified. Attracting and retaining new teachers through pay and mentoring programs. Getting adequate funding for the tools they need in the classroom and for professional growth.
