Planning Team Notes
Tuesday, June 12
9-11 am, TLC office
Attending: Matt Lorin, Christine Simmons, Calvin Endo, Norma Combes, Cary Miyashiro, PJ Foehr, Kimberly Kepner, Caroline Hayashi, Dave Tom, Cynthia Okazaki, Maggs Morris and Kathy Bryant
- Follow-up to Stephen Schatz presentation:
The group members that attended really appreciated the presentation and the opportunity to discuss RTTT and ESEA Waiver. They agreed that some follow-up small group meetings would be helpful to get more details and be able to give the DOE some feedback.
– Norma stated that as teacher that was the first time she had met Stephen or heard this presentation. She was absolutely stunned that her beliefs were so aligned with the DOE (Stephen). Because she receives so little info from either DOE or HSTA she had no idea that there was so much agreement and alignment. She videotaped the presentation and wants to send it to other teachers so they can better understand the position of the DOE. Because it was a HEE meeting, the group suggested she send the video to Cheri, who could speak with Christine about posting the video to the HEE website. If the video is posted to the HEE website, then Norma could send the link to teachers. The group emphasized how much they want teachers to participate and how happy they are to have Norma at the meeting. They also acknowledged Cary Miyashiro, from Hawaii USA Federal Credit Union for participating in the teacher-business mentoring program and bringing the teachers to the Stephen Schatz lunch and the Planning Team meeting.
In addition to the notes provided from the meeting, other areas of interest for follow-up included:
– Teacher evaluation, appreciation and incentives under ESEA. A conversation about models of motivation and developing methods to acknowledge success.
– Community, family and service provider input into DOE policy early in the decision-making process. The group used the pre-school subsidies in the KKP zone as an example. The idea was a good one, but the DOE didn’t solicit input early in the process or they could have learned that the families lack transportation and the geography of the area make it difficult for families to take their children to pre-schools. Kindergarten is not mandatory, pre-school less so. The issue was not just subsidies but transportation and location of schools, understanding and perceptions of value of kindergarten and pre-school, issues that could have been worked thru much earlier had the DOE been talking with the community in the beginning.
– Lessons Learned conversation. What has DOE and the community learned in the pilots and zones that could help make adjustments going forward. What are the successes and area of improvement, how can everyone work together to move forward.
– Internal and external communications. Particularly finding ways to communicate with the teachers. The “us against them” philosophy is very real among teachers, it’s the message they receive from HSTA and efforts to bridge that is very important.
– How will schools under restructuring be addressed in the ESEA?
– How will culture be integrated in the ESEA?
- Research Fellowship
The TLC fellow, Maggs Morris, introduced herself and gave a little background. The group reviewed the draft scope of work. Matt explained that the scope will be refined to align with the Fellows skills and timeframe. TLC hopes to have the fellow beginning by mid-June and the internship will last to mid October. The group members present stated that would be glad to participate in interviews as part of the resource inventory for HEE.
- Social Justice-proposed work group
Matt explained that this is a follow-up to Cliff Tanabe presentation at the last meeting, and that he had been contacted by USDOE who would be interested in giving a presentation to the Coalition on some of the social justice issues that impact Hawaii including teen suicide rates, the “pushout” effect on Native Hawaiian students, and the achievement gap. He mentioned that the opportunity for the presentation would be in the next few months. The group had a thoughtful conversation about inviting the USDOE to speak. The members wondered about the impact the presentation might have on HEE-DOE trust building and the relationship efforts being built at this time. If the information provided casts the department in a negative light and they don’t have a strategy to respond, then that could impact the relationship. That said, the members felt that part of building relationships is being able to have tough conversations. Matt, Calvin Endo, Dave Tom, and PJ Foerh, agreed to serve on a Working Group to flush the issue out in more detail and report back to the group with their recommendation.
- Updates:
– SCR79 Family Engagement working group will be starting soon. The goal is to work with the DOE staff to move the recommendations in the report to action. Once formed, Cheri will let the Coalition members know and identify members interested in participating. Representatives will also be from HEM & PTSA as they were named in the resolution.
– BOE letter requesting some updates on various BOE initiatives has been drafted. The members reviewed the letter and felt this was a good time of the year to send it in as the school year has ended and it’s a good time for reflection.
– Early Education Council follow-up. Cheri and Kathy have been working with Chris Jackson to set up a meeting with Terri Locke to gather more information about the Council, their timeline and the parent representative to the Council. Dave Tom mentioned that a report is due in October. The group identified some criteria for the parent rep:
– They should not be a DOE employee or a Pre-school provider
– They should be a “systems’ thinker since the Council is tasked with looking at establishing an early ed system
– They should have some knowledge of the issues so they can “hit the ground running” given the short timeline
The meeting adjourned at 11:00 am with thanks to all for staying so focused and participating in the discussion.