HE‘E Coalition

Hui for Excellence in Education

HE‘E Meeting Notes, Planning Team Notes ·

Planning Meeting 12/11/2012

HE’E Planning Meeting

December 11, 2012

The Learning Coalition Office, 841 Bishop St. Suite 301

9:00-11:00 am

 

Agenda

Objective: To finalize recommendations to full Coalition on policy/initiatives

Attendees:

  1. Jennifer Dang (HCNP)
  2. Mary Weir (FACE)
  3. Karen Ginoza (FACE)
  4. Jenny Lee (Hawaii Appleseed Center)
  5. Victor Geminiani (Hawaii Appleseed Center)
  6. Scott Nishimoto (Abilities Unlimited)
  7. Nancy Kern (DOH)
  8. Jacce Mikulanec (GBA)
  9. Kimberly Kempner (Innovative Ed Consulting)
  10. Vanessa Ott
  11. Melly Wilson (PREL)
  12. Dave Tom (US Navy)
  13. Lauren Baer (TLC)
  14. Susan Emley (PPS)
  15. Kathy Bryant (HE‘E)
  16. Cheri Nakamura (H‘EE)

 

9:00-9:10 Introductions

 

9:10-9:30 Nancy Kern, Suicide Prevention Director, Department of Health

 

Presentation by Nancy Kern (attached)

  • Suicide is the highest causes of fatal injuries among Hawaii residents from 15-74 year old categories.
  • Males outnumber females in suicides
  • Oahu has the highest absolute number of suicides; however, Kauai and Hawaii Island have higher rates of suicide attempts and injuries.
  • Risk factor survey data from Hawaii high school students (Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is on a positive trend downward, though Hawaii had 2nd highest percentage of youth who reported “making a suicide plan”

 

Coalition thanked Nancy for the informative presentation.

 

9:30-9:45 Scott Nishimoto, Community Outreach and Advocacy Specialist, Abilities Unlimited

 

Introduction of Resolution  (attached)

  • Integrates into social studies curriculum contributions of people with disabilities
  • Uses California Fair Education Act as a model

 

Comments by Coalition

  • Teachers have enough on their plate to have to plan additional curriculum—perhaps giving come recommendations of curriculum—suggest ways to incorporate in common core standards
  • What do students think?
  • Using the term “disability and diversity” might have a broader appeal

 

9:45-10:00 Early Learning Update

  • Governor proposing $25 million appropriation to take care of 3500 young 4 year olds. Subsidies to disadvantaged.
  • For all 4 year olds, including workforce development and infrastructure improvement, it would be a $90-100 million commitment
  • $25 million from general funds
  • Be My Voice campaign looking to raise funds to fill gap
  • Media spots for Be My Voice campaign coming up

 

Coalition was pleased with the progress of initiative. Looks forward to seeing more detail in January.

 

10:00-10:30 Social Justice Workgroup Update/ Update on the Strategic Plan

  • Data from Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows risk in behavior among public high school students-this data is used by DOH.  By contrast DOE is using School Quality Survey and Chapter 19  incidents as reported in Trend Reports.
  • BOE wants to make safe schools a priority. Spent time discussing the appropriate indicators for Strategic Plan.
  • Final day to review indicators is on January 8 at BOE Committee Meetings.  Is there something HE‘E can do? Is there something the Coalition can recommend?
  • Idea was brought up to recommend YRBS Survey as another indicator, as it was another data source and also a survey that is used by the Federal Government.

 

Coalition liked the idea of recommending YRBS as an indicator for DOE’s strategic plan. Next step would be getting support from full coalition. 

 

  • Jennifer Dang asked for support for including the Safety and Wellness Survey (SAWS) as another indicator for Strategic Plan.

Proposal would need to be approved by full Coalition. 

10:30-11:00

  • Education Ombudsman-Option to have a third party mediator to resolve problems-Washington State has a model. Perhaps we could recommend to have a education specialist in the Ombudsman Office.

 

Coalition thought it was a good idea. This way families and even teachers could have an entity to go to for resolving issues.  Coalition wants to learn more.

 

  • Family School Partnership Act-based on California Act-allows employees to take time off to attend school events. California allows 40 hours a year.
  • Waiting for response from business community

 

Coalition likes the concept, but some felt that 40 hours was a lot—maybe 20 hours would be more reasonable.  Another option might be to do a resolution.  It was suggested that we could try as a bill first–if bill didn’t progress, it might be considered as a resolution.

 

  • Instructional Hour—update from DOE. DOE is recognizing that there is a difference between student time and teacher time. With respect to teachers, they are not able to track the time of teachers—don’t have the mechanism. Therefore, they will do some sampling of teachers to understand how they spend their days. There may need to be legislation to extend the time to comply with the instructional hour law for secondary schools.

 

Coalition wants to be kept posted.

 

National  Council on Teacher Quality Review-to be published in US News and World Report. NCTQ is seeking endorsements.

 

Coalition wanted more information on metrics and also wanted to know if Hawaii schools would be included in the review.

 

11:00 Meeting adjourned.