| Hawaii County LWV sent a questionnaire the School Board II candidates, requesting their positions on various issues. Their replies are posted below. |
Maui 2nd Dept (1)
The Questionnaire
1. Please give a very brief biographical sketch.
| R. Ray Hart:
I was a teacher for 40 years, working my last 12 years with the Hawaii State Public School System on Maui. My wife, Carla, has worked as a clerk for the Hawai'i State Public Library for 11 years. The youngest of our 3 children graduated from Baldwin High School.
In addition to a long teaching career, I served as union president on Maui and in Washington state. Currently I am the Maui district president of Hawaii State Teachers Association-Retired(HSTA-R) and treasurer for South Maui Learning Ohana(SMLO), an education nonprofit. I was a negotiator for the state teacher's union and am past chair of the Hawaii Special Education Advisory Council. I also worked with a group of dedicated Maui residents to create Maui's first public charter school. Previously I served as chair of the executive board University of Washington College of Education and chapter president of Phi Delta Kappa, a professional association for educators and education honorary. My graduate work is in curriculum.
It is very important to have an experienced public school teacher on the Hawaii BOE. Teachers work daily with students, parents, other teachers, and administrators prioritizing the student in all decision.
Education policy must always, first, consider the benefit for students and their education. Budget adjustments and program changes should always be made based on what is best for the students.
|
Leona Rocha-Wilson: …Grandparents From Portugal arrived Hawaii late 1800’s to work sugar plantation.
…Leona was born and reared in Hamakuapoko to Mary and Frank Rocha.
…Graduated Baldwin High.
…Joined the Army. First group of women to graduate Dental Technicial school, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
…Graduated Fashion Institute of Technology, New York. Utilized the G.I.Bill. Studied 8 years at night. AAS Degree.
…Continued education at Pace College, Marketing.
…Formed Company called “Fashionetics, Inc.” New York.
…Issued U.S. Patents…most notable “Fashion Ruler”. This product continues to be sold today.
…First Woman President of “American Home Sewing Association”. A National organization comprised of Manufacturers and Producers of Fabrics, Notions, Sewing machines, How to books, etc.
…Hosted a National T.V. show for Life Time Cable. “The Sewing Show”.
…Spokesperson for Vogue/Butterick Company. Responsible for all Media.
…Spokesperson for National program “Crafted with Pride, Made in USA”. Responsible for all Media.
…Returning resident…full time since 2006. Part- time resident for the last twenty-one years. Returning twice a year for several months at a time.
…Member of U.H. Maui College Chancellor’s Advisory Committee.
…Member of Hawaii Community Foundation Advisory…Maui.
…Hostess of Cable UHMaui T.V. show “Go School No Come Like Me”. A half hour T.V. show encouraging adults to nurture a child to stay in school.
…Working Farmer …currently growing 300 Koa’ia trees on a five and a half acre farm on Maui.
…Proud parent of one Son, Daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren. All attended Public School.
…Hobbies….play golf , love gardening, and enjoy cooking for family and friends. Also, enjoy speaking and promoting education when ever and where ever possible.
|
2. Your website?
3. Have any of your children or grandchildren attended public schools in Hawai'i? Which ones?
| R. Ray Hart: My daughter attended Maui Community College. My middle son and younger son attended Baldwin High School on Maui. My younger son also attended Maui Community College.
|
Leona Rocha-Wilson:
I am a product of Hawaii’s school system, K-12. My only son was raised in New York and attended Public School. My granddaughter and grandson ages 11 and 6 respective are currently attending public school in New York.
|
4. What previous experience qualifies you for a School Board position?
| R. Ray Hart: 7 years of college and 40 years of teaching have given me a great understanding of how schools work. My years as a union president, chairing a university school board, chairing a state committee of parents, teachers, etc. on special education issues, and involvement in creating the charter school system for Hawai'i has given me great knowledge of how the system works.
|
Leona Rocha-Wilson:
As a business owner of a national company that produced patented products I educated thousands of teachers and consumers to the use of these products.
I was the first woman V.P. of Education and first woman Chairman of the Board of the national organization called “American Homesewing Association. I have experience working with board members.
I understand the need and have the passion to see that ALL CHILDREN have a fulfilling education.
|
5. If you had to choose one troubled area in the Hawai'i school system, where could you make a difference, what would it be?
| R. Ray Hart: My greatest expertise is in how students learn and how teachers teach. With my 40 years in local schools, I can help other board members use the quality teachers to make the difference. I can give them a deeper understanding of what education looks like in the classroom and the school. They need to be comfortable in using the quality teacher that have been hired to improve the quality of learning. We need teachers on the board to help the business and administrative members in understanding of how it works at the student level.
|
Leona Rocha-Wilson:
A huge problem currently is the high rate of Hawaii’s high school dropouts, 21 out of every 100. Gates foundation calls it the “Silent Epidemic”. As a board member I will address the curriculum so that it serves the needs of all students. A two path curriculum. One for career ready students and the other for college bound students.
|
6. Do you favor an appointed School Board? Please give reasons.
| R. Ray Hart: My basic values of democracy and voting say no. However, there must be a way to balance the board between business members, community members, parent members, and teachers. I am uncomfortable making the positions political patronage. Perhaps making the positions elected more defined can work.
|
Leona Rocha-Wilson:
No… The public should have the opportunity to select their own representatives.
|
7. What can be done to make the School Board more effective?
| R. Ray Hart: The most important way of making it more effective, to limit its responsibilities. Too much is dependent on the BOE when it should be left to the local schools and DOE. The BOE is a board, not the system.
|
Leona Rocha-Wilson:
As a successful business woman, I have learned that in order to be in control and accountable, you need to have the fiscal power. Our present school board “ONLY” can make policies with no fiscal power. Here-in lies the problem. The ability to work closely with the superintendent is the key to student success.
|
8. What can you do to secure adequate, stable funding for education?
| R. Ray Hart: I, we, can make the legislature and the governor have more faith in the education system. Everything must be made more transparent financially as well as the operation of the system. Then we can have the funding set aside automatically for basic education and ask for more through legislative process as needs are clearly seen or be made apparent.
|
Leona Rocha-Wilson:
As stated in no. 7, until such time that the legislature gives the school Board the fiscal power, stability in funding is at the legislature.
|
9. What is the role of unions in an efficiently run school system?
| R. Ray Hart: We are looking at 3 main unions: HSTA, HGEA, and UPW. The key word is "efficiently". The management role requires that the unions and the DOE must clearly define what employees are to do and understand the value of each position as to how it impacts the students and learning. With that focus of learning and students, staffing can be readily evaluated at the school level. By making sure that administrators have the skills to manage personnel and the time, along with the focus, increasing/decreasing hours and staff can be done effectively based on measureable items. This is key to the financials of the local organization. This must be done cooperatively with the unions which have the responsibily of protecting their members.
|
Leona Rocha-Wilson:
The unions role, in my opinion, is to focus on the child and do whatever it can to protect the child in having the “Best” educational opportunity possible.
|
10. Many people believe the Hawai'i system is top-heavy with too many administrators: What is your view?
| R. Ray Hart: Every position must be truly justified. As a teacher, I look for the need for more teachers. However, I have worked with many people at the state level and district level that are very important to the learning process. Administration should not be a reward for friends. The numbers must be based on what is functioning to help with the education of children. It is an area that must justify its need.
|
Leona Rocha-Wilson:
There needs to be an assessment of what the state administrators are doing to assist the schools. Those positions should be saved to free school administrators to work with classroom teachers and not be bogged down with lots of unnecessary paperwork. All positions not directly supporting school level should be eliminated.
|
11. Should Charter Schools be funded at the same level as regular public schools? Please give reasons.
| R. Ray Hart: Of course, they are serving public school students. It is very unfortunate that the funding is not equitable. Because of facility costs, the charter school could use additional state funding outside DOE/BOE to help in that area.
|
Leona Rocha-Wilson:
Only if funding is not taken away from public schools. The primary purpose of public education is focus on all children – Rich / poor; black / white; and not segregate them.
|
12. A universal pre-school for all four-year-olds has been proposed. Should such a plan be implemented? If so, should it be state or privately funded?
| R. Ray Hart: Students who have had a successful and quality preschool experience have an advantage over other students. To maintain the equity in Hawai'i, all should have access. Two important factors must be considered. The preschool should not replace the right and responsibility of raising the young child and where will the money come from to fund teachers, materials, and facilities. Perhaps early childhood could once again be part of the DOH in partnership with DOE. We want to make sure these are educational schools and not daycare centers. Why would there be private funding available, if these are to be free preschools?
|
Leona Rocha-Wilson:
Research as shown that children from 2-5 have the greatest ability to learn at a very high rate. Consequently, I strongly believe in four year olds starting school. Presently, kindergarten is not mandatory. I feel that children 4 and above should be required to attend school.
|
13. To what degree are private contractors being used in Hawai'i education? How do you feel about their use?
| R. Ray Hart: I see nothing wrong with using private contractors for specialized services that cannot be provided by the regular school and staff. They have been useful in special education and special programs. The problem comes when the perception is that only outside sources can provide the services. We have many experts that are equal to or better than the private contractors. ‘We need to use our own people first.
|
Leona Rocha-Wilson:
There is a tremendous cost factor when it comes to hiring private contractors and it is not closely monitored. How do you feel about their use? We should do an audit and streamline what is presently being done.
|
|
