Senate Committee on Education (EDU) - chair: Takumi, vice chair: Belatti

Monday, February 7, 2011, 2:00 p,m.

Testifier: Valere McFarland, Ph.D., Education Chair, LWV of Hawaii

Click here to view SB8 SD1

Chair Takumi, Vice Chair Belatti and members of the Committee: The Board of the Directors of the League of Women Voters of Hawai‘i strongly supports SB8 SD1 as written. We respectfully submit the following as input for you to consider in your decision-making process concerning implementing the enabling legislation that defines the selection procedure for Board of Education members. All of the rhetoric prior to the general election vote that opted to change the method for choosing the members of the Board of Education centered on the issue of ‘accountability’ and the idea that if ‘everyone is accountable then no-one is accountable.’ Thus, the voters opted for ‘accountability’ when they chose to have the governor nominate Board of Education members. We are pleased that the Senate has taken a stand that the public supports to create a governance structure outlined in SB8 SD1, and we urge you to approve this bill. The League feels that the only acceptable route to accountability will be for the governor to make the nominations with the advice and consent of the senate, through confirmation of the nominees. Thank you for the opportunity to testify.