Aloha Neighbors,

After completing my first legislative session, I'mlearning that thework has just begun as I turn my atten-tion to reaching out to all of you to sharewhat was ac-complished and howwecan do better. Since the legisla-ture adjourned on May5, I have focused on communicat-ing with you through this newsletter; visiting your home;mynew program on ‘Olelo called

Jordan's Journa

l whichcan also be viewed on Vimeo; my legislative website;Facebook page; and Town Hall meetings on the Budgetfeaturing House Finance Chair Marcus Oshiro on June 15,and on Traffic & Transportation Issues featuring Stateand City Transportation officials on June 30.In my first newsletter, I included a community sur-vey. Based on the feedback I received, themost importantissue that concerned most of you was education. In re-sponseto your interest, this newsletter will focus on edu-cation. I have met with principals of the schools in thedistrictand other DOE officials and appreciate the timeeveryonehas given to inform me of the needs of eachschool in orderto better serve the children in our commu-nity. I willalso focus on education in upcoming episodesof

Jordan's Journal

and conduct a Town Hall meeting onthis issue. As a proud Searider and graduateof Waianae High,I’m a product of our public education system and wouldlike to see that our children and future generations re-ceive a quality education and theopportunity for highereducation. I’m honored to serve you.Feel free to contactme if I can be of assistance.

Mahalo,Jo Jordan,District 45 Representative

School improvement projects for ourcommunity total over $6 million

Although recent news reports have highlighted the need for the Department of Educa-tion to tackle budget reductions as I shared in the May 2011 update thatthe critical challengefaced by the Legislature this year was balancing the state’s budget in light of a $1.3 billionbudget shortfall on top of the past two years combined $3.3 billion shortfall, our district is inone of the two zones of innovation that will receive some of the initial $75 million in Race tothe Top (RTTT) money awarded to Hawaii by the U.S. Departmentof Education. I have high-lighted the over $1 million in miscellaneous Repairs & Maintenance for ourschools for Race tothe Top. Additionally, the other noted repairs & funding were identified as priorities includingthe fiscal year 2012-2013 fundsfor Kamaile Academy for electrical upgradesthat appropri-ately follow Governor Abercrombie’s release of nearly $15 million of CIP funds for variousschools including Leihoku Elementary, Makaha Elementary, Waianae Elementary, WaianaeIntermediate, and Waianae High Schools.

Miscellaneous Repairs & Maintenance for RTTT Zone of Innoation

Kamaile Academy

$42,000

Leihoku Elementary

$26,000

Makaha Elementary

$37,000

Waianae Elementary

$109,000

Waianae Intermediate

$209,000

Waianae High

$635,000

Total

$1,058,000

Additional Funding

New roof for Makaha Elementary

$13,339

Architectural Barrier Removal for ADA compliance at Waianae High

$1,300,000

Electrical Upgrades at Kamaile Academy (FY 2012-2013)

$800,000

Leeward Community College Waianae Education Center

$3,000,000

Total

$6,171,339.00

Go Paperless!

Check out my online newsletter at http://capitol.hawaii.gov/session2011/members/house/memberpage.aspx?member=jordan or e-mail me atrepjordan@capitol.hawaii.gov and title the e-mail, “Send me your e-newsletter”. I’lladd you to my e-mail list and you’ll get all future newsletters sent straight to your e-mail, not to your mailbox. Be sure to like my Facebook page athttp://www.facebook.com/repjordan for periodic updates.Thanks for doing your part to save the trees.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT & EDUCATION HIGHLIGHTS

Community Spotlight

In this newsletter, Iwill be featuring a com-munity member who is anactive resident bringingpositive change to theWaianae Coast. Like thefirstepisode of

Jordan’s Journal

with ChairpersonWilliam Aila, Jr. and Senator Maile Shimabu-kuro, this column will explore the back-grounds of members of our community whoare making a difference.This edition of my newsletter featuresMark Dannog, who was elected the 32ndStudent Member of the Hawaii State Board ofEducation (BOE) in 2010, representing theinterests and protecting the welfare of Ha-waii's more than 178,000 public school stu-dents. He served on both the elected and ap-pointed BOE during its transition in 2011. Analumnusof Waianae Elementary,Intermedi-ate, and High Schools and former LeewardDistrict Representative on the Hawaii StateStudent Council, the official representativebody of the public school students, Mark is anadvocate for improving our education system.Mark was officially sworn in as the BOEstudent member on July 14, 2010.Althoughactively engaged prior to his official start onthe BOE, I was impressed with Mark from hisfirstBOE report to the Waianae Coast Neigh-borhood Board (WCNB) in September 2010.Mark distributed a 21 page report on creatinga more student-centered system within theDepartment of Education (DOE) by identify-ing prioritiesincluding student involvementand transparency, system accountability andbetter security. Mark formally introduced hiseducation plan to the BOE following his distri-bution of the plan to the WCNB. Mark notedthat many of the proposals and strategies inhis plan are aligned with PresidentBarackObama's Reauthorization of the Elementaryand Secondary Education Act of 2010. Markcontinued to advocate for the BOE and DOEto solicit more input from principals and stu-dents on BOE policies.Mark advocated on behalf of students onissues ranging from improving restroom facili-ties to addressing bullying and harassmentand even sustainability. On the issue of theSenior Project and the graduation require-ments in general, Mark directed the DOE toreview Board Policy 4540 and the implemen-tation guidelines for the Senior Project.Another issue thatMark led earlier thisyear was to get the Legislature to pass a billwhich would grantvoting rights for the BOEstudent member. Mark not only stood in sup-port of a motion passed by the BOE to supportthe bill, he also met with State Legislators andtestified on the bill. Although the bill failed topass the Legislature this year, he and his fel-low students will continue to fight for votingrights for the BOE student member.Mark was a staunch advocate for educa-tion to be made a priority by opposing furtherbudget reductions to the DOE. In March 2011,he testified before the Senate Ways andMeans Committee againstfurther cuts to theDOE budget. He also spoke against a BOEmotion to cutmore than $7 million from theWeighted Student Formula (WSF).Finally,I must personally acknowledgeMark on the proposed resolutions he recom-mended for introduction relating to education.Due to his efforts,I introduced HCR 169,which requested the DOE to convene a taskforce to identify and assess the Science,Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)initiatives and programs in public schools.This bill was introduced after Mark requestedthe DOE submita presentation to the BOE onSTEM initiatives and programs. Although thisresolution failed to passthe legislature thisyear, I know thatthis will be an ongoing initia-tive as we work to improve public educationand increase workforce development.Although one chapter in Mark's life isending with his graduation from WaianaeHigh School and completion of his term asBOE student member, it is truly just the be-ginning for Mark who plans to attend St.John's University in Queens, New York in theFall and major in Government & Politics with apotential minor in Business. Mark intends tohave a career in law or education and con-tinue his commitment to public service. If youare interested in reading more about Markand what he has to say about how we canimprove our education system, check out hisblog at http://mdannog.tumblr.com.

Education Highlights

PPOINTED

BOE,

SB8

— Strengthenseducational governance by providing imple-menting legislation for the constitutionalamendmentratified by voters in November2010, requiring that the BOE consist of mem-bers appointed by the Governor with the ad-vice and consent of the Senate.

To learn more about the BOE, see

:http://hawaii.gov/gov/newsroom/in-the-news/meet-your-board-of-education-1

DUCATIONOF

TUDENTS WITH

ISABILITIES

SB1503(A

128)

— Requires accreditationwithin a certain time for certain privateschools or programs that accept studentswith disabilities who receive state funding.

HARTER

CHOOLS

1174

130)

—Requires charter school budgetrequests forfacilities funding to include a detailed explana-tion as to the formula used and the fundingrequest breakdown by school. The bill alsorequires charter schoolsand their local schoolboards to develop internal policies and proce-dures consistent with ethical standardsofconduct. The bill further establishesa taskforce to address issues on charter school gov-ernance, accountability, and authority.

CHOOL

EPAIR AND

AINTENANCE

SB1383

150)

— Supports continuation of theHawaii 3R's Program, which was created totackle a backlog of repair and maintenanceprojects at public schools in the state, by al-lowing the program to receive moneys fromthe School-level Minor Repairs and Mainte-nance Special Fund to which Hawaii taxpayershave been contributing through an opt-in boxon their tax form that seeks a $2 donation.

HCR

167

— Finally, a resolution I introduced,HCR 167, requests the Departmentof Agricul-ture to convene a working group to determinean appropriate geographic preference to beused by the DOE to encourage the purchaseof local produce. The application of a geo-graphic preference for local farmers will helpthem bid competitively on Child NutritionProgram contracts to the benefit of school-children and the State economy as a whole.

The State Department of Education'sGeneral Fund Budget for this past Fiscal Year(FY 2010-2011) as provided for in Act 180(2010) and for the next biennium (FY 2011-2013) as provided for in Act164 (2011) isreflected in the table above. The Legislature inpassing the State Budget this year noted thatthe furlough restoration this past fiscal yearand moving forward will allow the continua-tion of the current level of instructional schooldays at public schools. The legislature alsoadded three positionsto aid the Departmentof Education (DOE) in internal audits andinvestigation in the hope that the DOE willwork with the newly appointed Board of Edu-cation (BOE) to identify troublesome issuesand provide viable solutions.As reflected in the table and pie chartabove, as well as detailed in the table on thenext page, over 77% (EDN 100: School-BasedBudgeting and EDN 150: Comprehensive Stu-dent Support Services) of the DOE GeneralFunds budgetis allocated for schools. Thenext category—EDN 400 at 13% of the DOEGeneral Funds budget—is allocated largely forfood and facilities services, utilities, and stu-dent transportation.

Student TransportationCosts Cause Concern

The Legislature expressed concern withthe significant student transportation contractcostsreflected in the DOE's budget request.The estimated cost to provide student trans-portation has risen to about $1,000 perregular education rider; whereas,the ap-proximate general fund cost to educate a stu-dent isabout $5,500. Even with continuedrequests from the Legislature to the DOE toaddress the exorbitant contract costs, theDOE has allowed the student transportationprogram to run at a significant deficit, simplyutilizing funds from other sources rather thanmake concerted efforts to bring down costs.The Legislature believes that a thoroughevaluation of the student transportation pro-gram is necessary. As such, the Legislaturedid not support the DOE's request for studenttransportation contract costs for fiscal year2012-2013. The Legislature disapproved therequested $19.6 million and has further re-duced the DOE's transportation budget by anadditional $20 million for these costs. Theremaining appropriation for FY 2012-2013 willallow for the continuation of mandated trans-portation for qualifying special education stu-dents. The Legislature requested that the DOEcomplete a comprehensive alternatives analy-sis to assess various options and evaluateneeded service levelsto provide meaningfuldata to address this issue. The Legislatureintends to revisitthis issue once the DOEprovidessufficient justification for transporta-tion services.

Reallocation of ResourcesUnder Scrutiny

The Legislature also noted that while theDOE's statutory authority to transfer fundsbetween programs was granted to provide acertain level of flexibility to cope with pressingissues, this authority does not allow it to cir-cumvent the Legislature's authority to allocateresources. The Legislature expects that, pro-spectively, the DOE will submit requeststothe Legislature to appropriate or reallocateresources where they are needed, especiallywhen transferring resources from schools(EDN 100 and EDN 150) to administrativeoffices (EDN 200 and EDN 300)

Alignment of DOE Funding with Student Needs

As reflected in the pie chart below, of the54% of Hawaii's students who require addi-tional resources, the largest need as indicatedis for economically disadvantaged students at33%. In light of these requirements, the Legis-lature, along with the BOE and DOE mustensure that appropriate funding is provided inline with student needs. For example,5%ofstudents are identified as special educationstudents and yet the table on the next pageindicates that about 14% of DOE GeneralFunds are budgeted for special education inregular schools. A proper alignment of fundingwith student needs while operating in accor-dance with State and Federal mandatesshould be considered.

THE BUDGET

eneral Funs Appropria ions for Education