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This November, voters have the chance to cast the ultimate vote of confidence — or no confidence — in the Hawaii State Board of Education. They’ll decide whether to replace the elected board with one appointed by the governor.

But we think it’s fair to say that it’s unlikely most voters know who is on the current board and what their qualifications are. So how can they decide whether the current system is giving them the leaders they want? At Civil Beat, we decided to provide voters with the opportunity to evaluate the current board members’ credentials. (We have also shared the same information about the 18 people running for six seats on the board this fall. A seventh seat, the Leeward district, was vacated by Breene Harimoto, who resigned to run for Honolulu City Council. It is temporarily filled by gubernatorial appointee Caroline Wong and will be permanently filled with a special election this November.)

The job wasn’t as easy as it might sound. Believe it or not, the board has no consistent approach to reporting the qualifications of its 13 members on its . Three elected members have essentially no information about themselves on the site. (Board spokesman Alex Da Silva told us he is working to get all the board members’ information on the new site, which launched in July.)

You will find in reading their resumes that a few of them have long histories in the Hawaii Department of Education as teachers, administrators and union leaders. Some also have impressive amounts of education of their own. And the current board members have a collective 98 years of experience on the board of education itself. A few other facts about the board’s makeup:

• Ten women and three men
• All 13 hold bachelor’s degrees from all over the country
• Eight hold master’s degrees, at least one holds a Ph.D. and three hold juris doctoral degrees
• Four have a collective 149 years of experience as teachers and administrators at both school and state levels in Hawaii’s public school system
• Another three have experience either lecturing or in administration at the University of Hawaii
• Three have held other elected offices, from a delegate to the 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention to a few who spent years in the Hawaii State House of Representatives

Don’t forget, these people serve in their nonpartisan positions for $100 per meeting and have to run for re-election in their districts every four years. It’s not a lucrative opportunity. But members can stay on the board for as long as the people will have them.

An earlier report by Civil Beat showed there is no data supporting the superiority of an appointed board of education over an elected one. Another report revealed that arguments against the current elected board sound much like ones made against the formerly appointed board in the late 1950s and early 60s.

Below we have summarized the educational and professional background of each current member and are posting their full resumes, as provided to us by them. There is one exception: Board member Mary Cochran did not respond to repeated e-mails and other attempts to get in touch with her, so we’re publishing the biographical information from her county council .

Garrett Toguchi, board chairperson:

• Four terms on the board (14 years served, fourth term expiring in 2012)
• M.A. in economics from University of Hawaii at Manoa
• Background in research, budget analysis for Hawaii State Legislature and former Lt. Gov. Ben Cayetano

Lei Ahu Isa, vice chairperson:

• Two terms on the board (six years served, second term expiring in 2012)
• Ph.D from University of Hawaii at Manoa with a dissertation on outstanding qualities in public school teachers; certificate in management leadership from University of Virginia
• Background in education as a Hawaii State Representative (six years); as a professor and program chair; an administrator; a marketing and public relations representative

Karen Knudsen, second vice chairperson:

• Five terms on the board (20 years served, fifth term expiring this year)
• M.A. in Pacific Islands studies from University of Hawaii
• Background in public relations

Herbert Watanabe:

• Four terms on the board (14 years served, fourth term expiring in 2012)
• M.S. from University of Wisconsin-Stout; graduate studies at University of Hawaii at Hilo and at Manoa, Stanford, Indiana University and University of California-Berkeley
• Background in teaching: science, math and economics; school administration; overseeing district business and facilities for the Hawaii Department of Education.

Maggie Cox:

• Two terms on the board (six years served, second term expiring in 2012)
• B.A. from North Texas State University with 80 additional credits
• Background in teaching and school-level administration as a principal; former board member with principals’ collective bargaining unit

Carol Mon Lee:

• One term on the board (two years served, with term expiring in 2012)
• J.D. from University of California, San Francisco; M.A. from Columbia University Teachers College; B.A. from Columbia University Barnard College
• Background as associate dean of law school at University of Hawaii; as a lobbyist; as an attorney; as an executive-level manager; as a teacher four decades ago (not in Hawaii school system); as trustee of a private school

Eileen Clarke:

• One term on the board (four years served, with term expiring this year; running again)
• Ed.D. from University of Southern California in education planning, policy and administration; administrative certificate from University of California at Irvine; M.Ed. in educational foundations from University of Hawaii; B.Ed. in secondary education in English
• Background as a teacher for 23 years; as a school-level administrator; as a state-level specialist in school evaluation and renewal

Donna Ikeda:

• One term and a half (six years served, second term to expire this year)
• B.A. from University of Hawaii at Manoa
• Background as a 22-year state legislator; as a lobbyist

Janis Akuna:

• One term (two years, term to expire in 2012)
• MBA from University of Hawaii at Manoa; B.S. from University of California-Davis
• Background as a financial consultant; as a lecturer at UH (two years); as a school advisory council member (one year)

Kim Coco Iwamoto:

• One term (four years served, term expiring this year; running again)
• J.D. from University of New* Mexico School of Law; B.A. in creative writing from San Francisco State University
• Background in law; real estate management; grant-making; as a member of Hawaii Teacher Standards Board; member of Career & Technical Education Coordinating Advisory Council; member of Safe School Advisory Committee; youth services

John Penebacker:

• Three terms (12 years served, third term expiring this year; running again)
• B.S. in political science from University of Hawaii at Manoa
• Retired Army colonel with background in union special programs; former assistant to state librarian; youth services; delegate to 1978 Hawaii State Constitutional Convention

Mary Cochran:

• Two terms (eight years, second term expiring this year)
• Law degree from University of Hawaii law school; undergraduate degree from Chaminade University
• Background in labor law, particularly as a field representative for the Hawaii State Teachers Association

Caroline Wong:

• Appointed by Gov. Linda Lingle to finish Harimoto’s term, ending this winter
• Two master’s degrees — one in educational administration from the University of Hawaii and one in social science, secondary education from Michigan State University; associate’s degree from Wheaton College
• Background as an educational specialist, a principal, vice principal and high school teacher within the Hawaii Department of Education

Mark Dannog (student member):

• Senior at Waianae High School
• Student member of the Waianae High School Community Council and the Waianae Parent-Teacher-Student Association; former executive member of the Waianae High School Student Council
• Leeward District representative to the Hawaii State Student Council, where he also served as chairman of its Political Action Committee 2009-10

*An earlier version of this story omitted the “New” in “New Mexico.”

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DISCUSSION: *Given the performance of Hawaii’s public schools and the backgrounds of the current members of the education board, what do you think about the idea of replacing an elected board with one appointed by the governor? Share your thoughts.