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How to hold teachers and principals accountable for the work they do with students is one of the hottest topics in today’s education circles. In Hawaii, one doesn’t have to talk long about the Hawaii Department of Education to hear someone make the claim that it’s a bloated bureaucracy. How a governor perceives the education department could well influence how that governor interacts with it, so Civil Beat asked each of the three main candidates about their views.

Much ado has been made —Ìýby , among others — about principals and how much control they should be allowed to wield over their schools. So following the same thread of accountability, we asked each candidate to tell us what he believes is the principal’s role.

Democratic candidate Neil Abercrombie and Republican candidate James “Duke” Aiona both support transferring to schools more control over certain services (Abercrombie) and money (Aiona). Democratic candidate Mufi Hannemann prefers a top-down approach to improving leadership in the areas of innovation and communication.

Both Abercrombie and Aiona use the term “CEO” when referring to school principals and promote more executive officer-like power for them so they can focus on teachers and students. Hannemann also promotes authority and flexibility for principals. And again with hints of “it’s a village” influence, the former Honolulu mayor calls for principals who engage their communities in supporting the students.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. Read it in their own words.

Department of Education

Is the education department’s bureaucracy too large? If so, what would you do to change the structure and staffing of the organization?

Neil Abercrombie

I believe some tasks, such as food service and bus contracts, are best done at the state level. However, functions that are best done by schools should be decided at the school level. I believe we need to transform our public schools system by moving more resources and authority to the schools, which would mean restructuring the central department of education. This kind of transformation will take time and commitment.

James “Duke” Aiona

The department of education consumes about 41 percent of the State general funds budget, but how it spends this amount of money has not been independently examined for nearly 40 years.
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That is why we need a comprehensive, independent audit of the DOE to ensure our education dollars are being spent effectively and efficiently.
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Moreover, I will ensure more money is spent in the classroom by proposing legislation to require 90 percent of every education dollar to be spent at the student-school level.
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With the results of the public vote on the BOE, and a comprehensive, independent audit of the DOE, I will have the information necessary to direct the most effective restructuring of our public education system in a generation.

Mufi Hannemann

The main issues with the education department bureaucracy are inflexibility, the speed at which decisions are made and policy implemented, and the inherent culture of maintaining the status quo.ÌýA change would begin at the top with a leadership shift to value innovation and to understand the needs of their clients, the students in the schools.ÌýAlso, those administrators who are promoted from the classroom to the office should be provided management and leadership skills training to ensure they have the proper tools to succeed.


The Principal’s Role

What do you see as the principal’s role in a school? What should their priorities be and what powers should they have?

Neil Abercrombie

Under my education plan, principals will serve as the CEOs of their schools to manage their staff and resources. They will have the authority to make crucial decisions, including budgets, programs, and personnel — free from outside mandates and red tape. Their priorities will be on teachers and students and making their classrooms the best they can be.

James “Duke” Aiona

As Governor, I will strongly encourage principals to be the Chief Education Officers (CEOs) of their schools. Principals should have the ability to hire teachers and terminate those who do not meet professional standards or who demonstrate low-achieving student performance. Principals should have the authority and flexibility to determine how school-level funds are spent to best support the direction and initiatives of their schools.

Mufi Hannemann

The principal must drive the mission and vision for the school and be the education leader of the school, with the goal of improving student achievement. Principals also need to lead community support for the students.ÌýFinally, they need the authority and flexibility to configure their staff and resources according to the needs of their school.