Back To School For Hawaii Students, Not All Leaders
Monday was the first day back to school for Hawaii students, but not for two key education leaders.
While Gov. Neil Abercrombie addressed freshmen at in Wahiawa, Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and Board of Education Chairman Don Horner went about business as usual.
The superintendent and school board members traditionally do not greet students at school on Day 1, explained a Department of Education spokeswoman.
Matayoshi was on explaining new curriculum standards before engaging in a busy work day, said spokeswoman Sandy Goya.
The superintendent prefers to visit schools more informally during the year, Goya said.
Horner told Civil Beat that although he spent much of the weekend with teachers and principals from the Moanalua Complex, he steered clear of schools on Monday.
“Schools are very busy and of course are focused on getting their students settled especially the first few weeks vs dealing with the distraction of board member visit protocol,” he wrote in an email.
Horner said he is far from indifferent to what happens at the school level. He and the eight other board members will continue to be involved, and even plan to increase their interaction with schools in the coming months.
“As a board we are keenly interested in staying close to the schools and listening to their voice directly,” he wrote. “Therefore, we are scheduling community meetings at the school complexes throughout the state during the school year. A major topic will be bullying and other issues that are specific to the complex area. We shall coordinate with the Complex Area Supervisor. They will be in evenings to engage School Community Council, Student Groups, PTA, professional staff, etc.”
Horner said he felt confident the school he visited last weekend was ready for its opening bell.
“The school facility was well prepared and the staff was excited about the new year,” he said of .
Goya said that while the superintendent and other administrators are occupied with the adult details of making the school system run smoothly — enforcing new contracts, working out details of curriculum and applying for federal funds — the faculty and staff in schools are concerned primarily with the students.
“No matter what’s going on, everybody on the school campuses is focused on the kids and what’s going on there,” Goya said. “If you were at a school this morning and saw the excitement on the kids’ faces, that’s what really reminds you why we are here.”
