Should Hawaii Let Public Schools Raise Money for Private Nonprofits?
Hawaii lawmakers want to carve out an exception in the state Ethics Code so public schools can continue raising money for nonprofit organizations 鈥 if it鈥檚 educational.
Teachers were to stop encouraging students from participating in the Macy鈥檚 鈥淎 Million Reasons to Believe鈥 promotion because state employees aren鈥檛 allowed to use public resources for private business activities, which generally includes supporting or promoting charities.
, up for a critical vote Thursday, would let schools and classes partner with nonprofits under certain circumstances.
Ethics Executive Director Les Kondo said he recognizes the positive intent, but thinks the extremely broad bill raises serious concerns and could create a slippery slope.
He questions how teachers would choose which charities to support and what would happen if the nonprofit鈥檚 mission is controversial.
Kondo they should take into account that the fundraising activities may create an environment where certain families may feel pressured to participate despite their limited financial resources or objection to the organization.
Senate Education Chair Jill Tokuda, who co-introduced the bill, from working with charities because it fosters civic engagement and service learning.
The DOE strongly supports the bill because it develops character.
鈥淪chool projects involving fundraising or charitable activities provide opportunities for youth to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real world situations,鈥 Superintendent Kathryn Matiyoshi said in .
The five-member Ethics Commission debated the issue last week, revealing division among members.
Commissioner Ruth Tschumy said that as an educator, she is OK with the practice. She was frustrated that Kondo did not bring the Macy鈥檚 advisory opinion to the commissioners before disseminating it last year.
Commissioner David O鈥橬eal didn鈥檛 see why the commission should even have an opinion on the bill. He said it鈥檚 not the commission鈥檚 role to try to legislate.
Kondo said it鈥檚 important for the commission to have a voice before the Legislature to make lawmakers aware of issues with a bill they may not have considered.
鈥淭here鈥檚 dominoes that you didn鈥檛 think about that start falling,鈥 he said.
Commission Chair Leolani Abdul said the commission鈥檚 testimony can help prevent a bad law. She said efforts to carve out exemptions weaken the Ethics Code.
鈥淲e make people stop and look at the bigger picture,鈥 she said.
The , a coalition of more than 40 parent and community groups, said it鈥檚 understandable that schools need alternative revenue streams but lawmakers should consider the unintended consequences of the bill.
HEE Coalition Director Cheri Nakamura that more information about the background and purpose of the bill might be helpful so the group could take a position.
- Contact Nathan Eagle via email at neagle@civilbeat.com or Twitter at .
