If confirmed by the Hawaii Senate, will be joining the Hawaii Board of Education in the coming months, the governor’s office announced in a release Wednesday.

The appointees include N. Makana McClellan, the director of business development and community relations at Shriners Children’s Hawaii; Lauren Moriarty, former dean of academics at Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies; and Ken Kuraya, a retired DOE administrator.

Stepping down June 30 will be BOE chairwoman Catherine Payne and board member Ken Uemura. Lyla Berg, an interim member who joined the board in September, will serve until the last day of the legislative session, May 5, with Moriarty starting May 6.

Department of Education Board Chair Catherine Payne during press conference on pay raises for speical needs teachers.
BOE chairwoman Catherine Payne has served on the Board of Ed since July 2018. The designation of a new chair will be up to the governor. Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2019

Meanwhile, Ige reappointed current board members Kaimana Barcarse and Bruce Voss to new 3-year terms beginning July 1 through June 30, 2025.

Payne, who first joined the board in July 2018, was initially planning to step down after her 3-year term ended last year but agreed to serve one more year due to the transition period facing the DOE with a newly installed interim superintendent and the fluctuating school landscape due to Covid-19.

The unpaid, voluntary board consists of nine voting members who approve Department of Education policy and select and evaluate the superintendent and Hawaii state librarian. The biggest task facing the Board of Ed is selecting a new permanent superintendent by May to lead the statewide public school system.

Appointments are subject to Senate confirmation.

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