2008 Resolutions Introduced by Senator Norman Sakamoto

Study on Impacts of a Longer School Day and Increasing the Number of Days for Grades K-12 (SCR72, SD1)

Requesting that the Department of Education determine whether or not an extension of the school day is an affordable and sound investment for the State, and examine the benefits and detriments involved in increasing the number of days of instruction by 10 days, 20 days, and any other number deemed as appropriate.

Adopted on 4/21/08.

Increasing the Number of School Days (SCR 73)

Requesting a study by the Department of Education on the benefits and detriments involved in increasing the number of days of instruction by 10, 20 or any other number of days deemed appropriate, and including information on what could be learned by students in the additional time, potential schedules for extending the days of instruction in the school year, breakdown of the number of hours of learning involved in an increased schedule, and the fiscal and non-fiscal impacts on the State, DOE, teachers, support staff, students and their families.

Deferred on 3/12/08.

Reducing the Truancy Rate in Public School (SCR74, SD1)

Requesting the Department of Education to convene an interagency work group (or incorporate into a current work group) to focus on the truancy problem and to review and develop guidelines for lowering the truancy rate and increasing academic success in the public schools.  The guidelines should consider existing systems such as the student support system, peer review and quality assurance processes, positive behavior support, and the school attendance program.  Initial focus should be on the middle/intermediate and high school levels.

Adopted by the Senate on 4/21/08 and by the House on 4/22/08.

Study on the Feasibility of Removing Enrollment CAPS at University of Hawaii Campuses (SCR75)

Requesting the University of Hawaii to conduct a study on the feasibility and potential benefits of allowing individual campuses to determine the appropriate levels for non-resident students or lifting the caps altogether.

House Finance Committee did not hear the resolution.

Good Faith Valuation Standards and Negotiating Practices for Long-Term Industrial and Commercial Ground Leases (SCR76)

Encouraging the establishment of good faith valuation standards and negotiating practiced by lessors and lessees under long-term industrial and commercial ground leases to allow such lessors and lessees to achieve fair and reasonable rents under such leases, with due regard for the existing use of the land as well as pertinent economic principles and considerations, that will provide a fair return on investment for both parties and will best serve the interests of the consumers, workers, and Hawaii’s economy.

Senate Committees on Economic Development and Taxation & Commerce, Consumer Protection and Affordable Housing did not hear the resolution.

Legislative Auditor’s Study on the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (SCR83, SD1)

Requesting the Legislative Auditor to examine: 1) If the current organizational placement of the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board is conducive to timely and efficient service to those applying for licenses; 2) if the functions and operations of the Board are similar to those in other states with similar numbers of students; 3) if the Board might fit better in another agency; 4) if the Board’s long range plans have appropriate policy foundations, benchmarks and accountability mechanisms; 5) if the Board’s appeal process has a defensible, rational basis; 6) whether the web-based system was implemented in 2006 and is presently capable of processing online applications including retaining supporting documents and certifications online as well as providing real time status of the application process; 7) how the Board’s budget is developed and approved; 8) how expenditures are made and monitored; and 9) how external audit findings, if any, are resolved.

Adopted by the Senate on 4/22/08 and the House on 4/23/08.

Developing Nutritionally Sound Public School Menus that Include Vegetarian and Vegan Meals (SCR84, SD1)

Requesting the Department of Education’s school food service to consider nutritionally-sound school menus that give students the option of vegetarian and vegan public school meals, conduct training and workshops for cafeteria managers and workers on the benefits and options for providing vegetarian and vegan meals, and post on its website a list of schools that have vegetarian and vegan menu options.

Adopted by the Senate on 4/16/08 and the House on 4/17/08.

Preparation of Standards-based Curricular Materials to Assist Teachers Teaching in an Area for which the Teacher is Not Highly Qualified (SCR111)

Requesting the Department of Education (DOE) and appropriate entities to prepare standards-based curricular materials to assist a teacher who has to temporarily teach in an area where the teacher is not highly qualified so that students receive appropriate learning materials.  Development of such curricula should begin in fields where there are the fewest highly qualified teachers.  Further requesting that the DOE and Board of Education continue to support programs to assure that all teachers will become highly qualified.

Adopted by the Senate on 4/21/08 and the House on 4/22/08.