| Ms. Ott's Unofficial School Community Council Site for Na`alehu Elementary School |
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As the Constitutional Convention adjourned, a woman asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well, Doctor what we got a republic or a monarchy?" "A republic," replied the Doctor, "if you can keep it.” (See Library of Congress - Creating the United States.)
Although this story recorded by James McHenry (1753–1816), a delegate from Maryland, is probably fictitious, it is an important reminder of what is true about U.S. politics. If we do not defend our rights, and use them in practice, we will lose them. The Hawai`i State Legislature enacted a law to create School Community Councils. SCCs are an important part of the democratic process all public schools should utilize to engage the school community in decision making about how our schools operate. I encourage everyone who cares about Na`alehu School to come to the monthly SCC meetings and let your voice be heard. |
Agenda Not Available Yet. SY 08-09 SY 09-10 SY 10-11 Web Site |
| Purpose of School Community Councils |
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In Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 2004, the Legislature passed Act 51 as amended by Act 221. This law was intended to establish School Community Councils (SCC) for Hawaii’s schools. The new law improved the way the state’s single school system is organized, particularly by allowing for more educational decision making at the school level and thereby increasing the involvement of those directly affected by the decisions. The expectations of School Community Councils are increased accountability, school improvement, and student achievement.
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| Na'alehu SCC Members |
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Na'alehu School
SCC Members
Except for the Principal, who always serves on the SCC, each elected member position is up for re-election every two years. Student reps serve for one year.
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SCC MEMBERS SY 10-11
[2] Parent Voting Member: Ame Long (thebarnaclebabe@gmail.com ) Parent Alternate Member: vacant [1] Student Voting Member: Jenny Student Alternate Member: Kaala [2] Teacher Voting Member: Dan Duffy (dannyd43@gmail.com) Teacher Alternate Member: Karen Paré (karen_pare@notes.k12.hi.us) [1] Classifed Voting Member: Stephanie Mello (stephanie_mello@notes.k12.hi.us) Classifed Staff Alternate Member: Kelly Amaral (kelly_amaral@notes.k12.hi.us) [1] Community Voting Member: Stephanie Tabbada (No contact information.) Community Alternate Member: Renée Dufault (rdufault@phaccountability.org ) Note that the SCC Handbook (p. 9) describes the Roles and Responsibilities of the SCC members. The SCC is not a body whose members “represent” constituencies. Successful councils practice good stewardship and act as a whole, taking responsibility for communicating with all role groups and for the benefit of all children rather than as individuals representing a role group and specific agendas. |
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Meetings
Meetings are usually held in P-7 on the first Thursday of each month, from 3:00:pm to 4:30:pm. |
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Scheduled Meetings
SY 2010 - 2011 8/6/10 9/2/10 10/19/10 11/9/10 12/9/10 1/6/11 2/3/11* *(changed to 2/2/11 on 1/26) 3/3/11** **(changed to 3/10/11 as of 3/2) 4/21/11 5/12/11 Please confirm meeting date, time, and location when planning to attend. School telephone number is: 808 - 939 - 2413 |
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Na`alehu SCC Election Reform
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Suggestions for Ensuring Integrity
This document compares election guidelines from the Hawai`i Department of Education SCC Handbook, U.S. State Department guidelines democratic principles for free and fair elections, and suggestions for improving the election process for Na`alehu Elementary School Community Council representatives. SCC_ElectionsProcedures_Suggestions_DemocraticProcessIntegrity.doc Last updated: April 1, 2010. |
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SCC Election Guidelines
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Election Info from SCC Handbook
Click the link to read relevant information about SCC Elections for Community representative. The parents are supposed to vote for the Community Rep on a specific date (as yet to be announced). Check back here for information about candidates, dates, and location for the vote. Last updated: March 31, 2010. |
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Principles of Democracy
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Free and Fair Elections
The U.S. State Department Bureau of International Information Programs (www.america.gov) has published a book regarding the Principles of Democracy: www.america.gov/publications/books/principles-of-democracy.html The direct URL for the section on Free and Fair Elections is:www.america.gov/st/democracy-english/2008/May/20080609215618eaifas9.156436e-02.html Last updated: April 1, 2010. |
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State Of Hawai`i Election Guidelines
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Excerpts from HRS Chapter 16 - Voting Systems
The link to the document of HRS Chapter 16 excerpts provides guidelines for proper election procedures within the state of Hawai`i that are relevant for adaptation to School Community Council elections. HRS_Chapter16_Elections_Excerpts.doc Links to the HRS Chapter 16 sections cited in the above document are available at:http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol01_Ch0001-0042F/HRS0016/HRS_0016-.htm Last updated: April 6, 2010. |
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| School Documents Online |
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School Documents Online
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School Documents Online
You are supposed to be able to retrieve SCC meeting agendas, minutes, council member information, and other documents like the Academic & Finincial Plan from this web site. Click the "Menu" tab in the upper right of the web page to see the Main Menu for Na'alehu School documents. Choose the type of document you want to review. In the window that appears, select "Naalehu Elementary" from the drop-down menu in the "School" field. https://iportal.k12.hi.us/SDO/defaultp.aspx?sch=380 |
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Na'alehu SCC Meeting Minutes
Documents were downloaded from: https://iportal.k12.hi.us/SDO/SCCMViewP.aspx?doc=min where you can view SCC documents from all schools posted online. |
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| Na'alehu SCC Bylaws |
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Na'alehu School
SCC Bylaws |
NaalehuSchool_SCC_Bylaws_02Oct2008.doc
adopted October 2, 2008 Objections to SCC Bylaws Ms. Ott had volunteered to work with Ernie May (Teacher Member at the time) in SY 07-08 to help draft school SCC Bylaws. At the last SCC meeting of SY 07-08, the new Community Rep voiced some concerns about the proposed draft. Ms. Ott offered to work with her over the summer to address these concerns, but she never heard from Ms. Hosticka. At the beginning of SY 08-09, Ms. Hosticka returned with major revisions to the draft Mr. May and Ms. Ott had prepared the following year. At the October 2, 2008 meeting, the SCC silenced Ms. Ott when she tried to voice her objections to the many changes and she was directed to send her objections to the CAS (Complex Area Suprintendent) Mary Correa. Ms. Ott sent her objections to Superintendent Correa on October 9, 2008, and made several requests for more than a month to receive a response. Finally, Ms. Ott asked State Superintendent to intervene, after which Superintendent Correa sent Ms. Ott a message stating that the SCC had adopted bylaws and their decision was final. Superintendent Correa made no comments about the reasonable objections Ms. Ott had presented. The objections are still relevant as they cover many of the holes in the existing bylaws. |
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| Na'alehu Elementary SCC: Open Issues |
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SCC Elections
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How to Conduct Free and Fair Democratic Elections
You can read about the election process put in place for the Spring 2011 elections in the 3/10/11 meeting minutes when they become available. We still have hopes that someday, the elections will adhere to all the principles of free and fair democratic elections. This year's improvements over last year's process are a step in the right direction. |
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Proposed Improvements to Na`alehu Elementary SCC Web Site
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Proposed Web Site Content
At the March 10, 2011 printed copies of the Financial Plan and a memo regarding RTTT (Race to the Top) were distributed. Ms. Ott requested that they be made available on the school's web site. |
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