HILO — The state Board of Education on Tuesday approved findings from a special review of the state Public Charter School Commission.
The review, conducted by a BOE investigative committee last year, included a survey, a public hearing and interviews with charter school leaders. It came about after the BOE received multiple complaints from charter schools alleging they experienced poor communication with commission staff and a lack of support, among other things.
The BOE oversees the commission. At least 15 of 34 charter schools statewide are located on Hawaii Island.
The committee said in its special review report the commission lacks a strategic vision and a regular system of self-evaluation. It also said the commission needs to improve communication with the schools it overseas and has unclear standards and conditions for charter school renewal.
It advised the commission to submit corrective action plans to address deficiencies and report to the BOE regularly about its progress. It gave the commission an overall “partially meets” rating.
Board Vice Chairman Brian De Lima, also a member of the investigative committee, said during Tuesday’s meeting the review process was difficult but he was pleased with the outcome. He praised the commission’s new executive director, Sione Thompson, calling him “the biggest bright spot” in the special review process and said Thompson “has a sincere desire” to work with schools.
“That positive spirit is exciting,” De Lima said. “ … I think commission staff will (now) be supportive and not punitive in (their) approach to problems charter schools may experience.”
Thompson said in September that meeting with charter school leaders and identifying “deficiencies in how we operate” was among his “top priorities.”
Thompson said in a September interview that working with charter school leaders and identifying “deficiencies in how we operate” was among his “top priorities.”
The investigative report was first presented to the board during its Feb. 7 meeting. In accordance with Hawaii’s Sunshine Law, board members refrained from taking action until Tuesday.
Email Kirsten Johnson at kjohnson@hawaiitribune-herald.com.