Ka Waihona o ka Naʻauao Public Charter School

Staff and Faculty

RE: RECONSTITUTION OF KA WAIHONA O KA NAʻAUAO PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL GOVERNING BOARD

Aloha kākou, Ka Waihona o ka Naʻauao Public Charter School staff and faculty:

Thank you for your continued support for public charter school education and your dedication to Ka Waihona o ka Naʻauao Public Charter School (KWON).

In Hawaii’s charter school system, the Hawaii State Public Charter School Commission (Commission) is the public agency that is tasked with protecting the interests of the public, parents, and above all students. The Commission takes its responsibility to you as charter school families very seriously.

We want to make sure we keep you informed on the latest news in this developing situation.

Action taken by Commission at its General Meeting on Friday, August 31, 2018: The Commission voted to reconstitute the Governing Board of Ka Waihona o ka Naʻauao Public Charter School.

Why did the Commission take this action? The Commission found that the Governing Board failed to manage the financial performance of the school, as such the Commission was required to act in the best interest of the school, its students and staff.

What led to the need for this action? The Commission raised concerns about the school’s financial issues more than eleven months ago in hopes that the Governing Board and school leadership would remedy the situation on its own without intervention. When it became clear to the Commission that would not happen, the Commission took action to reconstitute the Board.

Under Hawaii State law, Hawaii Revised Statutes (“HRS”) §302D-17(d), the Commission has the authority to take appropriate corrective actions or exercise sanctions short of revocation in response to apparent deficiencies in public charter school performance or legal compliance. Such actions or sanctions may include, if warranted, the reconstitution of the Governing Board of the charter school. The Commission is able to take such an action when exigent circumstances occur, including circumstances that raise serious doubts about the Governing Board's ability to fulfill its statutory, contractual, or fiduciary responsibilities.

The law allows the Commission to replace up to, but no more than, the number of Governing Board members necessary so that the newly appointed members constitute a voting majority in accordance with the Governing Board's bylaws. For Ka Waihona o ka Naʻauao Public Charter School the Commission will establish a transitional Governing Board of seven members.

As such, the Commission is accepting applications for the transitional Governing Board until 5:00 PM on September 10, 2018. The Commission will select the members for the transitional Governing Board at its general business meeting on September 13, 2018.

For official information about the school during this transitional time, and to help keep you informed of new developments, please visit our website: http://www.chartercommission.hawaii.gov/ or call our office at (808) 586-3775 if you have any immediate questions.

As time is of the essence, the Commission is committed to ensuring that Ka Waihona o ka Naʻauao Public Charter School moves forward, especially for students, families and the staff, who are looking forward to this school year. With the kōkua of the Ka Waihona o ka Naʻauao school community, other public institutions, and other stakeholders, we too look forward to a speedy and positive resolution in the best interest of your students.