Dept. Of Education Redraws School Lines - Education News Story - KITV Honolulu

The Department of Education in Hawaii is one of the biggest school systems in the nation. Seems like there are changes in my complex (Kaiser Complex) and in my district (Honolulu) all the time.

Currently, Koko Head Elementary's future is at risk due to low enrollment numbers. When administrators and teachers have to worry if they will have jobs next year or where they will be working, what do you think happens to the quality of their work? Unfortunately, when districts are as big as Hawaii's, procedures and policies are run by machines and decisions are made based on numbers and profit. All we can do is stick together and work within the schools. There will always be challenges, especially in education, but it's important to keep the students best interest in mind.


Dept. Of Education Redraws School Lines - Education News Story - KITV Honolulu

HONOLULU -- The state Department of Education is redrawing the lines when it comes to school boundaries.

But some families that would be affected by the changes feel the DOE is crossing the line when it comes to their child's education. Some say the changes won't save the state much money and will end up costing one group of parents the most. But rezoning could balance out school enrollment and even keep Kokohead Elementary School open.

"This solution won't make everyone happy but it benefits the vast majority of the community. When a school closes down it damages the roots of a community," said Hawaii Kai resident Celise Nakakura.

Saving the school will rest on the shoulders of parents from Kuliouou, whose kids now go to Aina Haina. They would be in the Kokohead school district under the new rezoning.

"By redistricting this area, we are giving parents the choice to go to Aina Haina or Kokohead Elementary," said complex area superintendent Calvin Nomiyama.

DOE members are trying to get enrollment up at Kokohead Elementary and they want a large

number of the 150 Kuliouou students to make the switch.
But the Kuliouou parents who attended a meeting Wednesday evening said they shouldn't bear the entire burden for the district.

"Some of us bought our homes in Kuliouou because it is zoned for Aina Haina Elementary. So we feel financially and emotionally robbed by the plans," said Kuliouou resident Scott Bloom.
Instead the parents want to keep their kids at Aina Haina and also be able to send their younger siblings to the same school in the future.

"I think a rational solution would be to grandfather in the kids that go to Aina Haina to the rezoning plans and also grandfather their siblings in," added Bloom.

While Nomiyama said those students will get geographic exemption priority in the future, those exemptions could also mean more problems for Kokohead Elementary.

"We need to rebuild enrollment at Kokohead or we will have to revisit school closure. No one likes school closure," said Nomiyama.

The rezoning plans, along with the rules for current and future students, are expected to be approved by March first and would take effect next school year.

Read more: http://www.kitv.com/education/26896612/detail.html#ixzz1VLmd503g