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2006 ELECTION
HSTA POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
QUESTIONNAIRE
HAWAII STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION
Candidate's Name: KIM COCO IWAMOTO
Office Sought:
District
Department
OR At
Large
Occupational Background:
I am an attorney. I currently represent
low-income people with civil rights cases through Volunteer Legal
Services Hawaii. I am also a property manager of a small
apartment building in Honolulu. During the past three years, most
of my time has been spent working with special needs children in the
foster care system.
Educational Background:
I attended public and private schools in Honolulu:
Hokulani Elementary, Ali`iolani Elementary, Hanahauoli, and St. Louis
High School. I pursued my higher education on the mainland:
Associates Degree in Merchandising from the Fashion Institute of
Technology (NYC) State University of New York (SUNY); Bachelors
of Arts Degree in Creative Writing, San Francisco State University; and
Juris Doctor Degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law.
Political Background:
I am not registered with any political party.
I have never run for office before and I have never been appointed to a
seat in government. I have lobbied the legislature and the
governor in support of civil rights bills and bills affecting young
people and families.
Community Service:
I have demonstrated my deep commitment to young people as a:
• member of DOE Safe Schools Community Advisory Committee
• volunteer guardian ad litem for the First Circuit Family Court
• volunteer for Project Visitation (Na Keiki Law Center) – reuniting
siblings who are living in separate foster homes
• speaker at high schools and colleges on civil rights issues and
community service
• volunteer for American Friends Service Committee (HI) Rainbow Revolutionaries Youth Leadership Program
• coordinator of youth leadership development program (NY)
• volunteer at a support center for children living with HIV (CA)
I am an advocate of the people and have served the communities of Hawaii by:
• volunteering at Legal Aid Society of Hawaii
• working as managing attorney at Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii
• providing pro bono attorney services through VLSH
• serving on the Board of Directors for Kulia Na Mamo
• serving on the Board of Directors for Hawaii People’s Fund
What
schools do your children attend or have your children attended?
Public or private? If your children attend(ed) non-public
schools, please indicate your reason(s):
As a licensed therapeutic foster parent and a
special licensed foster parent, my children have only attended public
schools while they were in my care, including: Olomana, Castle High
School, McKinley High School, Halau Lokahi Public Charter School, Aiea
High School, and HCAP Competency-Base Diploma Program.
Following
the first two questions are position statements on some critical
issues. For each issue, indicate whether you support or oppose
HSTA’s positions. Please attach additional pages if you
want to elaborate on or explain your response. Be sure any
additional pages clearly indicate the position or question to which you
are referring.
Response Code
Support HSTA’s position – Would support policies and programs that reflect HSTA’s position.
Oppose HSTA’s position -- Would oppose policies and programs that reflect HSTA’s position.
1. What are your top three priorities in public education as a member of the Board of Education?
a. BOE : ADVOCATES AND LOBBYISTS FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION
The BOE must proactively lobby for state and federal
legislation which prioritize public education. We need to advocate for
more federal and state funding that will allow the DOE administrators
and teachers to meet and surpass the mandates already set forth in
existing laws.
b. BUILD AND STRENGTHEN PARTNERSHIPS IN EDUCATION
The BOE must recognize its allies in Education. It needs to
increase the inclusion of students, teachers, administrators, families,
alumni and community partners in the strategic planning and fund
allocation processes. The BOE needs to stand with its allies and
support sufficient funding so that everyone can effectively fulfill
their part in achieving our shared goals. One way the BOE can work with
families is by endorsing a livable-wage law so that working class
parents do not have to work three jobs and will have more time to be
involved in their children’s education.
c. MAXIMIZE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERY STUDENT
Learning should be inspired in children as early as possible, We
must continue to cultivate innovative learning approaches and
environments to meet the strengths and challenges of every student. We
must invest in imagination; the arts should be accessible to all
students and integrated into core courses. We must seize the
educational moment and have alternatives to suspension.
2.
There seems to be a DOE culture that does not support teachers (e.g.,
pay lag, classification, etc.). What have you heard from
teachers? What steps would you take to correct these problems?
While we increase the expectations that we put upon teachers to
perform, the DOE does not provide sufficient support to successfully
implement these changes. I support increasing resources and
infrastructure to meet the existing mandates. There needs
to be more dialog between the BOE, as policy maker, and the
teachers, who are expected to carry out the joint goals.
A Fully Qualified Teacher for Every Student
1.
HSTA believes the state must provide quality benefits for its public
school teachers as both recruiting and retention incentives because of
the teacher shortage in the State as well as throughout the United
States. HSTA
opposes any continuing erosion of teachers’ health and retirement benefits.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
Hawaii deserves to have the best public education system that we can
afford. This calls for recruiting, developing and retaining great
teachers. We need to offer an aggressively competitive
compensation package that encourages Hawai`i’s new workforce to
select a career in teaching instead of opting for more lucrative
professions.
2.
HSTA supports paying new teachers in a timely manner and believes that
the Board of Education can assist in rectifying the current practice of
delayed payments.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
I strongly believe that every employee in the State of Hawaii, public
or private sector, should be compensated in a timely manner. I
would testify in support of a bill that requires all employers to
compensate salaried employees within
5 days of the last day of the work period and within 10 days for hourly and commission earning employees.
3.
The Collective Bargaining Law, Chapter 89, gives public employees the
right to participate in deciding their wages, hours, and conditions of
work. HSTA supports the preservation and strengthening of the
intent and purpose of Chapter 89. HSTA opposes any action that
diminishes the rights, benefits or protections granted public employees
through collective bargaining or state legislation.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
I support competitive compensation packages, safe and dignified working
conditions and employee rights. I support labor unions having a
strong united voice to correct the power-imbalance inherent in the
employer-employee relationship.
4.
HSTA believes that increments should be statutory for Bargaining Unit 5
members and should be set forth in law as it was in 1975 as a means to
attract and retain teachers. A satisfactory evaluation by the
employer would be required to receive an increment, and will be based
on a teacher’s value of teaching experience.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
Statutes can be amended just as easily as renewed labor
contracts. Perhaps the HSTA can develop a comprehensive strategy
that addresses cost-of-living concerns as well as a consistent/reliable
performance incentive schedule. I believe every employee in the State
of Hawaii should receive cost of living increases
unconditionally. I am optimistic that many teachers will receive
“good”, “excellent” and
“exceptional” evaluations and those teachers should earn
additional pay increases respectively.
5.
HSTA supports legislation and funding of programs and activities that
reward continuing education for teachers and provide cost-free
opportunities for faculties to pursue professional development.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
I strongly support the provision of cost-free continuing education
opportunities for teachers and faculty. Other professionals receive
continuing education paid for by their employers. I also support
incentives for teachers to take advantage of these learning
opportunities. The students will be the ultimate beneficiary.
6.
HSTA supports legislation and funding to provide reimbursement of
personal funds used for classroom expenses. Teachers spend
anywhere from $500 to $1,000 of personal monies on these
expenditures. The employer will develop a procedure for teacher
reimbursement that will also include receipts as proof of purchase.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
I definitely support students being furnished with all the materials
they need to succeed and thrive in school. I do not feel that
teachers should be forced to spend their paychecks on providing these
basic needs to our students. This becomes a
“decency-tax” on the teachers who are already taxed at a
higher rate than the state’s wealthiest citizens.
7.
HSTA supports legislation to forgive overpayments to teachers due to
the employer’s error. The State law gives the employer an
unlimited number of years to collect any overpayments made to
employees. On the other hand, employees have two or three years
to claim any underpayments made to them.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
I support a two-year statute of limitations for the collection of
overpayments or underpayments by any party; except when the discrepancy
involved fraud or oversight that a reasonable person would have
noticed.
Basic Standards for All Schools
1. HSTA supports legislation for compulsory or mandatory kindergarten in Hawaii.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
I need more details regarding the exact language of this legislation
– I am not sure who would be mandated. I support children
getting an early start on learning and being in an environment that
stimulates their minds and creativity, (as opposed to using television
as a babysitter). I believe the State should be mandated to
offer kindergarten, preschool and Headstart opportunities to families.
However, I do not support families being mandated to take advantage of
these resources.
2.
HSTA supports legislative efforts to preserve public education and
opposes the diversion of public funds or tax credits to non-public
schools.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
Public education in Hawaii is already grossly under-funded. Diverting
any amount of money out of the public schools will hurt our students
and the future of Hawaii.
3.
HSTA opposes any legislation to provide public funds for tax subsidies
(tax credits, tax deductions) or vouchers for private education,
religious or home school expenses, or inclusion of vouchers within the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
Hawaii must not abandon its public education system. Funneling
money away from public schools, via vouchers, hurts the children who
really need the best public education we can offer. After years
of institutionally neglecting students with disabilities, Hawaii has
the responsibility to offer these students more than an equal
opportunity to succeed. At the same time, we need to make sure
that gifted and talented students are supported in reaching their
fullest potential.
4.
HSTA supports legislation and funding to provide clerical assistance
for each teacher, or by grade level, to assist with non-instructional
duties such as copying, grading papers, typing, filing, etc.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support Oppose
I need more details on the HSTA’s proposal. Enacting legislation
that provides for specific personnel, limits a school’s ability
to identify what its particular personnel needs are. I cannot imagine
that every school would agree that a clerical assistant is the most
needed position to be filled. I think grading papers is part of
the instructional process because students benefit from immediate and
relevant feedback; however, I think the recordation of those grades may
be a clerical task. I am open to learning more about this issue.
5.
HSTA opposes any expansion of non-conversion charter schools.
Before the legislature expands the number of non-conversion charter
schools, the Department of Education must have a good handle on the
current charter schools.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support Oppose
I support quality education, not necessarily quantity education.
We need to continue monitoring the efficacy and obstacles charter
schools are experiencing and consider why things are working so well
and what could be done better. The solutions may be easier than we
think. I have been impressed by the public charter schools that I
have encountered in the community. They seem to be meeting the
needs of students who would not have experienced this kind of success
in a conventional learning environment.
6. HSTA supports a single, statewide school district.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support Oppose
I need more information regarding the reasons HSTA supports a single
statewide school district. The benefits that come to mind are: keeps
the distribution of funding centralized, allows for more transparency
in decision making, lessens competition for resources among
schools. On the other hand, I also hear teachers and
administrators say they want more autonomy and flexibility to address
the specific strengths and challenges their particular schools or areas
are facing. I am open to learn more about this issue.
Safe, Adequate, and Functional Schools
1.
HSTA supports legislation and funding to eliminate repair and
maintenance backlog and keep repair and maintenance current to fix our
public schools.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
The State must affirm its commitment to Education, which must include
funding for infrastructure, such as buildings and maintenance. I
support legislation to meet these needs.
2. HSTA supports legislation and funding to reduce construction backlog.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
Once again, the State must affirm its commitment to education, which
must include funding for physical infrastructure. I support legislation
that will mandate that these needs get met in a more timely manner and
that building and campuses are designed to be functional as communities
and learning approaches evolve.
3.
HSTA supports legislation and funding to provide a working phone in
every classroom and to provide sufficient electrical and
telecommunications and infrastructure to accommodate school activities.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support Oppose
I am open to learning more about why teachers need telephones in every
classroom and whether there are less expensive alternatives which are
less prone to abuses. I fully support sufficient electrical
infrastructure and wireless internet access so that we can maximize
educational opportunities for every student.
4. HSTA supports legislation and funding to increase the safety and security of all schools.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
I strongly support creating and maintaining a safe environment for
every student, teacher and administrator. Campuses, buildings and
equipment must be maintained so that we can prevent injury and
associated costs. Our students must be able to feel safe at
school, free from harassment, bullying and discrimination. This
becomes an equal access to education issue, as some populations are
dropping out in high numbers because they do not feel safe or
supported. At the same time, I do not want to see students
forced into the criminal justice system for “acting out”.
Schools should not be punishing students, but addressing every incident
as an educational opportunity. We need education-based
alternatives to suspension. “Acting out” can also be
a plea for help, in which case we need more trained social workers on
staff to work with families.
Properly Funded School System
1.
HSTA supports legislation to amend the State Constitution to repeal the
Expenditure Controls, Article VII, Section 5, which controls the
state’s expenditure by creating an expenditure ceiling and
prohibits the state from spending the monies needed to invest in public
education.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support Oppose
The Legislature needs to make a commitment to fund education with a
proactive comprehensive budget proposal expanding over a 5 year period.
No more inadequate funding with piecemeal band-aid grants to fill
in the huge inadequacies. This proposal must catapult our public
school system into the Age of Learning and must be recognized as an
investment toward Hawaii’s economic and civic future.
2.
HSTA supports legislation to amend the State Constitution to repeal the
Disposition of Excess Revenues, Article VII, Section 6, which prohibits
the state from having any savings since tax refunds or tax credits must
be given to the taxpayers of the state, thus, prohibiting the state
from spending the monies needed to invest in public education.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
It is so difficult to raise public funds; once it becomes a part of the
State budget, we should not just send it back to taxpayers. The
State must look out for all of Hawaii and its future by investing
“excess revenue” into Hawaii’s future. There is
no greater investment, with higher returns, than education.
3. HSTA supports legislation to fully fund charter schools.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
If we do not fully fund public charter schools, who will pick up the
rest of the operating costs? We should assist charter
schools in obtaining maximum federal funding available to
compliment the state funds they receive. Public charter schools
appear to be working for many students, teachers, families and
communities.
4.
HSTA supports legislation to allocate all funds to schools according to
a weighted student formula with the following conditions.
a.
HSTA recognizes that there are essential elements that need to be in
place in a child’s education to ensure student success.
Schools must have adequate funding for sufficient computers, software,
equipment, and textbooks for every child. All laboratories,
shops, and learning spaces must be properly equipped. Students,
faculty and support staff must have the training necessary to be
proficient in current technology.
b. Teachers must be active decision-makers on how the money is spent.
c.
Teachers’ salaries must come from a central salary account based
on the average teacher’s salary.
d. Collective bargaining must be preserved.
Do you support or oppose HSTA’s position? Support ✔ Oppose
I support a weighted student formula which accurately reflects the real
operational costs associated with meeting federal and state mandates in
every school for every student. We must bring together all key
players: teachers, community members, administrators, and other people
with various perspectives. With this input, we can fine-tune our
comprehensive funding plan for success. I support a centralized
salary account for all DOE employees, that reflects fair compensation
for all. However, we must address the reality that there are
schools that are harder to staff because of a remote locations or other
factors. We must do whatever it takes to make sure these
communities are not short-changed as we maximize educational
opportunities for every student.
SS Kim Coco Iwamoto
7/26/06
Mailing Address: P.O. BOX
235191
Work Phone: (808) 342-0078
HONOLULU,
HI 9682 Home Phone:
not listed
Business Email: info@kimcoco.com
Fax
Number: please call for #
Personal Email: info@kimcoco.com
Cell
Phone: (808) 342-0078
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