HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0871.006 2008-2010 LINDA LINGLE PATRICIA "'o F -- HAMAMOTO
GOVERNOR ,.•:,H SUPERINTENDENT
1 , r '1 ' AI 1
",
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
KOHALA HIGH SCHOOL
P.O. BOX 279
KAPAAU, HAWAII 96755
July 20, 2010
To: Members of the Hawaii County Council
From: Catherine Bratt, Principal of Kohala High School
Regarding: Issues with regard to the Kohala Schools Consolidation
As the current principal of Kohala High School and the administrator who
initially worked to separate the campus from a K -12 configuration to a three
school complex, I strongly support the Resolution 368 -10 for all the reasons
that have been outlined. Not only does the present Honomakau campus not
have the capacity to house a middle school program and a high school
program concurrently, the whole idea that it is educationally sound to put a
middle school program and a high school program together, sharing facilities
and teaching staff, is not sound practice.
The consolidation plans first put forth by the DOE focused on elementary
schools on Oahu that had significantly low numbers and were within
walking distance of other elementary schools with similar small enrollments,
i.e. "apples to apples." Putting middle school students with high school
students is "apples and oranges." Sixth graders are very much young
children and eighth graders are just getting adjusted to the hormones and
growth spurts that are puberty. Mixing this group with the young adults we
are nurturing at the high school is not sound educationally or socially. The
additional caveat that the DOE wanted teachers to be utilized with both
groups requires teachers to hold "highly qualified" status at two different
levels. That is a real stretch educationally for teachers and a great financial
burden to put on teachers midway in their careers.
Kohala High School had 65 seniors this year and 64 graduated on time. This
was accomplished by being able to focus on the social /emotional needs of
our young people as well as the academic tasks required. We cannot be as
successful when the mix is 10 year olds up to 18 year olds on the same
Coma. trio. o I • CO
�� QQ 1 af. To: P / C�.nurt 4.
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYEF ef• Date 2_1 7111
campus. We need to be able to focus and address specific needs of specific
age groups and it cannot be done on a K -12 campus in any realistic fashion.
I appreciate that the county council has come forward to help us address this
ill advised effort by some to save money. We feel it is, "penny wise and
pound foolish." A true waste
I thank you very much for this opportunity to share my views.