HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0999.001 2012-2014PlUUNCLL
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Connections Public Charter School
A Community, Business & Education Learning 'Ohana ci
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9/30/14
Aloha Chair Yoshimoto and members of the Hawaii County Council: .c
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My name is John Thatcher. I am the principal of Connections Public Charter School. Our schoor
community is STRONGLY OPPOSED to the appointment of Mr. Donald Ikeda to the Windward
Planning Commission. Mr. Ikeda has vigorously opposed our school's proposal for relocating
from a tsunami inundation zone in Hilo to Kaumana. His testimony before the Windward
Planning Commission, in regards to our proposal, has been biased, abusive, unfounded and
deceptive. He has accused us of "misrepresentation and unfriendly acts by the school and its
officials and representatives." He claimed that our application was "full of half truths and
unfulfilled promises."
Mr. Ikeda personally attacked me in his testimony when he said, "John Thatcher had promised
that he was going to look into an easement coming in from Puainako, but right now all he's
talking about is coming in through Edita." For the record, I spoke with the owner of the property
on Puainako that he was referring to. I was told that he (the owner) had been approached by
several people from Kaumana that advised him NOT to work with the school. The owner then
told me that there are "powerful" people opposed to our plans but that he had a niece that had
attended our school and that we were the only school that "helped" his niece. We have continued
our discussions with this land owner through the years, primarily through the attorney
representing our associated non - profit entity.
Connections has been working on developing the Kaumana property we have leased from the
State since 2007. Our students live primarily in the Puna and Hilo districts. One of our
Governing Board members lives in Kaumana. She volunteered to sit on our Governing Board
because she supports the development of our Kaumana campus. On more that one occasion she
has said that the residents of Pacific Plantations DO NOT represent all of Kaumana. Despite the
fact that I personally met with Councilman Ideda to discuss our project, he testified before the
Windward Planning Commission, "I believe that any entity that's going into a community should
make an honest effort to be a good neighbor. You know, when you are the new guy coming into a
community, like Connections School, they should get together with the neighborhood; and I
think Connections Charter School has failed to do this." For the record, we began having
community meetings regarding our Kauman project in 2009. One of those meetings at Kaumana
Elementary School was scheduled at the suggestion of Councilman Ikeda.
Almost half of the State's charter schools are located on the island of Hawaii. Charter schools
have struggled with facilities issues, since their establishment in Hawaii in 2000, despite the fact
that Section X of Hawaii's State Constitution clearly says, "The State shall provide for the
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174 Kamehameha Ave., Hdo, Hawai i - Phone 1- 808 - 961 -3664 FAX 1- 808 - 961 -2665 (� /
Email: john_thatcher @hawaii.rr.com C,Jntfil.
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establishment, support and control of a statewide system of public schools free from sectarian
control, a state university, public libraries and such other educational institutions as may be
deemed desirable, including physical facilities therefor." Funding for public charter schools does
not include money for facilities and is not equivalent to funding for traditional public (DOE)
schools. On a per -pupil basis, charter schools receive about half of the funding for each of their
students as compared to the average per -pupil funding supporting students attending traditional
(DOE) schools. There is also no support for utilities or repairs for public charter school facilities
as there is for traditional DOE schools. Appointing Donald Ikeda to the Windward Planning
Commission will send a clear message to charter schools on this island. It will also accentuate
Arlene Kimata's complaints about favoritism and the good -ole -boy network on the Big Island.
Sincerely,
John Thatcher
Connections PCS
Principal
174 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo, Hawaii - Phone 1- 808 - 961 -3664 FAX 1- 808 - 961 -2665
Email: john—thatcher@hawaii.rr.com