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<br />WINDWARD PLANNING COMMISSION <br />COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I <br /> <br />HEARING TRANSCRIPT <br /> MAY 1, 2014 <br /> <br /> Connections New Century Public <br />A regularly advertised hearing on the application of <br />Charter School/CBESS (SPP 12-138) <br />was called to order at 10:42 a.m. in the County of <br />Hawai‘i, Aupuni Center Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Hilo, Hawai‘i with Chairman <br /> <br />Ronald Gonzales presiding. <br /> <br />COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Ronald Gonzales, Charles Heaukulani, Gregory Henkel, <br />Wallace A. Ishibashi, Jr., Raylene Moses, and Stephen Ono. <br /> <br />ABSENT AND EXCUSED: Myles Miyasato. <br /> <br />ALSO PRESENT: Duane Kanuha (Planning Director), Margaret Masunaga (Deputy <br />Corporation Counsel for the Windward Planning Commission), Amy Self (Deputy Corporation <br />Counsel for the Planning Director), Jeff Darrow (Staff Planner), Maija Cottle (Staff Planner), <br />Sarah Hata-Finley (Secretary), and Melissa Dacayanan (Planning Commission Support <br />Technician). <br /> <br />And approximately 36 people from the public in attendance. <br /> <br />APPLICANTS: CONNECTIONS NEW CENTURY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL/ <br />CBESS (SPP 12-138) <br /> <br />Discussion and action on the Hearings Officer’s report and recommendation on an application <br />for a Special Permit to develop a K to 12 charter school campus with dorm facilities and related <br />uses on approximately 70 acres of land situated in the State Land Use Agricultural District. The <br />property is located on both the southwest and northeast sides of Edita Street near its intersection <br />with Kaūmana Drive and adjoining the Pacific Plantation Subdivision in Kaūmana, South Hilo, <br />Hawai‘i, TMK: 2-5-006:141. <br /> <br />GONZALES: Next up is Item No. 7, unfinished business, applicant Connections New Century <br />Public Charter School/CBESS, Special Permit 12-138. Before we get started with your <br />presentation, Commissioner Henkel wants to make a statement. <br /> <br />HENKEL: Hi, my name is Greg Henkel. Bear with me a few minutes here. I’ve got a statement <br />I want to read. The DOE has led Hawai‘i students to the rear when it comes to practical <br />st <br />education in 21 century job skills. Charter schools have become an important vehicle that raise <br />the standards here in Hawai‘i, and they’re achieving this goal despite gross funding inequities. <br />They do this by putting their resources directly into the classroom rather than into top-heavy <br />administrative positions on Oahu, and they do this by developing new curriculum in classes that <br />reflect modern needs. This is also one of the reasons that charter schools have become targets of <br />the State’s educational establishment and by others resistance to change, resistant to change no <br />matter how beneficial the change might be. I’ve worked with charter schools on this island since <br />1 <br />EXHIBIT F <br /> <br /> <br />