HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-02-25 Letter to Donovan M. Dela Cruz and Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran SB 171, SD1 Relating to Education (transfer Public Schools from the State to the Counties)
County of Hawai‘i
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County of Hawai‘i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.
Wil Okabe
Managing Director
Harry Kim
Mayor
Barbara J. Kossow
Deputy Managing Director
February 25, 2019
Senator Donovan M. Dela Cruz, Chair
Senator Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran, Vice Chair
Committee on Ways and Means
Dear Chair Dela Cruz, Vice Chair Keith-Agaran, and Committee Members:
RE: SB 171, SD 1 Relating to Education (Transfer Public Schools from the State to the Counties)
An earlier generation of Hawaiʻi leaders recognized that all residents of the State deserve equal
educational opportunities, regardless of where they live. This foresight created the only Statewide school
system in the United States, and although we have not lived up to the ideals and vison reflected in that
principle, we should be forever striving to achieve that fundamental goal rather than undermining it.
SB 171, SD1 would be a giant step in the wrong direction. The mainland offers forty-nine examples of
how local control of education is great for wealthy jurisdictions where property taxes can fund every bell and
whistle that the rich can envision for their children, but reliance on local funding is disastrous for lower income
areas. And why should it be so? A student living in a rural county already is disadvantaged, missing out on
opportunities that “city kids” have at their fingertips? Why would the State want to compound that
disadvantage by leaving the education of our children to the mercy of what each community can afford?
By all means, let’s work to improve the education system for all our keiki. By no means should we base
that improvement on ability pay.
Please do not approve SB 171, SD1.
Respectfully Submitted,
Harry Kim
MAYOR