ANAHOLA — Darlene Yvonne Pa, Becky Santos and Jesse Schwartz will be steering Kanuikapono Public Charter School into new waters as the State Hawaii Charter Commission appointed the three of them to the school’s transitional board Thursday.
They were chosen from a list of seven candidates. Six community members and parents of keiki at Kanuikapono testified at the meeting.
“I ask that you take time in looking at what the community needs,” said Kanani Gonzales, a parent of two keiki enrolled at the charter school. “We need members in there that will advocate for the kids and families enrolled in Kanuikapono.”
The commission announced the reconstitution of the school’s governing board July 20, citing conflicts of interest on the school board, noncompliance with composition laws, and potentially illegal use of credit cards.
The transitional board will put together the permanent board, to go over financials and help correct inconsistencies with the rules until a full governing board is ready to resume responsibility.
The commission decision was to establish a three-member transition board consisting of two new people and one representative from the last properly constituted board.
Pa was up against Puna Dawson for the existing board member’s seat and those who testified enthusiastically pointed the commission toward Pa.
“Darlene Pa is an absolutely beautiful community member and a pillar in our community,” said Kaala Clarke, who is a homesteader with a fourth grader at Kanuikapono.
While Anahola community members weighed in on the appointment of the three new board members, Sione Thompson, executive director of the Hawaii State Public Charter Commission, warned the commission must do its due diligence in the Thursday selection.
“It shouldn’t be whoever spoke last to us makes the determination of who we choose,” he said during the meeting. “We have to look at the merit of the people who are applying.”
He suggested looking for candidates who have investigative skills and a background in finance, business, government and leadership in order to work with the school to get it on track with commission requirements.
That’s why the commission selected Schwartz as the third transitional board member, even though his application was turned in after the close of business on Aug. 8 and the deadline was at noon on that day.
“He seems to have extensive background in business and we have to look at all the parts there, see how good they compliment each other,” said John Kim, commission chairperson.
Though Thompson encouraged commissioners to properly vet their choices and not rely solely on community input, he did report on a recent meeting with the Anahola community regarding the subject.
“There are actually very different parties in the community and we heard from them,” he said. “It was clear that there were conflicts, but one commonality is that we all believe we need to continue Kanuikapono School to serve those families.”
