LIHUE — A handful of parents held signs outside Kekaha Elementary School Wednesday. The picket session sported signs with messages asking the community to support the school’s teachers. “In regards to the situation at Kekaha, the principal will be issuing
LIHUE — A handful of parents held signs outside Kekaha Elementary School Wednesday.
The picket session sported signs with messages asking the community to support the school’s teachers.
“In regards to the situation at Kekaha, the principal will be issuing a letter to the school community in regards to what he’s trying to do at the school,” said Donalyn Dela Cruz, Hawaii Department of Education spokeswoman. “He’s also working with Superintendent (Bill) Arakaki.”
Six of the school’s 27 teachers called in sick Tuesday because they were reportedly staging a protest of sorts in response to a comment Principal Dominic Beralas made regarding why students there have scored low on standardized test scores. He attributed part of the problem to “ineffectiveness in teaching.”
On Wednesday, two teachers were missing from school due to illness, according to Dela Cruz.
Dela Cruz said the HIDOE didn’t receive calls from parents regarding any issues at Kekaha Elementary before parents picketed.
“We want to be able to learn about concerns and address them in an appropriate manner and picketing without addressing a concern to the principal or complex area superintendent isn’t productive,” she said.
This isn’t the first protest at an elementary school on Kauai.
In September, parents at Hanalei Elementary School picketed for two days calling for the removal of Principal Lisa McDonald, who was later transferred to the district office.
Dela Cruz said that HIDOE is looking at why parents are taking to picketing at Kauai elementary schools and trying to come up with solutions.
The first thing the department is focusing on is communication breakdown between parents, principals, teachers, and HIDOE.
“Principals and teachers have expressed concern to me over social media,” Dela Cruz said. “They’re worried that if there’s an issue, parents won’t talk to the teachers or the principal about it, they’ll go to social media and start to picket.”
That puts a heavier strain on teachers and administration.
“They already have full plates and it’s just an additional burden on the educators,” Dela Cruz said.
Resorting immediately to picketing also takes the focus from students, she said.
“At the end of the day it’s the kids that lose out,” Dela Cruz said.
