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+--- Thread: Big Island Charter schools possible closure (/showthread.php?tid=1845)
RE: Big Island Charter schools possible closure - zanza - 02-19-2008
I wonder where WOL held school today. We definately feel bad for the students and teachers. Teaching is hard enough without worring where your classroom may be. What's the update and how to help? ZZ
RE: Big Island Charter schools possible closure - Guest - 02-29-2008
TH Article
Headline: WOL, BOE at odds over law
I'll say so [
]-------------
Today in History:
A man sets fire to his sport utility vehicle after driving it into the ticket lobby of Kahului Airport, Maui, Hawai'i, 2004
RE: Big Island Charter schools possible closure - Guest - 03-28-2008
An update in todays paper.
Puna school again blocked from sites
It held classes in homes without first obtaining required county permits
RE: Big Island Charter schools possible closure - Bob Orts - 03-28-2008
SHUT THEM DOWN
!]If these parents are so concerned about the childen's education, why don't they open their homes to the school instead of this arrogant attitude that their children have more rights than the property owners where they plopped their school?
I bet those who say leave the poor school alone, will be the FIRST to jump all over the county, building, fire, & planning should anything happen and a child was injured or killed because of code violations. They will be the first to cry out that government shouldn't have let them occupy a building that failed to meet fire and building safety codes. That knowing violations existed and failed to shut the school is negligence and the poor innocent children are the victims. Now somebody tell me that wouldn’t happen!
SHUT THEM DOWN![
!]And while I'm at it...
Are these parents so selfesh that they are willing to ignore safety, building, fire, and heath code issues? Are they saying that the education they feel is best for their brats is more important than their kids SAFETY! If they think they have a right to do as they please, ignore the rules, thumb their noses at codes, and ignore what neighbors feel; they had better not open their flap should anyone do anything in violation of any codes next to their property or in their community.[V]
RE: Big Island Charter schools possible closure - Guest - 03-28-2008
Dang Bob -
Just curious if these schools did anything to you or your property that would piss you off so much personally?
RE: Big Island Charter schools possible closure - Guest - 03-28-2008
quote:
Originally posted by Damon
An update in todays paper.
Puna school again blocked from sites
It held classes in homes without first obtaining required county permits
Funny how two papers can have different takes on the same meeting.
Here is the Tribune's version.
If you really want an interesting read... Hunter Bishop's Post Today explains things a bit further for me.
RE: Big Island Charter schools possible closure - Menehune - 03-28-2008
Dang Damon
- just curious why you think Bob would have to have something done to him and his property; before he could express a STRONG opinion on the health and safety of the children and concern for the surrounding area.
Both articles stated or implied consistent mismanagement by WOL's board/director.
Now my $.02 - Education in Puna has a bad reputation and charter schools are an alternative!
Appears it depends on the school!
What are the children learning from all this?
How to fight "the system"?
How to be a disruptive influence in the community?
How to ignore and circumnavigate the laws established to protect them now and in the future?
How to "whine" and place blame on everyone and every agency for a personal or professional lack of competence?
And no I am not PISSED at anybody PERSONALLY - just my early dementia - I'm PISSED at everyone GENERALLY! [
][:p][8D][][
][}]Time will tell - I'm listening?
Time will tell - I'm speaking?
RE: Big Island Charter schools possible closure - Guest - 03-28-2008
quote:
Originally posted by Menehune
Dang Damon
- just curious why you think Bob would have to have something done to him and his property; before he could express a STRONG opinion on the health and safety of the children and concern for the surrounding area.
.....
I was more or less curious. Soon after I initially posted this topic a few months ago, I started receiving emails in my email box from Parents and Faculty that attended this school. Needless to say, those emails were not very nice to me...
I've always said don't shoot the messenger... however, it appears that some folks involved with WOL will take a shot at anyone that simply mentions there name in a public forum, Public Newspaper, or just in conversation.
So I was curious as to why Bob was so instilled in having the school shutdown completely.
I don't think it needs to be shut down completely, I just think they need to abide by the law like all other schools attempt to.
RE: Big Island Charter schools possible closure - puna haku - 03-28-2008
What many fail to realize is that the health and safety issues is not the issue. The issue is that charter schools do not receive even a penny for facility improvements while public schools receive around a $1,000 a year per student for facilities.
No one involved said these three facilities don’t need to meet health and safety requirements. As recipients of federal funds they are required to do so. Under federal law, DOE public schools are allowed to develop and implement a plan to bring their schools up to standards, including the Americans with Disability Act. They also receive federal funds to do so. Charter schools are barred from using any money for facility improvements. WOL was heavily penalized for using funds to improve their Ala Loop facility even though they received no reply after repeatedly asking the State for guidance.
I’ve been to all three homes, and all 3 are permitted structures. In Hawaii County, according to Chris Yuen, all 3 structures could have an unlimited number of family members living inside. They could have 30 or more kids living there every day as long as they are related—cousins. They are not permitted as commercial structures. The county isn’t likely to give you commercial permits, because they require county water, electricity and a slew of other commercial requirements, such as a commercial kitchen, commercial doors and locks, and a ton more. But remember, they can’t spend any money they receive to do the improvements legally.
All three owners were willing to do the improvements for health and safety. They went to the County for all the requirements. Unlike the federal government, the County says they have to cease and desist until they have achieved all the requirements, but won't tell you what they are,they just tell you to hire a commercial architect.
In addition, with over 45,000 residents there is no suitable vacant land. I know because Chris Yuen agreed. Almost all of Puna is zoned state lands Ag, which bars schools. I’ve read all of the Puna Development Plans, and the HPP plan over the past 25 years and they all say the same thing: The community needs suitable zoning for schools and other commercial uses. But it has never gotten it. It appears the county ends at Hilo. And outside of Puna, there is a lot more suitable land but it’s very expensive and not realistic for Puna residents.
Why are they so tough? It’s a good question. I asked Chris Yuen and he said the State is forcing his hand. Why? I also learned (not from Chris) that for each student in a charter school costs the DOE nearly $10,000 right out of their budget. When you see that public education is declining and charter schools are increasing in enrollment you don’t have to be a genius to see the reason.
In Keaau High, my daughter had MTV all day for social studies all day and year and I never saw her teacher on my 3 visits but I did see a lot of sex (MTV) and actual drug use. Her teachers smoked pot in school as well - interesting lessons. We shifted her and my oldest son through several public and private schools and they were all the pits. I was a certified Sub, and several teachers warned me what I was getting into. I had no idea how pathetic our Public schools are but I guess that's why they are at the bottom of the 50 states. $10-$12K a year and they literally suck. My daughter graduated from HAAS and is doing great in UH. You want to know how to run a school, ask Steve Hirakami - he's terrific and runs circles around the public school administrators, so they will probably shut him down. God bless you Steve!
-Puna Haku
RE: Big Island Charter schools possible closure - Guest - 03-28-2008
quote:
Originally posted by puna haku
.... The issue is that charter schools do not receive even a penny for facility improvements while public schools receive around a $1,000 a year per student for facilities.....
I don't know where your getting your statistics from... I'll address the rest of your post tomorrow.
I think you have information that is incorrect.
Can you post any URL links to anything to back up anything that you are saying?
"Part of the problem was that (charter schools) were not aware of all the changes in the law," Higa said. She said one of the changes set a cap on the amount charter schools would receive............Charter schools have received a little more than two-thirds of their funding for this year, at $2,000 for each child enrolled. They are due about another $900 per pupil.
The allocation to other public schools is based on the per-pupil cost of about $6,000, but BOE officials say that is deceiving because funding for some items are deducted from that figure and the money transferred to other departments that manage those costs."
I'll start with this.