THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

62

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

REQUESTING A REPORT from the CHARTER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE THAT SURVEYS EACH INDIVIDUAL CHARTER SCHOOL IN THE STATE OF HAWAII TO DETERMINE ITS FUNCTION, LOCATION, ENROLLMENT, STAFF SIZE, OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE COSTS, PHYSICAL CONDITION, CURRENT STATUS, AND PROJECTED FUTURE NEEDS.

WHEREAS, each individual charter school is an integral part of the public education system of the State of Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, without continued attention and support from the Legislature, each charter school may not receive the appropriate resources it needs to thrive; and

WHEREAS, a close accounting of each charter school's function, location, enrollment, staff size, operating and maintenance costs, physical condition, and current status is the necessary first step to ensure the proper attention and support from the Legislature; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature intends to meet the future needs of each charter school, and requires a projection of the expected growth and concerns of each charter school to enable proper planning; and

WHEREAS, unlike other public schools, charter schools receive no funding for facilities; and

WHEREAS, supporting the facilities needs of charter schools to enable them to support their projected growth is of critical importance to the success of their students and educational mission; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Charter School Administrative Office is requested to convene a working group to provide a straightforward report on the status of each individual charter school in the State of Hawaii and their future facility needs, including:

(1) The name and location of each charter school;

(2) The enrollment of each charter school;

(3) The staff size of each charter school;

(4) The physical condition of each charter school, including an assessment of whether there is adequate classroom and recreational space for the number of enrolled students;

(5) The function of each charter school, detailed separately and not in the aggregate;

(6) The annual cost of each charter school, including, but not limited to, the lease-rent, operating costs, maintenance costs, and utilities;

(7) The expenditures of each charter school displayed in a straightforward, accessible manner;

(8) A projection of the expected growth and concerns of each charter school in the next two years, five years, and ten years, particularly as it relates to facilities, provided that this projection:

(A) Assume the current enrollment of each charter school, and forecast the expected changes in enrollment;

(B) Assume the current costs of each charter school, and forecast the expected increases or decreases in these costs;

(C) Address the physical condition of each charter school, and forecast physical plant improvements that will be required; and

(D) Be displayed in a straightforward, accessible manner; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to submit its report to the Legislature not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Board of Education, the Executive Director of the Charter School Administrative Office, and the Superintendent of Education.

Report Title:

DOE; Comprehensive Charter School Report Requested; FUTURE