School executives to see pay hike
BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVES REQUEST
Hawaii counties
file appeal on
amendment challenge
ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Ruggles
rule pursued
COUNCIL CHAIR
ASKS TO PUT TEETH
IN LAW FOR THOSE
WHO DUCK DUTIES
BY NANCY COOK LAUER
WEST HAWAII TODAY
ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com
Ruggles
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018 WESTHAWAIITODAY.COM 75¢
LIHUE, Kauai — Some
school officials are getting
a raise thanks to a Hawaii
Board of Education decision
to an increase of wages.
The decision came out of
a Department of Education
Superintendent request
and will increase pay ranges
for the deputy superintendent,
assistant superintendents
and complex area
superintendents.
The new pay range for
deputy superintendent will
be $155,000 to $180,000
per year, assistant superintendents
pay range will
be $145,000 to $175,000
per year and complex area
superintendents will earn
between $135,000 to
$170,000 per year.
In a memo dated Sept.
20, Superintendent
Christina Kishimoto stated
performance management
and compensation
are two key areas of the
department’s talent management
strategy.
“To attract and retain
skilled executive leaders to
carry out the mission and
vision of the department,
fair and competitive salaries
are essential,” she said.
According to DOE
communications director
Lindsay Chambers, the current
median salary of executive
level superintendents
is $143,760 and their last
pay raise was in 2017.
“The deputy superintendent
oversees the department’s
15
complex
areas and
numerous
special
projects.
There are
seven assistant
superintendents
that oversee
each
HIDOE
office,” she
said.
Complex
area superintendents
provide support for all of the
schools, k-12, in their complex
area and lead the staff
at the complex level to provide
support for the schools
ranging from human
resources to response guidance,
Chambers said.
In the memo, Kishimoto
said that equitable compensation
for all department
employees is part of
the department’s strategic
plan and will help support
a high-performing culture
where all employees are
effectively contributing to
student success.
“Pay increases need to
keep pace with inflation
as well as be differentiated
based on performance,”
she said.
Currently, there are 19
positions, not covered by
BY BETHANY FREUDENTHAL
THE GARDEN ISLAND
HONOLULU — The four Hawaii counties
have filed an appeal of a ruling denying
their challenge to a proposed constitutional
amendment that asks voters to allow state
lawmakers to impose real property taxes for
public education.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reports
Circuit Judge Jeff Crabtree earlier this month
denied the counties’ initial request to stop the
proposal from going on the Nov. 6 ballot.
The counties argue the proposed amendment
would erode the only source of tax
income they are allowed by the state. They are
seeking to invalidate the ballot question that’s
to be on the November ballot, arguing that
the language is vague, unclear and misleading.
The Hawaii State Teachers Association,
among the proposal’s biggest supporters,
say it could generate between $200 million
and $400 million per year.
A free forum
on the
proposed
property tax
constitutional
amendment
will take place
6-8 p.m.
Wednesday
at the West
Hawaii Civic
Center
County
Council
Chambers,
74-5044 Ane
Keohokalole
Highway.
SEE PAY PAGE 7A
HILO — Faced with the
curious case of a County
Council member who
refuses to vote or sponsor
bills, county legislative
leaders
want
more teeth
added to
local laws
to require
elected
officials
perform to
stricter standards.
At issue is Puna
Councilwoman Jen
Ruggles, who abruptly
announced at an Aug.
21 council meeting she
wouldn’t be participating
SEE RUGGLES PAGE 5A
Two rainbows arch through Kona Sunday morning. SCOTT MUDD/COURTESY PHOTO
KAILUA-KONA — The
Hawaii Island Women’s
Leadership Summit isn’t just
about empowering women in
the community. It’s about forging
a sisterhood that perpetuates
women in leadership roles
and achieving their goals.
“Even though we go our different
ways, we don’t stand alone,”
said Christine Hijirida, the summit’s
co-chairwoman. “They can
call upon that strength.”
In its third year, the summit
will take place Oct. 19 at
the Sheraton Kona Resort and
Spa at Keauhou Bay. This year’s
theme is “Courage to Dream:
Rise to the Challenge.” Jackie
Young, commission chair of the
Judicial Selection Commission
for the state Judiciary, is slated
as the keynote speaker.
The women’s summit is about
bringing women together and
focusing on leadership and different
community issues, said
Hijirida.
There are breakout discussions
that also address business,
finance, well-being and
communication.
“We always have those five
basic components,” she said.
“We try to address the whole
person.”
Young said she plans to speak
about gender equity.
“I have a strong belief that
gender violence in the home
and workplace is a huge inhibitor,”
she said. “By reducing that
women will be freer to make life
choices.”
Young thought the topics
BY TIFFANY DEMASTERS
WEST HAWAII TODAY
tdemasters@westhawaiitoday.com
SEE SUMMIT PAGE 7A
link
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