STAND. COM. REP. NO.326

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2001

RE: H.B. No. 14

H.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say

Speaker, House of Representatives

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2001

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Education, to which was referred H.B. No. 14 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR ADDITIONAL SCHOOL CLERICAL POSITIONS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this bill is to appropriate funds to the Department of Education (DOE) for 292.00 full time equivalent, temporary, school clerical positions.

The Central Oahu Chapter of the Hawaii School Office Services Association and four individuals supported this bill. The Hawaii Government Employees Association and DOE supported the intent of this bill.

Your Committee finds that additional clerical positions are needed in the public school system. A 1990 study found that there was a need for well over 400 new clerical positions in DOE. This study is obviously outdated, and was conducted prior to the Felix Consent Decree, so the current need for clerical staff is likely far greater than the figures calculated in 1990. However, only very few additional clerical positions have been granted to DOE since that study was published. The lack of adequate clerical personnel places a major strain on teachers who are forced to spend an inordinate amount of time on papework. This time could be much better spent on actual instruction and preparation for instruction.

Your Committee has amended this bill by changing the number of clerical positions from 292.00 to 312.00 to reflect the current critical needs of DOE.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Education that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 14, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 14, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Education,

____________________________

KEN ITO, Chair