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Committee hears support for community schools bill; DOE flags budget tradeoffs
Summary
HB 754, which would fund community schools and a program manager position in DOE, drew broad support from nonprofits and teachers; DOE said it supports the model but asked that appropriations not adversely affect the governor‑approved budget. The committee deferred the bill for further consideration.
Witnesses at the Senate Committee on Education hearing urged support for House Bill 754, HD2, which would appropriate funds to the Department of Education to support community schools and establish a program manager position.
Proponents described community schools as hubs that coordinate community resources to support students and families, and they cited examples of improved attendance and academic measures where community school models operate. "The community schools function as the hub of the community where community resources are coordinated to support the needs of the kids and the families," said Paula Adams of the Hawaii After School Alliance, who described attendance and proficiency gains at schools using the model. Herb Lee Jr., CEO of a nonprofit that supports Waimanalo schools, and representatives from Hawaii Kids Can and the Hawaii State Teachers Association also testified in support.
Department of Education witnesses said the department supports the benefits of community schools but asked that any appropriation not adversely affect the department's governor‑approved budget. Committee members highlighted the need to balance priorities across departmental budgets when adding new programs and noted that funding must come from within available resources.
The committee recorded a recommendation to defer House Bill 754 for further consideration. The chair warned that adding programs mid‑budget requires tradeoffs and that committee and department priorities must be balanced when considering new appropriations.
Votes at a glance: HB 754, HD2 — Committee recommendation: defer (as recorded in the hearing transcript).
