Bill proposing transfer of Ewa Beach Public and School Library to James Campbell High raises staffing, jurisdiction questions

Senate Bill 187, which would transfer the Ewa Beach public and school library from the State Library System to James Campbell High School, drew mixed reactions at a Senate Education hearing as agency attorneys and the state librarian urged lawmakers to clarify the measure's scope.

Deputy Superintendent Dean Uchida testified that the Department of Education supports the community's desire to transfer the library to the high school but warned that the change could create operational challenges, such as staffing the facility outside of school hours. "The department wishes to support the desire of the school community to transfer the Ewa Beach Library to James Campbell High School, but acknowledges the challenges that this could entail such as staffing the library outside of school hours," Uchida said.

Anne Horiuchi of the Department of the Attorney General told the committee the bill as drafted is unclear about what is being transferred. If the intent is to transfer operation and management authority so the school can change hours, that should be explicitly stated. If the bill instead intends to transfer ownership of property, Horiuchi said that authority rests with the Board of Education, not the State Library System or DOE. She also noted that employees of the State Library System and the Department of Education are employed by separate entities; the bill should be revised to address interagency employee transfers if that is the intent.

State Librarian Stacy Aldridge told senators the library is used by both the public and students, and that hours had recently changed. Aldridge said the library opens to students at 7:30 a.m. when a school staff person is present and that the system is reviewing hours statewide to better serve communities. She confirmed the Campbell library had a longtime librarian position that went vacant after a retirement and said filling that position would support student access.

James Campbell High School supporters, including the bill's sponsor and community members, told the committee they want the school to take over maintenance and day‑to‑day operations to increase student access and improve upkeep of the facility, which they described as under‑maintained. Principal and community testimony noted the library is on the school campus and supporters said transferring management to the school would not deny public access and could allow longer weekday hours for students.

Committee members asked the parties to work together on a memorandum of agreement that clarifies hours, staffing responsibility, employee status, property ownership, and community access before any statutory transfer is enacted. The Department of Education said it would check the staffing and funding status of the vacant librarian position and provide information to the committee.

The committee took no final action during the hearing and deferred further decision making to allow agencies and the school to resolve the outstanding legal and operational questions.

Supporters: community members and the school principal. Formal agency interlocutors: Department of Education (Uchida), Department of the Attorney General (Horiuchi) and State Library (Aldridge).