Committee on Support Services  12/17/07
 
APPROVED STATE OF HAWAII BOARD OF EDUCATION Committee on Support Services (Business and Facilities; Personnel; Information and Telecommunications; Student Safety; Food Services; Student Transportation) Monday, December 17, 2007 Minutes Attendance Board of Education Dr. Lei Ahu Isa, Chairperson Herbert Watanabe, Vice Chairperson Jonathan Allen Dr. Eileen Clarke Mary Cochran, Esq. (Excused) Margaret Cox Breene Harimoto Donna Ikeda Kim Coco Iwamoto, Esq. Karen Knudsen Denise Matsumoto John Penebacker Garrett Toguchi Lea Young, Analyst Department of Education Patricia Hamamoto, Superintendent Clayton Fujie, Deputy Superintendent Fay Ikei, Acting Assistant Superintendent, Office of Human Resources Randy Moore, Assistant Superintendent, OSFSS Others Darwin Ching, Director, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations Walter Chun, Veterans of Safety Tracy Lawson, Veterans of Safety Jennifer Shishido, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting of the Committee on Support Services (Committee) was called to order by Chairperson Lei Ahu Isa at 3:00 p.m. in the Board Room, Queen Liliuokalani Building. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mr. Watanabe moved, and Dr. Clarke seconded, that the Committee approve the minutes of the Committee meeting and executive session held on November 19, 2007. The motion carried unanimously with Dr. Ahu Isa, Dr. Clarke, Ms. Cox, Mr. Harimoto, Ms. Ikeda, Ms. Iwamoto, Mr. Toguchi, and Mr. Watanabe voting aye. There were no nays and no abstentions. III. PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION ON THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION’S OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION VIOLATIONS Mr. Darwin Ching, Director, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), stated that the purpose of his presentation was to make the Board aware of the Department of Education’s (Department) Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) violations. He also stated that DLIR is offering assistance in helping the Board and Department to improve its safety and health program. Ms. Jennifer Shishido of DLIR presented information on the findings of the Department’s OSHA violations (Attachment A). Mr. Walter Chun and Ms. Tracy Lawson of the Veterans of Safety stated that their organization has a Safety Resource Guidance Program that works with audit teams to identify hazards. Ms. Lawson explained that the main goal of their organization is to provide experience to people who work with facilities. She also stated that they provide free once a month mentoring and training. Mr. Watanabe requested the names of the 11 schools that were cited for OSHA violations. Mr. Ching stated that he could provide the Board with that information and that the Department is aware of the problem. Dr. Clarke suggested that rather than responding to individual principals, the complex areas should be involved in the process. Mr. Mark Behrens, Safety and Security Specialist II stated that the Safety and Securities Section are already participating in mock Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division (HIOSH) inspections. He stated that most of the school campuses are over 100 years old and that there are facilities issues. He also stated that the Department is working to raise safety culture and awareness in the schools. Mr. Rodney Iwasaki, Auxiliary Services Specialist III, stated that the Department is working with schools and that it is important to find out what more the Department can do to assist the schools to ensure the safety of its staff and students. Mr. Clayton Fujie, Deputy Superintendent, stated that the recent HIOSH inspection data was brought up at the last leadership meeting with the complex area superintendents. He reported that a walk through checklist was also provided. Mr. Fujie also noted that Mr. Behrens came from HIOSH and is very familiar with the process. In response to Ms. Cox’s question regarding working with the Veterans of Safety group, Mr. Behrens stated that it is the first time the Department is hearing the proposal. Mr. Ching stated that he will provide the Board with updates on the HIOSH inspections and the current proposal. He also reported that both the United Public Workers and Hawaii State Teachers Association were in support of the proposal. IV. DISCUSSION ON THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION’S HEAT ABATEMENT PRIORITY LIST Chairperson Ahu Isa asked what the Department is doing with the list from the consultants who did the study on heat abatement. Mr. Randy Moore, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Facilities and Support Services, stated that the study did not consider noise abatement and that it also did not look at individual buildings on campus. Mr. Moore reported that it would cost approximately $1.5 billion to put air conditioning in all schools. He stated that the Department would rather remedy hot classrooms, such as portable classrooms with poor insulation and ventilation. Mr. Moore also reported that the Department is looking into other alternatives to cooling classrooms with air conditioning. In response to Mr. Harimoto’s question regarding how the Department will prioritize which schools will get air conditioning first, Mr. Moore stated that he will be working with the complex area superintendents before developing a priority list. Mr. Harimoto expressed his concerns that the Ewa and Waianae schools are not at the top of the priority list provided by the consultant. Dr. Clarke asked if the Department will be providing the Board with a report on heat and noise abatement. Mr. Moore stated that it would not be possible to come up with a priority list that everyone agrees with. Ms. Matsumoto stated that it makes sense to approach the air conditioning priorities by classroom instead of by school. Ms. Iwamoto suggested that the Department do a study on the generation of heat by students, teachers, and equipment in classrooms as well. V. ** EXECUTIVE SESSION ON THE FOLLOWING PERSONNEL MATTERS:
 Mr. Watanabe moved, and Dr. Clarke seconded that the Committee move into executive session. The Committee went into executive session at 4:10 p.m. and reconvened into open session at 5:10 p.m. ♣ Discussion/recommendation for Board action on the appointment to the Department of Education Office of Human Resources Assistant Superintendent position ♣ Monitoring and supervision of principals ♣ Alcohol and drug testing of Department of Education employees VI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m. ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENT A: HIOSH Safety Checklist Program for Schools Proposed Worker Safety and Health Assistance Plan for DOE NIOSH Safety Checklist Program for Schools Safety & Health in DOE Schools PowerPoint Presentation Minutes 12-17-07 (ATTACHMENT).pdf E12EDD20-F4ED-4709-B83F-AF85B753FECB_files/Minutes%2012-17-07%20%28ATTACHMENT%29.pdfshapeimage_1_link_0
Monday, December 17, 2007