The Hawaiʻi State Public Charter School Commission is now accepting applications for persons interested in serving as governing board members of Ka Waihona o Ka Naʻauao Public Charter School in Nānākuli.

The Commission today, Friday, August 31, 2018, voted unanimously to issue a Notice of Reconstitution for the Governing Board of Ka Waihona o Ka Naʻauao Public Charter School after it found that the governing board had failed to manage the financial performance of the school. The Commission was compelled to act in the best interest of the school, its students, staff and the community.

The Commission raised concerns about the school's financial performance more than eleven months ago in hopes the governing board and school leadership would remedy the situation on its own without intervention. When it became clear to the Commission that the governing board was not going to be able to take the necessary corrective actions, the Commission voted to reconstitute the board.

Under Hawaiʻi State law, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes ("HRS") §302D-17(d), the Commission has the authority to replace up to, but no more than, the number of governing board members necessary so that the newly appointed members constitute a voting majority in accordance with the governing board's bylaws. For Ka Waihona o Ka Naʻauao Public Charter School, their governing board requires seven members, with three members from the former board and four new members.

Being a member of a governing board of a public charter school is a position of public trust and fiduciary responsibility. Board members are responsible for ensuring the quality of the school's educational, financial, and organizational plans. They must also be competent stewards of public funds, and must ensure the school fulfills its public obligations and all terms of its Charter Contract.

The Commission is now accepting applications until 5:00 PM on Monday, September 10, 2018. The Commission will receive testimony and is scheduled to take action on appointing transitional governing board members at its general business meeting on Thursday, September 13, 2018.

The application to serve on the transitional governing board can be found on the Commission's website: http://www.chartercommission.hawaii.gov/ or call the Commission office at (808)586-3775.