Disappeared News

by Larry Geller

I wrote on September 15 about a meeting agenda that was too simple to pass Sunshine Law muster (and about Gov. Abercrombie’s secret proclamation). The agenda didn’t provide information to the public on what was discussed. Here it is again, in its original form:

I. CALL TO ORDER
II. ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM PRIOR MEETINGS
III. GENERAL BUSINESS
IV. PRESENTATION BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
CHARTER SCHOOLS ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
V. DISCUSSION
VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Then I learned on September 16 that the meeting was postponed following my complaint.

Here is the shiny new agenda, and What A Difference! I suggest that it is a model that some other commissions might want to adopt. And it is for September 27, so there is plenty of public notice.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. ADOPTION OF MINUTES FROM PRIOR MEETINGS

III. PRESENTATIONS:

Update reports on State Fiscal Stabilization Funds (SFSF) provided by the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 through the US Department of Education

A. Office of the Governor

Update report on expenditures for the following ARRA awards

Part A – Funds used to stabilize state budgets in order to minimize reduction in education funding for the Department of Education, Charter Schools and University of Hawaii

Part B – Governor's discretionary funds used for education by the Depart of Education, Charter Schools and University of Hawaii

B. The Department of Education

Update report on expenditures for the following ARRA awards

Part A – Used to offset legislative reductions

Part B – Governor's discretionary funds

Race to the Top

Title I – of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) – Disadvantaged Students

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Title II of the ESEA – Educational Technology

Special Education Preschool

Education for the Homeless children and youth

Child Nutrition programs

School Improvement Grant (original)

School Improvement Grant (9/24/10)

C. Charter Schools Administrative Office

Update report on expenditures on the following ARRA awards

Part A – Used to offset legislative reductions

Part B – Governor's discretionary funds

D. University of Hawaii

Update report on expenditures on the following ARRA awards

Part A – Used to offset legislative reductions

Part B – Governor's discretionary funds

Competitive Awards (82) - To conduct research and training primarily in scientific and health related fields and to provide and/or upgrade broadband fiber optic connectivity and wireless connections.

IV. PUBLIC TESTIMONY AND COMMENTS

Please send to Park@capitol.hawaii.gov or fax to (808)586-7109

V. ANNOUNCEMENTS

PUBLIC MEETING November 8, 2011

So now I’d like to applaud the Legislative Federal Economic Stimulus Program Oversight Commission. There should be some award. Really, it is very refreshing. More often a chair resists making changes to comply with the Sunshine law. For example, the Reapportionment Commission is still defending the addition of the non-resident issue to an agenda without public notice. That’s a more typical response.

Permalink posted by Larry @ 9/19/2011 08:47:00 PM