Have you checked out The Hot Seat?

It's our new opinion-page blog that brings in your elected leaders and people in the news and lets you ask the questions.

On The Hot Seat this week was state Board of Education member Karen Knudsen. She answered readers' questions during our live blog chat on charter schools.

An excerpt from that Hot Seat session is printed below. To see the full conversation, go to The Hot Seat blog at blogs.honoluluadver tiser.com and click on "In The Hot Seat: BOE's Karen Knudsen." (Names of questioners are screen names given during the online chat.)

Joe M.: I would like to know Karen's thoughts on the benefits to students who attend charter schools over those who attend public schools. Who receives the better education and why?

Karen Knudsen: Thank you for your question. Actually, who receives a better education depends a lot on a number of variables, including the individual child, the school environment, teachers, etc. Many children thrive in our regular DOE schools and many thrive in the charter schools.

Kate Jacobson: Aloha, Ms. Knudsen, and mahalo for your commitment to public education in Hawai'i. Considering Hawai'i is the only state with a single authorizer and some of the lowest scores on standardized tests, will you work to create alternative authorizers in Hawai'i as recommended by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers?

Knudsen: The issue of "authorizer" has been under discussion with the board as well as members of the state Legislature. We anticipate fuller discussion on this when the legislative session convenes in January.

Kris DeRego: I have two questions for you, one regarding charter schools and the other regarding accountability. First, do you believe that charter school employees should be subject to mandatory collective bargaining? Second, would you favor a comprehensive management audit of the DOE in light of the breathtaking discrepancies discovered at Kailua High School?

Knudsen: Most of our charter school employees are part of collective bargaining. I think most feel it's been a win-win situation.

The board has many discussions about the Kailua High School audit and the implications for our schools state-wide. Yes, we are looking into further audits, but not in a "witch-hunt" mode. We need to identify how funds are being used and ensuring that our principals have adequate tools at their disposal to assist in fiscal matters.

Bill & Natty Prescott: Does the BOE fully support charter schools and their funding? What are CSs doing that can't be done in public schools? Aren't they attracting experienced teachers the DOE can't afford to lose? Aren't they attracting gifted and talented students from public schools? And how will motivation on those they leave be affected as a result of their departure? Aren't they in fact, a "private school" subsidized by the public for a privileged group? TV's Channel 10 aired a charter school for failing students in October 2005 that proved successful in curbing absenteeism and in developing a curriculum designed to meet their needs. Has the DOE thought of this idea or how one like it may be implemented?

Knudsen: You've sent a lot of questions — thank you for your interest. Yes, the BOE does support our charter schools and would like to see them adequately funded.

Students attend charter schools for a variety of reasons and teachers who choose to teach in charter schools also do so for personal reasons. We've found that charter schools have been very good for many of our students. Others find that they prefer to return to, or stay in, our regular public schools. It's so hard to make a blanket statement about the charter schools, since many offer different curriculums and different learning experiences. It's a personal choice.

I don't believe that the charter schools are "private" since they receive public funding and must abide by our state standards.

The Department of Education and the charter schools will learn from each other as we note the achievements (and some failures) as both continue to try to meet the needs of their students.

David Cornejo: Mrs. Knudsen, what is the board doing to end the infighting among its members and political jockeying for leadership positions?

Knudsen: Yes, we're a lively, committed group. I think you'll find that the diverse and talented personalities on the board will put their energies together to make a difference this coming year.

Steve Doyle: Since you were elected in 1990, served in the Peace Corps, worked at the State Judiciary and was an executive for a well-known public-relations firm, I was surprised and disappointed by your participation in the behind-closed-doors firing of Jim Shon. Gov. Linda Lingle strongly advocates "transparency" in state government and this action appears, to many, that BOE members are forgetting that they are elected and not anointed.

The respected and popular Mr. Shon was given the heave-ho with no acceptable explanation to the voters and taxpayers. Even public access to the closed-door deliberations is being stonewalled by BOE. What is going on? And why?

Knudsen: Unfortunately, because this is a personnel issue and to protect the privacy of Mr. Shon, I can't give the answer that you and others would like to hear. Certain portions of the executive session have been released to the public, but again, because it is a personnel issue, I'm not at liberty to discuss the specifics publicly.

This has been a difficult situation for all concerned. We're hoping to move forward and work cooperatively with the interim CSAO until a permanent director is named in the first part of the new year.

David Rizor: The Charter School Network must find a new executive director. However, this will prove difficult given the recent firing of the executive director with only two general reasons given: The board wants to go in a different direction (with charter schools), and the director failed to support board policies. Since it could lead to the firing of a new director if he or she makes the same mistakes, can Ms. Knudsen outline what the "different direction" for charter schools looks like in the view of the BOE, and what policies the previous director failed.

Knudsen: Thank you for your question and for your ongoing interest in our charter schools. Last year's revision to the charter school law helped provide clarity for the CSAO position. In addition, the board is developing a new position description. Although some may hesitate to apply for the new position given the recent publicity, I'm encouraged that others will want to step up to the plate. The position is important and the board wants to see the office succeed. I hope you'll continue to support our efforts — and even offer well-intended criticism when necessary.

Coffee: Karen, thank you for participating in this blog. Do you think that parent participation has anything to do with the success of charter schools? And if you do, do you think it would be a good idea to get parents more involved within the realm of the public schools.

Knudsen: Yes, parent involvement plays a big role in student success. Many charter schools enjoy a high parent participation rate. Parent participation varies from school to school. Our Parent Community Networking Centers at our public schools focus on reaching out to parents. We actively encourage parent participation as much as possible. It makes such a difference in a child's performance and success at school. Even if a parent is busy with work, etc. encouraging a child with their school work or showing an active interest in their studies has a positive impact on student performance.

Ni: Many of the charter schools are focused on the Hawaiian culture, and the students in these schools and their parents display a much higher than average degree of satisfaction with the public school system. That being the case, why is there a choke-hold on the number of charter and conversion-charter schools?

Knudsen: We've also noticed that many of the charter schools with a Hawaiian focus have had a positive impact on our Native Hawaiian students. The passion and commitment many of the students exhibit is a true testament to the success of some of our charter schools.

The number of schools the board can issue charters to is limited by law. However, if a current DOE school wishes to convert to a charter school it can do so at this time.

Curtis Muraoka: There is a broad perception that the BOE is actively obstructing the progress of charter schools. The dismissal of former Executive Director Jim Shon under baffling and obfuscated circumstances, the budget cutting, the "cease and desist" order given to the newly appointed charter school review panel to prevent them from meeting, and the utter lack of progress over drafting of administrative rules, paints a grim picture for the future of charter schools. And all of this is just in the last three months!

What specific ideas on how to nurture a successful charter school system does the BOE plan to put forth?

When can charter schools expect to see broad, positive and supportive action from the BOE, as opposed to what they have predominantly seen over the past six years?

Knudsen: Thank you for your support of Hawai'i's Public Charter Schools. I think the "cease and desist" order may be misunderstood. The board is currently reorganizing with new board members and new committee leadership, etc. The review panel should be "up and running" soon. In fact, the CSAO is meeting with the board office today to discuss the next steps.

I think once the new administrative rules are in place, we'll see that a lot of issues will be clarified. The law has gone through several revisions in recent years — much of it for the better. ... The board is committed to wanting to see the charter schools succeed. I hope that we see real progress in the coming year.

Steve Hirakami: I have appeared before the board on numerous occasions over the past six years. I have always tried to put the focus on the children that we serve. The board has always focused on the adults and people who might have a different perspective or approach. When can we have a meeting of the minds and start considering what's most important: the education of the child.

Knudsen: I've been impressed with your commitment to the charter school movement — and to our schoolchildren. I've admired your testimony, even when we've disagreed on certain issues. You're absolutely right, we need to focus on what's right for the students.

I think the new year will bring about a meeting of the minds. Let's continue the discussion.