SR 186: requesting the auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Department of Education's process for establishing, classifying, and approving administrative and program positions, and its supervision and evaluation of Complex Area Superintendents.

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	186
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026		S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Department of Education's process for establishing, classifying, and approving administrative and program positions, and its supervision and evaluation of Complex Area Superintendents.

 

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education is one of the largest public agencies in the State and is responsible for the education of the State's public school children; and

 

     WHEREAS, personnel costs represent a significant portion of the Department's budget, and decisions regarding the establishment of administrative and program positions have long‑term fiscal and operational implications; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Superintendent of Education is vested with authority to organize and manage the Department, including the establishment and classification of positions, and to supervise Complex Area Superintendents, who are responsible for the oversight and performance of schools within their respective regions; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Board of Education has a responsibility to provide governance and oversight for the Department, including review and approval of certain organizational structures and positions, and to ensure that appropriate systems are in place to evaluate leadership performance across the Department; and

 

     WHEREAS, ensuring that the creation of positions and the supervision and evaluation of leadership are transparent, consistent, and aligned with legislative intent is essential to maintaining public trust and accountability; and

 

     WHEREAS, questions have been raised regarding the growth, justification, and approval processes for administrative and program positions, as well as the effectiveness of oversight and performance evaluation of Complex Area Superintendents; and

 

     WHEREAS, an independent, objective review of these Department functions by the Auditor would provide clarity regarding current practices and identify opportunities to strengthen governance, efficiency, accountability, and leadership effectiveness; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a performance audit of the Department of Education's process for establishing, classifying, and approving administrative and program positions, and its supervision and evaluation of Complex Area Superintendents; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the audit is requested to include but not be limited to an examination of the following:

 

     (1)  Authority and process, including:

 

          (A)  The statutory and policy authority under which positions are created;

 

          (B)  The process used by the Superintendent of Education to establish new positions; and

 

          (C)  The criteria, documentation, and justification required to establish new positions;

 

     (2)  Board of Education oversight, including:

 

          (A)  The role of the Board of Education in reviewing and approving positions;

 

          (B)  The consistency and rigor of the Board of Education's approval process; and

 

          (C)  Whether the Board of Education is provided sufficient information to exercise effective oversight;

 

     (3)  Growth and trends, including:

 

          (A)  The number and types of administrative and program positions created in the Department of Education over the past ten years; and

 

          (B)  Trends in the growth of administrative positions compared to school-level or classroom positions;

 

     (4)  Alignment with legislative intent, including:

 

          (A)  Whether the positions established align with legislative appropriations and policy objectives; and

 

          (B)  Whether positions are funded as was intended by the Legislature;

 

     (5)  Fiscal impact, including the short- and long-term fiscal impact of newly created positions, taking into account salaries, benefits, and associated costs;

 

     (6)  Organizational efficiency, including:

 

          (A)  Whether there is duplication, overlap, or fragmentation of roles; and

 

          (B)  Whether reporting structures are clear and effective;

 

     (7)  Internal controls and accountability, including:

 

          (A)  The adequacy of internal controls governing position creation and approval; and

 

          (B)  Whether there are safeguards to prevent unnecessary or duplicative positions;

 

     (8)  Transparency and documentation, including:

 

          (A)  Whether sufficient documentation exists to justify the creation of positions; and

 

          (B)  Whether decisions are transparent and accessible to oversight bodies;

 

     (9)  Comparative analysis, including a comparison of the Department of Education's administrative staffing levels and structures to those of similarly sized school systems;

 

    (10)  Supervision of Complex Area Superintendents, including:

 

          (A)  The structure and processes by which the Department of Education supervises Complex Area Superintendents;

 

          (B)  The clarity of roles, responsibilities, and reporting relationships; and

 

          (C)  The extent to which supervision is consistent, documented, and aligned with departmental goals;

 

    (11)  Evaluation of Complex Area Superintendents, including:

 

          (A)  The criteria and metrics used to evaluate performance;

 

          (B)  The frequency and rigor of evaluations;

 

          (C)  Whether evaluations are tied to student outcomes, operational performance, and accountability measures; and

 

          (D)  Whether performance evaluations are used to inform personnel decisions, including retention, promotion, or corrective action;

 

    (12)  Accountability and performance management, including:

 

          (A)  Whether there are clear expectations and accountability mechanisms for Complex Area Superintendents;

 

          (B)  The extent to which underperformance is identified and addressed; and

 

          (C)  Whether there are consistent standards applied across complex areas; and

 

    (13)  Recommendations to improve governance, transparency, efficiency, accountability, and leadership effectiveness; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor, Chairperson of the Board of Education, and Superintendent of Education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report Title: 

DOE; Performance; CAS; Positions; Audit

THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	186
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the auditor to conduct a comprehensive performance and fiscal audit of the governance structure and administrative leadership of the department of education.

 

 

     WHEREAS, article X, section 3, of the Hawaii State Constitution establishes a statewide system of public education administered by the Department of Education under the policy direction of the Board of Education; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education maintains a governance and administrative leadership structure that includes the State Superintendent, Deputy Superintendents, Assistant Superintendents, and Complex Area Superintendents; and

 

     WHEREAS, these leadership positions are responsible for overseeing statewide educational policies, operational management, program implementation, and administrative support functions that affect public schools throughout the State; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature is obligated to ensure that public funds appropriated for the administration of the public education system are used efficiently, effectively, and in a manner that maximizes resources available to support students, teachers, and school-level services; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Education Strategic Plan establishes statewide priorities, goals, and performance objectives intended to guide leadership responsibilities and operational activities within the Department; and

 

     WHEREAS, a comprehensive review of the governance structure and administrative leadership of the Department of Education would provide valuable information to the Legislature regarding whether the current organizational structure effectively supports the goals and objectives of the Department of Education Strategic Plan; and

 

     WHEREAS, a review of administrative leadership positions should include an evaluation of designated job responsibilities, staff assignments, program oversight responsibilities, and measurable performance outcomes associated with leadership and operational duties; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is also important to evaluate the fiscal costs associated with administrative leadership positions, including salaries, benefits, support staff, and other operational expenditures, to determine the total cost of governance infrastructure; and

 

     WHEREAS, a comprehensive fiscal and performance audit may identify opportunities to improve administrative efficiency, restructure divisions, reduce duplication of responsibilities, and strengthen accountability systems for leadership performance across the Department of Education; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that the Auditor is requested to conduct a comprehensive performance and fiscal audit of the governance structure and administrative leadership of the Department of Education; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the audit is requested to include but not be limited to an examination of the following administrative leadership positions:

 

     (1)  The State Superintendent;

 

     (2)  Deputy Superintendents;

 

     (3)  Assistant Superintendents; and

 

     (4)  Complex Area Superintendents; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the audit is requested to examine and describe in detail:

 

     (1)  The designated job responsibilities and authority of each administrative leadership position;

     (2)  The organizational structure and reporting relationships among leadership positions;

 

     (3)  The number of staff positions assigned to support each leadership position;

 

     (4)  The programs, divisions, and operational functions overseen by each leadership position;

 

     (5)  Performance outcomes related to leadership and operational responsibilities and the extent to which those outcomes align with the goals and objectives of the Department of Education Strategic Plan;

 

     (6)  The fiscal cost associated with each leadership position, including salaries, benefits, support staff, and related operational costs;

 

     (7)  The total aggregated fiscal cost of the administrative leadership structure described in this measure;

 

     (8)  The extent to which responsibilities or operational functions overlap or duplicate work across divisions or leadership positions; and

 

     (9)  Opportunities to improve administrative efficiency, fiscal accountability, and organizational effectiveness; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the audit is also requested to identify and provide recommendations regarding:

 

     (1)  The potential restructuring of the Department of Education governance and administrative leadership structure;

 

     (2)  Opportunities to downsize administrative leadership positions where appropriate and when feasible;

 

     (3)  Strategies to minimize duplication of work across departments and leadership levels;

     (4)  Methods to improve clarity of leadership responsibilities and operational oversight; and

 

     (5)  The development of a transparent system of accountability and performance evaluation for administrative leadership positions to ensure alignment with departmental goals and responsibilities; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Auditor is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2027; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Auditor, Chairperson of the Board of Education, and Superintendent of Education.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

 

Report Title: 

DOE; Administration; Governance Structure; Audit