About the LSB Archive

This archive was created in response to Act 298, the charter school omnibus bill [SB2719 CD1], passed during the 2006 legislative session. This bill revised charter school law in Hawai'i.

The local school boards (LSBs) for charter schools in Hawai'i remain exempt from the State's Sunshine Law. However, the LSBs are required to make public their meeting agendas and minutes.

This archive was created to help satisfy that requirement.

What is a "local school board?"

Local school board is defined in HRS 302B-1 as

• "the autonomous governing body of a charter school that receives the charter and is responsible for the financial and academic viability of the charter school, implementation of the charter, and the independent authority to determine the organization and management of the school, the curriculum, virtual education, and compliance with applicable federal and state laws, and that has the power to negotiate supplemental collective bargaining agreements with exclusive representatives of their employees."

Who serves on the local school board?

HRS 302B-7(a) says that, with the exception of conversion charter schools that are run by a non-profit organization, the local school board has to have at least one representative from each of the following groups:

• the principal
• teachers
• support staff
• parents of students at the school
• the student body, and
• the community at large

Are there any restrictions on the role a local school board member can fulfill?

HRS 302B-7(b) says

• "No chief executive officer, chief administrative officer, executive director, or otherwise designated head of a school may serve as the chair of the local school board."

Does the Sunshine Law apply to local school boards?

No. HRS 302B-7(e) says that local school boards are exempt from Chapters 91 and 92, however the boards must make available their meeting notices, agendas, and minutes.

What does the law say about how and when the local school boards need to share these things?

The local school board must make meeting notices and agendas available at least six calendar days before a public meeting on the board's or charter school's website. Notices and agendas also need to be publicly accessible at the board's or the CSAO"s office during regular business hours.

The local school board must make their minutes available "on a timely basis" on the board's or charter school's website and in the board's or CSAO's office during regular business hours.

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