Army signs Native Hawaiian covenant
Posted: Mar 24, 2010 6:02 PM Updated: Mar 24, 2010 6:02 PM
WAIKIKI (HawaiiNewsNow) – The Native Hawaiian community and the military have often been at odds over the use of land across the islands. But Wednesday, representatives from both signed a promise to work together.
It’s called the Native Hawaiian Covenant, a simple one-page statement along with six goals designed to heal the hard feelings between the two groups.
The Royal Order of Kamehameha started the ceremony with an offering at the Kukalepa Memorial at Fort DeRussy. The memorial stands in honor of maoli killed in battles. After the playing of the Star Spangled Banner and Hawaii Ponoi, members of the army and the Native Hawaiian Community stepped forward to sign the covenant.
It states the army will work to protect and preserve the fragile environment of the islands, as well as keep a dialogue open with Native Hawaiians while meeting the military’s missions.
One development is already planned at Makua Valley. The leeward Oahu training ground has been the center of several battles from groups who say military action there is destroying cultural sites and living species
“Through funding obtained from Senator Daniel Inouye’s office, we are creating a visitor’s center at the Makua Military reservation that will provide a location to describe the history of the valley and the rare cultural artifacts and unique plants and animal life located in that beautiful valley,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Terry, the Commanding General of the U.S. Army Hawaii. “We encourage people to visit Makua and fully support cultural access events and activities there.”
“It is the responsibility of the army and other other branches of service to safeguard us from unwarranted aggression,” said Neil Hannahs, a Kamehameha Schools Land Manager and member of the Native Hawaiian Advisory Council formed for this covenant. “The Kanaka Maoli advisory council recognizes these circumstances, and strives through this covenant to respect the importance of host culture needs and values while also recognizing the contribution of the military’s presence in ensuring our security and freedom.”
The covenant ceremony ended with hula, and the planting of an ulu to symbolize a new beginning.
Here is the complete text of the Native Hawaiian Covenant:
US Army-Hawaii’s Covenant with Native Hawaiians
We recognize that…
…The Native Hawaiians are nâ kanaka ôîwi Hawaii…the aboriginal peoples of Hawai’i.
…Native Hawaiian’ cultural and historical experiences are shaped by the land and surrounding ocean…that as the Army maintains and uses the land of Hawai’i, it is mindful to protect and preserve this fragile environment and ensure that what remains is a meaningful legacy for future generations.
We are committed to:
Providing sustainable installation support and services for Joint War fighters, our Army Families, and the military community that meets current and future mission requirements, safeguards human health, improves quality of life and enhances the natural environment;
Providing proactive dialogue with Native Hawaiians to ensure the meaningful exchange of information and to enable sound, informed decisions by the Army that respects the legacy of the Native people of Hawai’i while meeting the mission and goals of the Army;
Building a partnership between the Native Hawaiian community and the US Army, a relationship that promotes mutual cooperation, understanding and enhances the standing of each within the community;
We are committed to a mutually beneficial relationship between Native Hawaiians and the US Army, Hawai’i by:
- Enhancing education and understanding of Native Hawaiian issues, culture, and values to Army Soldiers and Families
- Enhancing education and understanding of Army values, culture and actions to the Native Hawaiian community
- Leveraging opportunities for proactive dialogue between the Army and Native Hawaiians
Showing posts with label Schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Schools. Show all posts
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Students question officials on DEIS
Students question officials on DEIS
Posted: Jan 25, 2010 10:22 PM PST
by Michele Catahay
Guam - It seems that the military buildup will have a major impact on schools. During the public hearing last night, several public school students questioned officials why they are ill informed about the movement of U.S. Marines to Guam.
Department of Education Superintendent Dr. Nerissa Bretania Underwood says she's been told by secondary and elementary school officials that teachers have been discussing the Draft EIS during history and social studies classes. She says she's hoping to draw together stakeholders to examine the impact.
"We're hoping that in working with the Governor's Office that there will be that youth forum where representatives of our youth throughout the island will actually have the opportunity to voice their concerns and also whatever thoughts they have regarding the potential impacts of the military buildup," she said.
Posted: Jan 25, 2010 10:22 PM PST
by Michele Catahay
Guam - It seems that the military buildup will have a major impact on schools. During the public hearing last night, several public school students questioned officials why they are ill informed about the movement of U.S. Marines to Guam.
Department of Education Superintendent Dr. Nerissa Bretania Underwood says she's been told by secondary and elementary school officials that teachers have been discussing the Draft EIS during history and social studies classes. She says she's hoping to draw together stakeholders to examine the impact.
"We're hoping that in working with the Governor's Office that there will be that youth forum where representatives of our youth throughout the island will actually have the opportunity to voice their concerns and also whatever thoughts they have regarding the potential impacts of the military buildup," she said.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Six more schools needed
Six more schools needed
Draft EIS estimates 6,268 new students by 2014
By Brett Kelman • Pacific Daily News • December 24, 2009
The coming military buildup could require the local government to spend almost $100 million to build as many as six new schools.
Yesterday, Guam Department of Education Superintendent Nerissa Bretania Underwood said military growth estimates are lower than expected. When DOE performed its own estimates in November, buildup growth was expected to be more dramatic and more expensive, she said.
"What I was reading today from the draft (Environmental Impact Statement) the impact was a bit less than what we had anticipated," Underwood said yesterday morning.
According to population estimates in the draft EIS, public schools should be ready to absorb about 6,268 new students by the peak of the buildup in 2014.
These will be the children of workers who come to Guam for jobs in the expanding civilian economy. Military dependents and most civilians who work for the Department of Defense can send their children to military schools, the draft EIS states.
The new public school students include:
•About 3,173 elementary school students, which is enough to fill four schools;
•About 1,331 middle school students, which could fill one large middle school or be split between two schools; and
•About 1,764 high school students, which will fill one medium-to large-sized high school.
Underwood said she needs more information about what region on the island these children will live in to plan for the future. Although most of the buildup activity will take place in northern and central Guam, these families will not necessarily live in those areas.
Housing shortages may force workers to commute from the southern half of the island. And because some of Guam's southern schools have empty space, this could lessen the amount of growth needed, Underwood said.
Southern High School is only half full, she said.
"The island is small enough. We have to determine where these school are needed," Underwood said. "... Depending on the more accurate data we will get, the south may be able to absorb some of the need for additional schools."
Also, the draft EIS doesn't factor the capacity of local private schools to absorb students, so some of this growth may fall outside of DOE, Underwood said.
Construction
Even if there were no military buildup on the horizon, DOE would still need to build.
More schools are already needed in northern Guam today, Underwood said. The growth required by the coming military buildup stack on an existing demand for new schools to serve the existing student population.
DOE already needs a new northern middle and high school, but the land where these were going to be built will be absorbed by a proposed military firing range, Underwood said.
The new high school might be moved to the Ysengsong Road area and a new middle school might be built behind J.M Guerrero Elementary School, Underwood said.
New northern elementary schools are filling up quickly, too.
Guam already needs another elementary school, and Machananao Elementary, one of the most northern schools, might need to expand also, Underwood said.
Teachers
With more students and more schools, public schools will need more teachers.
Guam DOE will need about 420 new teachers by 2014, the draft EIS states. That need doesn't include existing teacher shortages, which plague the school system almost every year.
Since a nationwide teacher shortage is forcing school districts to compete for limited manpower, Guam's best hope for teachers is to grow its own, Underwood said.
"I attended the graduation at the University of Guam. And they aren't going to be able to meet this unless we do our part to start engaging our students (who want to be teachers)," Underwood said.
Underwood said students who have a good experience in public schools are more likely to return as teachers.
Underwood said she was formerly worried that the school system would lose its teachers to the expanding Department of Defense Education Activity school system, which pays higher salaries and has newer facilities.
On Tuesday, DODEA leaders said they would recruit from a large off-island applicant pool instead of pilfering from local schools. Underwood said she is no longer worried about the teacher work force shrinking.
The draft EIS said military dependents who move to Guam because of the buildup could become teachers in local public schools. They could also work in military schools.
Draft EIS estimates 6,268 new students by 2014
By Brett Kelman • Pacific Daily News • December 24, 2009
The coming military buildup could require the local government to spend almost $100 million to build as many as six new schools.
Yesterday, Guam Department of Education Superintendent Nerissa Bretania Underwood said military growth estimates are lower than expected. When DOE performed its own estimates in November, buildup growth was expected to be more dramatic and more expensive, she said.
"What I was reading today from the draft (Environmental Impact Statement) the impact was a bit less than what we had anticipated," Underwood said yesterday morning.
According to population estimates in the draft EIS, public schools should be ready to absorb about 6,268 new students by the peak of the buildup in 2014.
These will be the children of workers who come to Guam for jobs in the expanding civilian economy. Military dependents and most civilians who work for the Department of Defense can send their children to military schools, the draft EIS states.
The new public school students include:
•About 3,173 elementary school students, which is enough to fill four schools;
•About 1,331 middle school students, which could fill one large middle school or be split between two schools; and
•About 1,764 high school students, which will fill one medium-to large-sized high school.
Underwood said she needs more information about what region on the island these children will live in to plan for the future. Although most of the buildup activity will take place in northern and central Guam, these families will not necessarily live in those areas.
Housing shortages may force workers to commute from the southern half of the island. And because some of Guam's southern schools have empty space, this could lessen the amount of growth needed, Underwood said.
Southern High School is only half full, she said.
"The island is small enough. We have to determine where these school are needed," Underwood said. "... Depending on the more accurate data we will get, the south may be able to absorb some of the need for additional schools."
Also, the draft EIS doesn't factor the capacity of local private schools to absorb students, so some of this growth may fall outside of DOE, Underwood said.
Construction
Even if there were no military buildup on the horizon, DOE would still need to build.
More schools are already needed in northern Guam today, Underwood said. The growth required by the coming military buildup stack on an existing demand for new schools to serve the existing student population.
DOE already needs a new northern middle and high school, but the land where these were going to be built will be absorbed by a proposed military firing range, Underwood said.
The new high school might be moved to the Ysengsong Road area and a new middle school might be built behind J.M Guerrero Elementary School, Underwood said.
New northern elementary schools are filling up quickly, too.
Guam already needs another elementary school, and Machananao Elementary, one of the most northern schools, might need to expand also, Underwood said.
Teachers
With more students and more schools, public schools will need more teachers.
Guam DOE will need about 420 new teachers by 2014, the draft EIS states. That need doesn't include existing teacher shortages, which plague the school system almost every year.
Since a nationwide teacher shortage is forcing school districts to compete for limited manpower, Guam's best hope for teachers is to grow its own, Underwood said.
"I attended the graduation at the University of Guam. And they aren't going to be able to meet this unless we do our part to start engaging our students (who want to be teachers)," Underwood said.
Underwood said students who have a good experience in public schools are more likely to return as teachers.
Underwood said she was formerly worried that the school system would lose its teachers to the expanding Department of Defense Education Activity school system, which pays higher salaries and has newer facilities.
On Tuesday, DODEA leaders said they would recruit from a large off-island applicant pool instead of pilfering from local schools. Underwood said she is no longer worried about the teacher work force shrinking.
The draft EIS said military dependents who move to Guam because of the buildup could become teachers in local public schools. They could also work in military schools.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
Student Protection from Recruiters in Hawai'i Schools
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2360
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96804
D A T E
08/05/2009 Action Required
Originating Office: Office of Information Technology Services,
Branch: IRMB
TO:
Complex Area Superintendents
Principals (all)
School Counselors
Testing Coordinators Due Date:
c:
Assistant Superintendents
Superintendent’s Office Directors
Deputy Superintendent
Charter School Administrative Office
Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Services
Office of Information Technology Services
F R O M:
Patricia Hamamoto, Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent
SUBJECT: ARMED SERVICES VOCATIONAL APTITUDE BATTERY (ASVAB) TEST ADMINISTRATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DOE) SCHOOLS
The ASVAB test is a voluntary aptitude test available to high school students. The results of the ASVAB test provide career/vocational guidance and establish eligibility for enlistment into the military.
Effective immediately, all DOE schools that administer the ASVAB test will choose “Option 8″ for test administration. This option means that no student information will be released to the military services through the ASVAB test unless a student chooses to opt-in. Schools may also choose not to administer the ASVAB test.
The ASVAB test administration requires a student who chooses to take the test to sign a privacy act statement which reads, “Purpose: To compute and furnish test score products for career/vocational guidance and group assessment of aptitude test performance; for up to 2 years, to establish eligibility for enlistment (only for students at the eleventh grade or higher and only with the expressed permission of the school); for marketing evaluation, assessment of manpower trends and characteristics; and for related statistical studies and reports.” Without the student signature on the privacy act statement, his/her test will not be scored. School principals must be aware of this and notify the student and parent that they must opt-in for release of information in order to take the ASVAB test.
Students who opt-in to take the ASVAB test will be allowing their personal information to be released to the military through the ASVAB test and to be contacted by a military recruiter. Students who wish to opt-in to take the test must visit their local military recruiting office for the appropriate forms to do so. Attached are sample copies of the Form 680 to opt-in and Page 2 of the ASVAB test answer sheet.
If you need further assistance, please contact Karl Yoshida, Director, or Helen Uyehara, Information Specialist, Information Resource Management Branch, at 692-7263, or via lotus notes.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O. BOX 2360
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96804
D A T E
08/05/2009 Action Required
Originating Office: Office of Information Technology Services,
Branch: IRMB
TO:
Complex Area Superintendents
Principals (all)
School Counselors
Testing Coordinators Due Date:
c:
Assistant Superintendents
Superintendent’s Office Directors
Deputy Superintendent
Charter School Administrative Office
Office of Curriculum, Instruction and Student Services
Office of Information Technology Services
F R O M:
Patricia Hamamoto, Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent
SUBJECT: ARMED SERVICES VOCATIONAL APTITUDE BATTERY (ASVAB) TEST ADMINISTRATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (DOE) SCHOOLS
The ASVAB test is a voluntary aptitude test available to high school students. The results of the ASVAB test provide career/vocational guidance and establish eligibility for enlistment into the military.
Effective immediately, all DOE schools that administer the ASVAB test will choose “Option 8″ for test administration. This option means that no student information will be released to the military services through the ASVAB test unless a student chooses to opt-in. Schools may also choose not to administer the ASVAB test.
The ASVAB test administration requires a student who chooses to take the test to sign a privacy act statement which reads, “Purpose: To compute and furnish test score products for career/vocational guidance and group assessment of aptitude test performance; for up to 2 years, to establish eligibility for enlistment (only for students at the eleventh grade or higher and only with the expressed permission of the school); for marketing evaluation, assessment of manpower trends and characteristics; and for related statistical studies and reports.” Without the student signature on the privacy act statement, his/her test will not be scored. School principals must be aware of this and notify the student and parent that they must opt-in for release of information in order to take the ASVAB test.
Students who opt-in to take the ASVAB test will be allowing their personal information to be released to the military through the ASVAB test and to be contacted by a military recruiter. Students who wish to opt-in to take the test must visit their local military recruiting office for the appropriate forms to do so. Attached are sample copies of the Form 680 to opt-in and Page 2 of the ASVAB test answer sheet.
If you need further assistance, please contact Karl Yoshida, Director, or Helen Uyehara, Information Specialist, Information Resource Management Branch, at 692-7263, or via lotus notes.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Senators to Unveil New Capital Improvement Plan
Senators to unveil new capital improvement plan
Monday, 18 August 2008 00:00 by Therese Hart
Variety News Staff
SPEAKER Judi Won Pat and Sen. Tina Muna Barnes today will announce a two-phase capital improvement plan that will address various challenges facing the community including the construction of a new building for John F. Kennedy High School, the rehabilitation of existing schools and the expansion of other government offices.
The senators will hold a press conference today at 2 p.m. in the Legislature's public hearing room to unveil the plan.
"It's innovative in a way and I think it's timely, especially with all the different plans regarding JFK and what's happening with students having to double session at George Washington," Won Pat said yesterday.
Phase two will include the construction of a public safety building, refurbishment and expansion of the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, improvements to the Guam Community College and the University of Guam, a dedicated building for the Department of Revenue and Taxation, as well as the construction of land resource building for the Chamorro Land Trust Commission, the Department of Land Management, Ancestral Lands and other government entities dealing with land. It will also include the construction of the Guam Museum.
"Guam must prepare for the inevitable military buildup. I'm hoping that this two-phase CIP plan will evolve into a master plan that will run parallel to the buildup as we move forward to renovating and upgrading our government-wide facilities, as well as improving our overall effectiveness and efficiency in serving the needs of our island community," Muna-Barnes said.
"It's going to take money and it's going to take committed public servants to make this a reality. Speaker Won Pat and I are asking for our colleagues' support because this isn't about the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. Rather, this is a coming together of public servants who desire to prepare Guam and her people for the future," Muna Barnes added.
Monday, 18 August 2008 00:00 by Therese Hart
Variety News Staff
SPEAKER Judi Won Pat and Sen. Tina Muna Barnes today will announce a two-phase capital improvement plan that will address various challenges facing the community including the construction of a new building for John F. Kennedy High School, the rehabilitation of existing schools and the expansion of other government offices.
The senators will hold a press conference today at 2 p.m. in the Legislature's public hearing room to unveil the plan.
"It's innovative in a way and I think it's timely, especially with all the different plans regarding JFK and what's happening with students having to double session at George Washington," Won Pat said yesterday.
Phase two will include the construction of a public safety building, refurbishment and expansion of the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, improvements to the Guam Community College and the University of Guam, a dedicated building for the Department of Revenue and Taxation, as well as the construction of land resource building for the Chamorro Land Trust Commission, the Department of Land Management, Ancestral Lands and other government entities dealing with land. It will also include the construction of the Guam Museum.
"Guam must prepare for the inevitable military buildup. I'm hoping that this two-phase CIP plan will evolve into a master plan that will run parallel to the buildup as we move forward to renovating and upgrading our government-wide facilities, as well as improving our overall effectiveness and efficiency in serving the needs of our island community," Muna-Barnes said.
"It's going to take money and it's going to take committed public servants to make this a reality. Speaker Won Pat and I are asking for our colleagues' support because this isn't about the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. Rather, this is a coming together of public servants who desire to prepare Guam and her people for the future," Muna Barnes added.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Guam Legislature All-Nighter
Guam Senators Pull All-Nighter Saturday;
Fund GPSS, Nuclear Leak Study, Support Agent Orange Legislation
Written by Patti Arroyo,
Pacific News Center - Guam, Saipan, CNMI, Asia-Pacific
Monday, August 11, 2008 08:38 AM
Guam - Barely into Sunday morning, lawmakers had just voted on a number of measures, including legislation to further aid the schools.
They passed a measure that gives the Guam Public School System (GPSS) $7.8 million for a late book order. Earlier, they heard the news that the school lunch program was short nearly $3 million on outstanding commodity invoices. This threatened the school lunch program.
Lawmakers reluctantly included an appropriation from next fiscal year’s revenues, to give fund GPSS needs. Finance senator Eddie Calvo was the sole vote against the legislation, calling it a pork barrel bill since the measure originally lifted population caps for newly constructed schools.
But Superintendent Nerissa Bretania Shafer said, “ It’s like Christmas for the children”.
Lawmakers also unanimously passed bills that provide funding to start an independent study on the nuclear leak in Apra Harbor and aid in the eradication efforts for the rhinoceros beetle; begin a graduated pay raise for law enforcement officials; and limit the term of acting directors and commission members. They also passed that measure that restricts travel to Guam from areas deemed a health hazard by the Centers for Disease Control.
They also voted to support Agent Orange legislation introduced by a California Congressman, which would extend benefits to include military and civilian employees exposed to stored agent orange.
Fund GPSS, Nuclear Leak Study, Support Agent Orange Legislation
Written by Patti Arroyo,
Pacific News Center - Guam, Saipan, CNMI, Asia-Pacific
Monday, August 11, 2008 08:38 AM
Guam - Barely into Sunday morning, lawmakers had just voted on a number of measures, including legislation to further aid the schools.
They passed a measure that gives the Guam Public School System (GPSS) $7.8 million for a late book order. Earlier, they heard the news that the school lunch program was short nearly $3 million on outstanding commodity invoices. This threatened the school lunch program.
Lawmakers reluctantly included an appropriation from next fiscal year’s revenues, to give fund GPSS needs. Finance senator Eddie Calvo was the sole vote against the legislation, calling it a pork barrel bill since the measure originally lifted population caps for newly constructed schools.
But Superintendent Nerissa Bretania Shafer said, “ It’s like Christmas for the children”.
Lawmakers also unanimously passed bills that provide funding to start an independent study on the nuclear leak in Apra Harbor and aid in the eradication efforts for the rhinoceros beetle; begin a graduated pay raise for law enforcement officials; and limit the term of acting directors and commission members. They also passed that measure that restricts travel to Guam from areas deemed a health hazard by the Centers for Disease Control.
They also voted to support Agent Orange legislation introduced by a California Congressman, which would extend benefits to include military and civilian employees exposed to stored agent orange.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Local bigwigs in flap after U.S. military jeep does U-turn in school parking lot
Mainichi Daily News
URUMA, Okinawa -- Local education officials are complaining after a U.S. military jeep used a parking lot at a school for disabled students to do a U-turn, local officials said.
The Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education plans to file a protest with the U.S. forces over the incident as early as Friday.
According to officials, the medium-sized two-seater jeep drove onto the premises of the Okinawa prefectural high school for the mentally disabled in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture, at around 2 p.m. on Thursday.
The jeep made a U-turn in a parking lot about 30 meters away from the main gate and left the premises about 1 1/2 minutes later.
Around 70 teachers were in the school at the time. There were no students due to spring break.
This was not the first case of intrusion by U.S. military vehicles into schools in Okinawa. A U.S. Marines armored vehicle entered the same high school on July 18 last year, while another U.S. military truck entered the Okinawa Prefectural Maehara High School on Aug. 6 last year. Both schools are about 1 kilometer away from each other.
"When we filed a protest against the intrusions last year, the U.S. military said they would take thorough measures to stop it from happening again. Here comes an intrusion again, right after prefectural citizens held a rally protesting the incidents (triggered by U.S. servicemen)," said Morikazu Nakamura, superintendent of the prefectural board of education.
(Mainichi Japan) March 28, 2008
Mainichi Daily News
URUMA, Okinawa -- Local education officials are complaining after a U.S. military jeep used a parking lot at a school for disabled students to do a U-turn, local officials said.
The Okinawa Prefectural Board of Education plans to file a protest with the U.S. forces over the incident as early as Friday.
According to officials, the medium-sized two-seater jeep drove onto the premises of the Okinawa prefectural high school for the mentally disabled in Uruma, Okinawa Prefecture, at around 2 p.m. on Thursday.
The jeep made a U-turn in a parking lot about 30 meters away from the main gate and left the premises about 1 1/2 minutes later.
Around 70 teachers were in the school at the time. There were no students due to spring break.
This was not the first case of intrusion by U.S. military vehicles into schools in Okinawa. A U.S. Marines armored vehicle entered the same high school on July 18 last year, while another U.S. military truck entered the Okinawa Prefectural Maehara High School on Aug. 6 last year. Both schools are about 1 kilometer away from each other.
"When we filed a protest against the intrusions last year, the U.S. military said they would take thorough measures to stop it from happening again. Here comes an intrusion again, right after prefectural citizens held a rally protesting the incidents (triggered by U.S. servicemen)," said Morikazu Nakamura, superintendent of the prefectural board of education.
(Mainichi Japan) March 28, 2008
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