Hawaii SB 248: RELATING TO DECENTRALIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FARM TO SCHOOL.

Bill Text

THE SENATE
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE. 2025
STATE OF HAWAII S.B. NO. 'iHS
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JAN 1 5 2025
A BILL FOR AN ACT
RELATING TO DECENTRALIZATION OF DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FARM TO
SCHOOL.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the school food
services branch of the department of education has experienced
multiple problems over the last two decades. Among other
issues, the branch has not met the requirements of the United
States Department of Agriculture and has failed multiple audits.
The legislature further finds that the State has
established ambitious farm to school goals. Act 175, Session
Laws of Hawaii 2021, requires thirty per cent of food served in
public schools to consist of locally sourced products by 2030.
The legislature further finds that the superintendent of
education, deputy superintendent of operations, and assistant
superintendent for the office of facilities and operations are
responsible for achieving the goals of the farm to school
program. However, there is currently no mechanism in place to
align the work done at the complex area to achieve these goals
with the work done at individual schools. Moreover, except for
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a plan to centralize food production kitchens, the department of
education has not yet produced a plan to create alignment
between the different levels within the department. Before
adopting the plan to centralize food production, it is
recommended that an analysis of costs and benefits be conducted.
The legislature also finds that, despite being responsible
for the implementation of the farm to school goals, the
superintendent of education, deputy superintendent of
operations, and assistant superintendent for the office of
facilities and operations do not have direct control over school
kitchens. No matter what model of food production is ultimately
adopted, school production kitchens will continue to have a
major role due to the devolution of authority to the school
level effectuated by Act 51, Session Laws of Hawaii 2004.
The legislature specifically notes that principals directly
hire cafeteria managers, but that these cafeteria managers do
not have the authority to create regionalized menus or procure
products from local farmers. The State's farm to school goals
also do not involve school principals in a meaningful way
because the collective bargaining agreement that covers
principal performance requires principals to be evaluated using
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the comprehensive evaluation system for school administrators,
which does not evaluate whether a principal's school has
increased the school's use of local, fresh, and nutritious food
sources in student meals.
The legislature finds that one way to realign state goals
and lines of responsibility and authority is to devolve the
responsibility for the attainment of farm to school goals from
the system level to the complex area level. Under this
reorganization, complex area superintendents, who have direct
supervisory control over principals and determine principal
career pathways, can provide appropriate oversight and collect
data necessary to monitor a school's progress in meeting farm to
school goals. This devolution will also contribute positively
to the effective regionalization of school menus and improve the
ability of each complex area to work with and purchase from
local farmers, food hubs, and distributors.
Currently, there are approximately twelve school cafeteria
supervisors who, despite supporting school-level operations, are
part of the State's highly centralized school food authority
structure. The legislature finds that it is desirable to
increase the total number of these positions and require
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individuals in these positions to report to the complex area
superintendents. This will provide complex area superintendents
direct authority over the outcomes in the school kitchens within
their complex areas. Complex area superintendents will be able
to directly supervise and direct the work of complex area-level
cafeteria supervisors, who will still coordinate with state­
level cafeteria lead supervisors working at the system level to
coordinate operations across the State and compile reporting
from the complex areas.
The legislature further finds that this reorganization
would redefine the role of school cafeteria supervisors and
require them to take on a more active and engaged role in the
farm to school shift. Accordingly, it would be appropriate for
the department of human resources development to conduct a
compensation review to ensure that the compensation of school
cafeteria supervisors accurately reflects their scope of
responsibilities.
The purpose of this A