After obtaining a letter from HGEA addressed to Sen. Donna Mercado Kim, KHON-2’s Jill Kuramoto spoke with Executive Director Randy Perreira about his condemnation of Kim for her attacks on principals, vice principals and educational officers.
“She crossed the line with my organization when she decided to attack public employees directly. So we are fighting back,” said Perreira in an interview with KHON-2.
Kim lashed out in an unprecedented floor speech on Tuesday, calling more than 100 educational officers disrespectful after they appeared at her Senate Education Committee hearing. She alleged the EOs, members of HGEA’s Unit 6, booed and jeered other testifiers. The allegation is false: Our members expressed their disapproval of senator’s rude and condescending treatment of Deputy Superintendent Heidi Armstrong.
“I think the principals demonstrated that we all have a civic responsibility to participate in our government and showing up to testify, even though you’re not agreeing with the idea that the lawmakers are attempting to put forward. That’s part of your right,” Perreira told KHON-2. “It was just uncalled for going further and suggesting that these individuals, school administrators, lack decorum, if you will. There was some noise, for sure, but no more than any other large group that has gathered at the Capitol.”