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    Grassroot Perspective – Jan. 9, 2003

    0

    “Dick Rowland Image”

    ”Shoots (News, Views and Quotes)”

    – Wendy McElroy, Research Fellow at the Independent Institute
    (www.independent.org), discusses the paranoia that stole Christmas in a FoxNews.com column (12/17/02). At one point she says: “This is the ‘legacy” of terrorism and the brutal crimes that occur in our society, but it is also the legacy of the media who presents these stories without pause or counter-balancing stories, as though brutality and not decency defined our culture,” McElroy writes. “The media is helping to manufacture what may become a self-fulfilling prophecy: A society prepared to wage war on every issue and every front, including against ourselves.”

    GRIH comment: Decency does and must define our culture. To lose that is to lose the “war.”

    – The Evergreen Freedom Foundation(EFF) reports that Chile, the first
    nation in the western hemisphere to set up a social security system and the first to reform it using individual investment accounts is again a pathfinder. It has become the first to use individual accounts in an unemployment insurance system. Read about it in a Policy Highlighter written by Bill Conerly, PhD
    https://www.effwa.org/highlighters/v12-n13.php.

    GRIH comment: Great possibilities here for federal and Hawaii
    innovations to enhance individual productivity.

    – EFF also notes that from September 2001 to September 2002 the severe anti-business climate in Washington state caused a loss of 55,000 private sector jobs, while their government added 4,500.

    GRIH comment: And we thought we were the only ones with problems. If our own climate was better maybe we could draw some of that high class talent (Boeing, Microsoft etc.) to our shores.

    ”Roots (Food for Thought)”

    The October issue of Vermont magazine carries a timely article on home schooling by Melissa Pasanen. She reports that home schooling has gone from 100 pupils 1980 to 2,122 at last count. There are numerous reasons for this 20-fold growth over the past two decades.

    The most obvious reason is that many parents do not have much respect for academic offerings at their local public school. Another major reason is the purging of moral values from many public schools as a supposed infringement on the First Amendment. Other reasons include lax school discipline and harassment by other students, “medicalizing” children to get Medicaid funds for the school, and the subjection of students to political indoctrination by teachers enamored of non-judgmental diversity, feminism, socialism and other such causes.

    The Vermont Department of Education requires that homeschooling families enroll their children with the state, and provide a content outline for the various subject areas studied. One of several varieties of assessment is required after each year’s study. Some homeschooling parents believe that the state jerks them around a bit too much. According to the state, however, over 80 percent of all homeschool programs are found to be adequate on first application, and almost all of the rest qualify with only modest revisions.

    Two 1998 laws have also enriched homeschooling opportunities in Vermont. One required public schools to collaborate with homeschooled children by letting them into specialized courses and extracurricular activities. Another allowed the approval of “virtual ” schools like Oak Meadow School in Putney.

    The 800 pupils of Oak Meadow are scattered all over the U.S. and abroad. The school provides K-12 curriculum, educational materials, one-on-one pupil mentoring by experienced teachers (also scattered all over the U.S) via phone and emails, progress assessments, and record keeping. The actual learning occurs in the pupils’ homes — the pupils never appear in Putney.

    In 1998 Oak Meadow secured the status of an approved independent school, but with one unique proviso: Vermont’s 90 tuition towns are forbidden to pay tuition for pupils enrolled there. It is the only approved non-sectarian independent school in Vermont that labors under this restriction.

    The reason for the restriction is perfectly clear. The educational
    establishment is terrified that pupils might find distance learning more attractive than attending their local public school, especially now that homeschooled children can participate in basketball, band, drama and advanced placement courses at the public school. If pupils in tuition towns enjoyed a virtual school option, pupils dissatisfied with their public school would soon want the same option. There would be a pupil hemorrhage, and for each departing pupil the public schools would lose Act 60 funding.

    The cost of a year’s education through Oak Meadow’s program is around $1,200, plus the one time cost of buying a computer ($800) if the family doesn’t have one. The cost of a year’s education in Vermont’s public schools is now approaching $10,000. If the taxpayers can save $8,000 for every pupil who chooses a virtual school, why not encourage that? Especially when, in Oak Meadows’ case, their pupils on the average perform in the 80th percentile or above on standardized tests, far above the level of public schools?

    Remarkable educational technology is now cheaply available. The Internet is awash with text, features, encyclopedias, audio, and video. The Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine, headed by former CalTech biochemist Dr. Arthur Robinson, markets a set of 22 CDs and a course manual. When the nine Saxon math books are added, the pupil has an academically rigorous 12-year education at a total cost of less than $500 (plus, of course, the necessary computer and printer.) And the materials can be used again with other children.

    The total cost of a $500 per year tax credit for 6,000 pupils is only $3
    million. If 4,000 of these pupils departed public schools for homeschooling, and the state no longer needed to pay the $5,566 block grant on their behalf, the Education Fund would show a $20 million annual net saving.

    Now there’s something worth doing both for the kids and for the
    taxpayers. While they’re at it, the legislature ought to remove the
    restriction on approved distance learning schools, and let them compete like all other independent schools.

    Will the public school establishment scream? Of course it will. That’s
    because their concern is (public) Schools First! It ought to be
    SchoolChildren First!

    The above article is quoted from Ethan Allen Institute
    https://ethanallen.org/index3.html

    ”Evergreen (Today’s Quote)”

    In December 2002 the staff of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy,
    Midland, Michigan was asked: “Which Freedoms mean the most to you and why?” Here is one answer we particularly liked: “The right of self-government. No other freedoms are secure unless government remains subordinate to the consent of the governed. No matter how clumsily we may exercise this right, however burdensome we find the responsibility, no more liberating form of social organization has existed in all human history.” See https://www.mackinac.org/4938

    ”’See Web site”’ https://www.grassrootinstitute.org ”’for further information. Join its efforts at “Nurturing the rights and responsibilities of the individual in a civil society. …” or email or call Grassroot of Hawaii Institute President Richard O. Rowland at mailto:grassroot@hawaii.rr.com or (808) 487-4959.”’

    From Mean Comments to Disgusting Behavior

    0

    “Suzanne Gelb Image”

    ”Too Small to Please — What Should I Do?”

    Q: Dear Dr. Gelb:

    My husband teases me and tries to encourage me to have breast implants. I am ashamed and embarrassed about my small breasts, and in public my husband hurt my feelings by making a cruel joke in a party with friends that when I put my bra on backwards it fits better. What should I do?

    Small

    A: Dr. Gelb says . . .

    Dear Small:

    If I were in your situation, probably the first step I would take would be to confront my husband about why he degrades me in front of our friends. A person who behaves in this way invariably has self shame that they hide by criticizing others. I would also consult closely with my family physician and request a referral for psychotherapy before I would even consider undergoing augmentation because it is a procedure that may not necessarily be positive for everyone.

    ”Spitting — Why Does it Bother Me?”

    Q: Dear Dr. Gelb:

    Why do I feel so grossed out when someone spits on the sidewalk or spits out their car window?

    16 and growing

    A: Dr. Gelb says . . .

    Dear 16:

    I hope that you never develop such a vulgar and gross habit. I can only encourage parents to teach their children, from a very young age, to respect the environment and the common areas that we all share. One astute individual suggested that the mayor ought to have a slogan painted on sidewalks which could read something along the lines of, “If you expect to rate in this state, do not expectorate.”

    ”’Suzanne J. Gelb, Ph.D., J.D. authors this daily column, Dr. Gelb Says, which answers questions about daily living and behavior issues. Dr. Gelb is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Honolulu. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Human Services. Dr. Gelb is also a published author of a book on Overcoming Addictions and a book on Relationships.”’

    ”’This column is intended for entertainment use only and is not intended for the purpose of psychological diagnosis, treatment or personalized advice. For more about the column’s purpose, see”’ “An Online Intro to Dr. Gelb Says”

    ”’Email your questions to mailto:DrGelbSays@hawaiireporter.com More information on Dr. Gelb’s services and related resources available at”’ https://www.DrGelbSays.com

    Grassroot Perspective – Jan. 9, 2003

    0

    Dick Rowland Image ‘Shoots (News, Views and Quotes)’ – Wendy McElroy, Research Fellow at the Independent Institute (www.independent.org), discusses the paranoia that stole Christmas in a FoxNews.com column (12/17/02). At one point she says: “This is the ‘legacy” of terrorism and the brutal crimes that occur in our society, but it is also the legacy of the media who presents these stories without pause or counter-balancing stories, as though brutality and not decency defined our culture,” McElroy writes. “The media is helping to manufacture what may become a self-fulfilling prophecy: A society prepared to wage war on every issue and every front, including against ourselves.” GRIH comment: Decency does and must define our culture. To lose that is to lose the “war.” – The Evergreen Freedom Foundation(EFF) reports that Chile, the first nation in the western hemisphere to set up a social security system and the first to reform it using individual investment accounts is again a pathfinder. It has become the first to use individual accounts in an unemployment insurance system. Read about it in a Policy Highlighter written by Bill Conerly, PhD https://www.effwa.org/highlighters/v12-n13.php. GRIH comment: Great possibilities here for federal and Hawaii innovations to enhance individual productivity. – EFF also notes that from September 2001 to September 2002 the severe anti-business climate in Washington state caused a loss of 55,000 private sector jobs, while their government added 4,500. GRIH comment: And we thought we were the only ones with problems. If our own climate was better maybe we could draw some of that high class talent (Boeing, Microsoft etc.) to our shores. ‘Roots (Food for Thought)’ The October issue of Vermont magazine carries a timely article on home schooling by Melissa Pasanen. She reports that home schooling has gone from 100 pupils 1980 to 2,122 at last count. There are numerous reasons for this 20-fold growth over the past two decades. The most obvious reason is that many parents do not have much respect for academic offerings at their local public school. Another major reason is the purging of moral values from many public schools as a supposed infringement on the First Amendment. Other reasons include lax school discipline and harassment by other students, “medicalizing” children to get Medicaid funds for the school, and the subjection of students to political indoctrination by teachers enamored of non-judgmental diversity, feminism, socialism and other such causes. The Vermont Department of Education requires that homeschooling families enroll their children with the state, and provide a content outline for the various subject areas studied. One of several varieties of assessment is required after each year’s study. Some homeschooling parents believe that the state jerks them around a bit too much. According to the state, however, over 80 percent of all homeschool programs are found to be adequate on first application, and almost all of the rest qualify with only modest revisions. Two 1998 laws have also enriched homeschooling opportunities in Vermont. One required public schools to collaborate with homeschooled children by letting them into specialized courses and extracurricular activities. Another allowed the approval of “virtual ” schools like Oak Meadow School in Putney. The 800 pupils of Oak Meadow are scattered all over the U.S. and abroad. The school provides K-12 curriculum, educational materials, one-on-one pupil mentoring by experienced teachers (also scattered all over the U.S) via phone and emails, progress assessments, and record keeping. The actual learning occurs in the pupils’ homes — the pupils never appear in Putney. In 1998 Oak Meadow secured the status of an approved independent school, but with one unique proviso: Vermont’s 90 tuition towns are forbidden to pay tuition for pupils enrolled there. It is the only approved non-sectarian independent school in Vermont that labors under this restriction. The reason for the restriction is perfectly clear. The educational establishment is terrified that pupils might find distance learning more attractive than attending their local public school, especially now that homeschooled children can participate in basketball, band, drama and advanced placement courses at the public school. If pupils in tuition towns enjoyed a virtual school option, pupils dissatisfied with their public school would soon want the same option. There would be a pupil hemorrhage, and for each departing pupil the public schools would lose Act 60 funding. The cost of a year’s education through Oak Meadow’s program is around $1,200, plus the one time cost of buying a computer ($800) if the family doesn’t have one. The cost of a year’s education in Vermont’s public schools is now approaching $10,000. If the taxpayers can save $8,000 for every pupil who chooses a virtual school, why not encourage that? Especially when, in Oak Meadows’ case, their pupils on the average perform in the 80th percentile or above on standardized tests, far above the level of public schools? Remarkable educational technology is now cheaply available. The Internet is awash with text, features, encyclopedias, audio, and video. The Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine, headed by former CalTech biochemist Dr. Arthur Robinson, markets a set of 22 CDs and a course manual. When the nine Saxon math books are added, the pupil has an academically rigorous 12-year education at a total cost of less than $500 (plus, of course, the necessary computer and printer.) And the materials can be used again with other children. The total cost of a $500 per year tax credit for 6,000 pupils is only $3 million. If 4,000 of these pupils departed public schools for homeschooling, and the state no longer needed to pay the $5,566 block grant on their behalf, the Education Fund would show a $20 million annual net saving. Now there’s something worth doing both for the kids and for the taxpayers. While they’re at it, the legislature ought to remove the restriction on approved distance learning schools, and let them compete like all other independent schools. Will the public school establishment scream? Of course it will. That’s because their concern is (public) Schools First! It ought to be SchoolChildren First! The above article is quoted from Ethan Allen Institute https://ethanallen.org/index3.html ‘Evergreen (Today’s Quote)’ In December 2002 the staff of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Midland, Michigan was asked: “Which Freedoms mean the most to you and why?” Here is one answer we particularly liked: “The right of self-government. No other freedoms are secure unless government remains subordinate to the consent of the governed. No matter how clumsily we may exercise this right, however burdensome we find the responsibility, no more liberating form of social organization has existed in all human history.” See https://www.mackinac.org/4938 ”See Web site” https://www.grassrootinstitute.org ”for further information. Join its efforts at “Nurturing the rights and responsibilities of the individual in a civil society. …” or email or call Grassroot of Hawaii Institute President Richard O. Rowland at mailto:grassroot@hawaii.rr.com or (808) 487-4959.”

    From Mean Comments to Disgusting Behavior

    0

    Suzanne Gelb Image ‘Too Small to Please — What Should I Do?’ Q: Dear Dr. Gelb: My husband teases me and tries to encourage me to have breast implants. I am ashamed and embarrassed about my small breasts, and in public my husband hurt my feelings by making a cruel joke in a party with friends that when I put my bra on backwards it fits better. What should I do? Small A: Dr. Gelb says . . . Dear Small: If I were in your situation, probably the first step I would take would be to confront my husband about why he degrades me in front of our friends. A person who behaves in this way invariably has self shame that they hide by criticizing others. I would also consult closely with my family physician and request a referral for psychotherapy before I would even consider undergoing augmentation because it is a procedure that may not necessarily be positive for everyone. ‘Spitting — Why Does it Bother Me?’ Q: Dear Dr. Gelb: Why do I feel so grossed out when someone spits on the sidewalk or spits out their car window? 16 and growing A: Dr. Gelb says . . . Dear 16: I hope that you never develop such a vulgar and gross habit. I can only encourage parents to teach their children, from a very young age, to respect the environment and the common areas that we all share. One astute individual suggested that the mayor ought to have a slogan painted on sidewalks which could read something along the lines of, “If you expect to rate in this state, do not expectorate.” ”Suzanne J. Gelb, Ph.D., J.D. authors this daily column, Dr. Gelb Says, which answers questions about daily living and behavior issues. Dr. Gelb is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Honolulu. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Human Services. Dr. Gelb is also a published author of a book on Overcoming Addictions and a book on Relationships.” ”This column is intended for entertainment use only and is not intended for the purpose of psychological diagnosis, treatment or personalized advice. For more about the column’s purpose, see” “An Online Intro to Dr. Gelb Says” ”Email your questions to mailto:DrGelbSays@hawaiireporter.com More information on Dr. Gelb’s services and related resources available at” https://www.DrGelbSays.com

    Special Education Teacher Retaliated Against for Defending Students-State Runs up Big Bills to Keep Teacher Out of Classroom

    0

    “Laura Brown Image”

    An Oahu special education teacher suffered retaliation and eventual dismissal due to his reporting to Department of Education district administration two separate incidents involving the treatment of special education students in an elementary school. The first incident 3 years ago involved a principal manhandling and shoving an elementary student suffering from childhood psychosis and other learning disabilities. The second incident involved the teacher informing parents of their children’s right to have access to the general curriculum while receiving remedial education under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

    As a probationary teacher, Mr. John Doe — whose real name is omitted due to a pending federal civil suit against a principal, naively believed that by reporting the incident to a district level administrator, the principal would be disciplined. Instead, the district closed ranks behind the principal to assist in retaliation against the teacher.

    Although retaliation began as pressure and direct interference in the teacher’s work, a second principal escalated the harassment to culminate in unwarranted discipline. Seeking relief, Mr. Doe submitted a complaint to the DOE Office of Complaints and Resolution. This office of the DOE failed to investigate all charges. Letters to ex-Superintendent Paul LeMahieu, Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto, Special Education Director Deborah Farmer as well as the district superintendent were returned with refusal to investigate the matter. The teacher then sought assistance from the state Ombudsman and was told by that office that they did not have enough knowledge of the law and to return to the DOE Office of Complaints and Resolution.

    No independent investigator was assigned to the case by the DOE as required by federal law. The teacher testified at the Board of Education several times and filed a complaint with a federal agency. In February 2001, Mr. Doe was put on administrative leave.

    The investigation took over 14 months. The teacher remained on payroll, but was not allowed to teach, with the DOE “forgetting” to renew his contract or assign him to a school. He was finally terminated due to the principal stating that 4 people had filed complaints against him. When Mr. Doe contacted these individuals by phone, they said they had never made any complaints. The principal denied the teacher his right to due process when he did not allow the teacher to interview the complainants.

    A federal civil suit is now pending against the principal, but a decision is not due until October 2003. A separate arbitration decision on the teacher’s termination is due on Feb. 21. The decision may mean the teacher is allowed back on the payroll, but does not necessarily mean the teacher will be allowed to resume teaching.

    While the labor board found that Mr. Doe had made statements that the DOE was not obeying a federal court order protecting the rights of children with disabilities, his comments are protected under the Whistleblower’s Protection Act.

    The costs for this case continue to escalate as two Department of Labor and Department of Education Deputy Attorney Generals attend court proceedings in State Circuit Court and Federal Court.

    The lack of accountability for the egregious actions of DOE administrators has resulted in the loss of a skilled special education classroom teacher, depriving students of a desperately needed caring and competent instructor, as well as the loss of livelihood for the teacher.

    Meanwhile, the frantic search for mainland special education teachers continues as the state struggles to fill the quota of certified special education teachers required under the Felix Consent Decree. The recruiting company charges more than twice as much for mainland recruits than it costs the DOE to hire and retain qualified teachers locally.

    Once special education teachers get a taste of the DOE culture of recrimination and retaliation, as experienced by Mr. Doe, they will leave the state, leaving a vacuum of expertise, leaving children helpless.

    ”’Laura Brown is the education writer and on the research staff of HawaiiReporter.com. She can be reached via email at”’ mailto:LauraBrown@Hawaii.rr.com

    Special Education Teacher Retaliated Against for Defending Students-State Runs up Big Bills to Keep Teacher Out of Classroom

    0

    Laura Brown Image An Oahu special education teacher suffered retaliation and eventual dismissal due to his reporting to Department of Education district administration two separate incidents involving the treatment of special education students in an elementary school. The first incident 3 years ago involved a principal manhandling and shoving an elementary student suffering from childhood psychosis and other learning disabilities. The second incident involved the teacher informing parents of their children’s right to have access to the general curriculum while receiving remedial education under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). As a probationary teacher, Mr. John Doe — whose real name is omitted due to a pending federal civil suit against a principal, naively believed that by reporting the incident to a district level administrator, the principal would be disciplined. Instead, the district closed ranks behind the principal to assist in retaliation against the teacher. Although retaliation began as pressure and direct interference in the teacher’s work, a second principal escalated the harassment to culminate in unwarranted discipline. Seeking relief, Mr. Doe submitted a complaint to the DOE Office of Complaints and Resolution. This office of the DOE failed to investigate all charges. Letters to ex-Superintendent Paul LeMahieu, Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto, Special Education Director Deborah Farmer as well as the district superintendent were returned with refusal to investigate the matter. The teacher then sought assistance from the state Ombudsman and was told by that office that they did not have enough knowledge of the law and to return to the DOE Office of Complaints and Resolution. No independent investigator was assigned to the case by the DOE as required by federal law. The teacher testified at the Board of Education several times and filed a complaint with a federal agency. In February 2001, Mr. Doe was put on administrative leave. The investigation took over 14 months. The teacher remained on payroll, but was not allowed to teach, with the DOE “forgetting” to renew his contract or assign him to a school. He was finally terminated due to the principal stating that 4 people had filed complaints against him. When Mr. Doe contacted these individuals by phone, they said they had never made any complaints. The principal denied the teacher his right to due process when he did not allow the teacher to interview the complainants. A federal civil suit is now pending against the principal, but a decision is not due until October 2003. A separate arbitration decision on the teacher’s termination is due on Feb. 21. The decision may mean the teacher is allowed back on the payroll, but does not necessarily mean the teacher will be allowed to resume teaching. While the labor board found that Mr. Doe had made statements that the DOE was not obeying a federal court order protecting the rights of children with disabilities, his comments are protected under the Whistleblower’s Protection Act. The costs for this case continue to escalate as two Department of Labor and Department of Education Deputy Attorney Generals attend court proceedings in State Circuit Court and Federal Court. The lack of accountability for the egregious actions of DOE administrators has resulted in the loss of a skilled special education classroom teacher, depriving students of a desperately needed caring and competent instructor, as well as the loss of livelihood for the teacher. Meanwhile, the frantic search for mainland special education teachers continues as the state struggles to fill the quota of certified special education teachers required under the Felix Consent Decree. The recruiting company charges more than twice as much for mainland recruits than it costs the DOE to hire and retain qualified teachers locally. Once special education teachers get a taste of the DOE culture of recrimination and retaliation, as experienced by Mr. Doe, they will leave the state, leaving a vacuum of expertise, leaving children helpless. ”Laura Brown is the education writer and on the research staff of HawaiiReporter.com. She can be reached via email at” mailto:LauraBrown@Hawaii.rr.com

    Dreams, Family Dashed by Unfair Family Court Decisions

    I arrived in Hawaii a little more than five years ago with high expectations and na

    Dreams, Family Dashed by Unfair Family Court Decisions

    I arrived in Hawaii a little more than five years ago with high expectations and na

    Critical Condition: Will Hawaii's Life Sciences Industry Survive?

    For Hawaii to grow a life sciences industry and support the new medical school’s ability to recruit key biotech researchers, we must show that funding is available to commercialize laboratory successes. There is a limited supply of talent in the biotech arena. Some states such as Massachusetts and Maryland are losing talent because of the lack of funding in those states whereas other states such as North Carolina, Michigan and Pennsylvania are gaining talent because they have enacted policies that demonstrate a commitment to providing needed funding. In Pennsylvania, legislators carved $180 million out of their tobacco settlement to create three biotech greenhouses and a life science focused venture fund. In Michigan, a very small portion of that states employee pension fund has provided significant dollars to invest in biotech.

    States that have been stalwarts in producing high profile biotech companies are starting to fall behind. According to a report released by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council and the Boston Consulting Group, that state is already falling behind in the competition to be the premier center of biotechnology, and if it doesn’t act soon to reverse the trend, it stands to lose out on nearly 100,000 new jobs and $1 billion in tax revenue in the next eight years. A $20 million seed fund for biotechnology companies in southern Pennsylvania has renewed the worries of Maryland biotech advocates, who say such measures are sorely needed to keep Maryland in the biotech forefront.

    The new Philadelphia-based fund, called BioAdvance, draws on tobacco settlement money to pump up biotech businesses. Maryland, meanwhile, has only small investments and grants to offer through state programs, and ranks ninth among biotech leaders in private venture capital available — about $25 million a year — according to an Ernst and Young study published last December.

    The lack of private funding in Maryland means companies must either go out of state to find money, or turn to the sparse state-funded programs.

    For Hawaii to succeed in growing its life sciences industry, we must show that there is funding available to commercialize laboratory research. We can build the best research facilities in the country, but if we do not make funding show up, we will simply not be able to fill those facilities with top-notch researchers and biotech entrepreneurs.

    When Hawaii’s Employee Retirement System was authorized to put 3 percent of its then $10 Billion corpus into alternative investments, not one penny found its way into local venture funds. One half of one percent of today’s $7 Billion balance would go a long way toward establishing Hawaii as a State committed to biotech. Forty other states have established initiatives to build, attract and grow biotech industries.

    North Carolina, for example, supports an office of 53 people dedicated to economic development efforts geared at the biotech sector, compared to a single person in the Massachusetts office of business development who also has other responsibilities. The Massachusetts Biotechnology Report also recommends that companies, research institutions, hospitals, and academic centers collaborate more effectively, by establishing cluster-wide initiatives and associations, committing to public outreach efforts, and developing guidelines that lay a clear foundation for industry and academic researchers to work together to discover, develop and test new drugs, medical products, and other advances. So what should Hawaii do?

    Hawaii has a tremendous opportunity to look forward and carefully plan how to grow and sustain its fledgling life science industry. The medical school will serve as the catalyst, but it will take highly skilled people and significantly more venture capital than what is available today to complete the picture. Clearly, for Hawaii to succeed, we need to be able to attract researchers and companies from states where funding support is waning. But to do this, we need to have funding available. The private sector and mechanisms such as Act 221 may work together to make some funding show up. However many of our institutions and private trusts must elevate their commitment to investing their risk capital in Hawaii venture capital firms, rather than letting mainland investment advisors direct those resources to firms in other states, which to date has been the norm. We have already lost opportunities that could have put Hawaii on the life science map by letting promising companies slip through our grasp.

    For example, Hawaii Surgical, a medical device company founded by local heart surgeon Francis Duhaylongsod, left Hawaii for California for lack of a couple of million in venture capital and an animal lab at the medical school that would have allowed completion of pre-clinical trials. The company has subsequently licensed its technology to San Diego based Edwards Lifesciences which expects to make more than a half a billion dollars in annual revenues from Dr. Duhaylongsod’s invention.

    There is money in Hawaii that can be used to fund investments in the life science sector. The life science sector, which includes biotech, drug discovery, health services, health care information technology and medical devices is clearly much better understood by potential sources of funding than other high tech enterprises. The opportunity to find a cure for cancer, create new medicines or machines that can improve the quality of life are core values that resonate deeper than building the next generation of network switches.

    For Hawaii to participate in this sector, however, we have to start marshalling venture capital resources now or else we will be at the end of yet another list. For the new medical school to be successful, we must show that there will be funding available to commercialize the results of research being conducted by the talent we recruit. We cannot just build a world-class medical research institution and expect to be able to attract top talent unless we can finish what we start. This means showing the people we recruit that Hawaii has the resources to close the loop and fund promising companies that emerge from the results of this research.

    ”’Bill Spencer is the president of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association. He can be reached via email at”’ mailto:spencer@mdster.com

    Critical Condition: Will Hawaii’s Life Sciences Industry Survive?

    For Hawaii to grow a life sciences industry and support the new medical school’s ability to recruit key biotech researchers, we must show that funding is available to commercialize laboratory successes. There is a limited supply of talent in the biotech arena. Some states such as Massachusetts and Maryland are losing talent because of the lack of funding in those states whereas other states such as North Carolina, Michigan and Pennsylvania are gaining talent because they have enacted policies that demonstrate a commitment to providing needed funding. In Pennsylvania, legislators carved $180 million out of their tobacco settlement to create three biotech greenhouses and a life science focused venture fund. In Michigan, a very small portion of that states employee pension fund has provided significant dollars to invest in biotech.

    States that have been stalwarts in producing high profile biotech companies are starting to fall behind. According to a report released by the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council and the Boston Consulting Group, that state is already falling behind in the competition to be the premier center of biotechnology, and if it doesn’t act soon to reverse the trend, it stands to lose out on nearly 100,000 new jobs and $1 billion in tax revenue in the next eight years. A $20 million seed fund for biotechnology companies in southern Pennsylvania has renewed the worries of Maryland biotech advocates, who say such measures are sorely needed to keep Maryland in the biotech forefront.

    The new Philadelphia-based fund, called BioAdvance, draws on tobacco settlement money to pump up biotech businesses. Maryland, meanwhile, has only small investments and grants to offer through state programs, and ranks ninth among biotech leaders in private venture capital available — about $25 million a year — according to an Ernst and Young study published last December.

    The lack of private funding in Maryland means companies must either go out of state to find money, or turn to the sparse state-funded programs.

    For Hawaii to succeed in growing its life sciences industry, we must show that there is funding available to commercialize laboratory research. We can build the best research facilities in the country, but if we do not make funding show up, we will simply not be able to fill those facilities with top-notch researchers and biotech entrepreneurs.

    When Hawaii’s Employee Retirement System was authorized to put 3 percent of its then $10 Billion corpus into alternative investments, not one penny found its way into local venture funds. One half of one percent of today’s $7 Billion balance would go a long way toward establishing Hawaii as a State committed to biotech. Forty other states have established initiatives to build, attract and grow biotech industries.

    North Carolina, for example, supports an office of 53 people dedicated to economic development efforts geared at the biotech sector, compared to a single person in the Massachusetts office of business development who also has other responsibilities. The Massachusetts Biotechnology Report also recommends that companies, research institutions, hospitals, and academic centers collaborate more effectively, by establishing cluster-wide initiatives and associations, committing to public outreach efforts, and developing guidelines that lay a clear foundation for industry and academic researchers to work together to discover, develop and test new drugs, medical products, and other advances. So what should Hawaii do?

    Hawaii has a tremendous opportunity to look forward and carefully plan how to grow and sustain its fledgling life science industry. The medical school will serve as the catalyst, but it will take highly skilled people and significantly more venture capital than what is available today to complete the picture. Clearly, for Hawaii to succeed, we need to be able to attract researchers and companies from states where funding support is waning. But to do this, we need to have funding available. The private sector and mechanisms such as Act 221 may work together to make some funding show up. However many of our institutions and private trusts must elevate their commitment to investing their risk capital in Hawaii venture capital firms, rather than letting mainland investment advisors direct those resources to firms in other states, which to date has been the norm. We have already lost opportunities that could have put Hawaii on the life science map by letting promising companies slip through our grasp.

    For example, Hawaii Surgical, a medical device company founded by local heart surgeon Francis Duhaylongsod, left Hawaii for California for lack of a couple of million in venture capital and an animal lab at the medical school that would have allowed completion of pre-clinical trials. The company has subsequently licensed its technology to San Diego based Edwards Lifesciences which expects to make more than a half a billion dollars in annual revenues from Dr. Duhaylongsod’s invention.

    There is money in Hawaii that can be used to fund investments in the life science sector. The life science sector, which includes biotech, drug discovery, health services, health care information technology and medical devices is clearly much better understood by potential sources of funding than other high tech enterprises. The opportunity to find a cure for cancer, create new medicines or machines that can improve the quality of life are core values that resonate deeper than building the next generation of network switches.

    For Hawaii to participate in this sector, however, we have to start marshalling venture capital resources now or else we will be at the end of yet another list. For the new medical school to be successful, we must show that there will be funding available to commercialize the results of research being conducted by the talent we recruit. We cannot just build a world-class medical research institution and expect to be able to attract top talent unless we can finish what we start. This means showing the people we recruit that Hawaii has the resources to close the loop and fund promising companies that emerge from the results of this research.

    ”’Bill Spencer is the president of the Hawaii Venture Capital Association. He can be reached via email at”’ mailto:spencer@mdster.com