The controversy and frustration over the Board of Education's decision to fire state charter schools director Jim Shon in September has created more than its share of political drama.

But it also has pointed to a real problem: the need to establish a better working relationship between the BOE and the charter schools.

At the time of his departure, Shon's strong advocacy for more per-pupil dollars for charter schools included lobbying the Legislature for funds. Some board members viewed that as crossing some kind of line.

Perhaps part of the problem is that "the line" was never clearly defined. And now is the best time to do it.

Originally, Hawai'i charter schools were set up to answer to the BOE to ensure accountability in the use of public funds. Charter schools are given a set amount of money per pupil and, in some cases, facilities. But they are free to develop their own curriculum and to find innovative ways to educate children.

It's time for the board to take a clear policy position regarding charter schools.

The board must better define its own role in governing charter schools, and at the same time, better define its expectations for charter schools and for the incoming director.

Charter schools should be valued resources for innovation in education, where the best ideas can grow and migrate back to the public schools.

And charter schools must understand that while they can operate autonomously, there also should be a level of accountability regarding how they spend public tax dollars.

Shon's departure presents a real opportunity for both the BOE and the charters schools. But too much time now is being wasted deconstructing Shon's termination.

Members of the charter school community may have won the right to see the minutes of the Sept. 7 executive session of the board that decided Shon's fate. But going over redacted minutes won't have the impact anyone really desires.

With a new board coming on after the election, and the hiring of a permanent executive director on the horizon, this is a perfect time for the BOE and charter school advocates to come up with a working agreement that will detail expectations and accountability on both sides.

That's the kind of action needed to put our children first.