Hawaii school campuses were to be bustling today as students returned to classes in record numbers, following a nationwide trend. Students return
in record numbersEnrollment at public schools statewide was projected at 191,633 students in kindergarten through the 12th grade -- a 1.67 percent increase from last year, said Greg Knudsen, Department of Education spokesman.
More than 27,000 public school students at 46 schools got a head start on the school year, returning as early as July 22 because of modified or year-round schedules.
In each of the past five years, public school enrollment has increased by more than 3,000 students. Higher enrollment, however, does not translate into hiring more teachers.
To cut expenses, a new formula this year increased the student-to-teacher ratio in kindergarten through the second grade to 21 students per teacher -- eliminating the need for about 130 teaching positions, Knudsen said. Last year, the ratio was 20 students to one teacher.
HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK -- A 38-year-old woman died after suffering convulsions, nausea, and vomiting on a national park trail yesterday, the park said. Woman gets sick, dies
in Big Isle volcano areaThe woman's identity was not released. Park officials received the report at 9 p.m. from a man hiking in the area who came upon three women, including the victim.
The man hiked out of the area and alerted authorities who sent the county helicopter to the trail in the Chain of Craters Road area.
The helicopter took the woman to a waiting ambulance at Kalapana, but she was declared dead upon her arrival at the ambulance.
The three women had been hiking on the Keauhou trail, which runs through a hot, dry area of the park between Chain of Craters and the sea.
The exact cause of the woman's death wasn't immediately clear.
KAILUA-KONA -- The 1998 U.S. Open Chess Tournament will be held in Kona, attracting 500 participants from around the world plus family, friends, and spectators, sponsors Hawaii Chess Federation and Chessworks Unlimited announced. U.S. Open Chess meet
will be in Kona in '98The event will be held at the Kona Surf Resort Aug. 1-9, said federation president Larry Reifurth. It will be the first time it has been held in Hawaii, he said.
Simultaneously, the Denker Tournament of Champions, which brings together high school champions from 50 states, will take place Aug. 3-7 at the resort.
And the two events will be preceded July 20-29 by the Hawaii International Chess Tournament in Waikiki.
Participants in the open must be members of the United States Chess Federation, which can be contacted in New Windsor, New York at (914) 562-8350.
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Police/Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffPolice this morning were seeking to charge a 29-year-old Kailua woman with attempted murder in connection with the abuse of her 4-year-old son. Mom to be charged
with abusing sonPolice said the boy is in critical but stable condition with brain swelling at Kapiolani Medical Center.
Police said the boy also has cigarette burns to his arms, buttocks and body.
His left foot has second-degree burns from possibly being immersed in a hot liquid.
There are signs of sexual abuse, and the boy has bruises on his shoulders, hips, left thigh and one eye.
Police said Child Protective Services is also investigating whether the other three children in the family have been abused.
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