Special-needs
schools fear more
budget cuts

Materials for extras
such as science experiments
won't be available

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

Next school year, teacher Geri Martin will have just the basics: copy paper, construction paper, glue, markers and staples for her sixth-grade class.

Extras -- such as materials for science experiments or books -- would have to come out of the pocket of the Makaha Elementary School teacher if the school board cuts additional funding to special needs schools.

Special-needs and priority funds that schools have flexibility to use were included in $17.2 million that the Board of Education's budget subcommittee has recommended cutting from next year's $709 million budget to meet the schools' supplemental needs.

The board, meeting today on Kauai, is expected to approve the committee's recommendation yesterday to fund at least $18 million of the $31 million supplemental budget from current services. On Tuesday, the committee deferred an extra $13 million to the next biennium.

The panel considered what supplemental programs needed to be "absolutely funded" and what could be reduced, said budget Chairman Mitsugi Nakashima. "We have a fiduciary-trustee responsibility to make our best judgment on what the needs are and how we need to fund them."

The committee also added $2.8 million by agreeing to raise A+ fees $15 for students paying full tuition and $2 for students who receive free or reduced lunch.

Members, however, could not agree on where to cut an additional $797,422. The department was asked to make recommendations on how to meet this shortfall.

The proposed reductions did not touch personnel -- more than 110 teachers for basic skills and core programs, 33 educational assistants and 29 school librarians. Teachers and principals earlier this year lobbied the Legislature and board to spare them.

Board members acknowledged the difficulty in identifying areas to be cut.

"I can't see any way the schools won't hurt," said board member Winston Sakurai.

"I'm hoping they can find flexibility in completing their programs."

Of the $18 million in supplemental needs, a huge chunk -- $11.6 million -- will pay for special education and Felix consent decree mandates.

The committee also approved $3.8 million to pay for principals, vice principals, school security attendants, cafeteria workers, custodians and other personnel for an additional seven instructional days as negotiated in the teacher's contract.

To fund or not to fund

FUND

New Mililani Middle School, $296,480
Review of the Hawaii Content and Performance Standards, $838,525
Transfer of personnel from the Department of Human Resources Development to the DOE to handle workers compensation claims, $138,456
Safety supplies for cafeteria workers and custodians, $62,110
DOE's share of the Youth Challenge program for alienated youth, $680,000
Relocation costs for DOE technology section and Leeward District office to state building in Kapolei, $478,978
Telephone systems, $105,480

CUT

Cash allotments, $1 million
Computer education, $1.8 million
Tuition waivers for summer school, $1.1 million
Innovative grant program, $1.7 million
Travel for state and district personnel, $1.2 million
Instructional materials from legislative initiatives, $2.5 million