Editorials
Wednesday, December 16, 1998

State auditor’s report
on decree is outdated

AN auditor's report that state government has failed to comply with a court order to improve education and mental health services for children with special needs is hardly surprising. A court-appointed monitor gave the effort low marks less than three months ago. However, the latest criticism may be not only be outdated but misdirected.

The state is under pressure to meet a June 30, 2000, deadline set in a 1994 consent decree for compliance with federal laws providing for mental health, education and other services for disabled children. Federal Judge David Ezra had ruled in a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Jennifer Felix and other children that the state was in violation of those laws.

The court-appointed monitor, Ivor D. Groves, maintained that the state Department of Education failed to understand the level of personnel needed for special education. Groves said that "urgent changes" were needed to bring quality and consistency to the program. He added that the hiring of Paul LeMahieu as state schools superintendent was a positive step.

In her recently issued report, state Auditor Marilyn Higa blamed lack of "leadership necessary to organize, direct and coordinate Felix-related activities." Linda Colburn, who was appointed last year to the job of operational manager to coordinate compliance with the Felix decree, defended herself against the allegation. She asserted that Higa's report resulted from "disjointed" snapshots of a complex system and failed to capture the overall picture of a system that includes "far more collaboration" than the auditor saw.

Eric Seitz, one of the lawyers representing the plaintiffs, called Higa's observations "old news," and added that efforts already are being made to improve coordination among agencies involved. Instead, he said, the state must concentrate on recruiting and training special education teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and other specialists.

The most important assessment of the state's effort will come from the court, and Groves' report is more pertinent in that venue. State officials should not allow Higa's report to change its focus on correcting problems identified by Groves.

Thumbs up, Bows!

EXPECTATIONS are high for San Diego Chargers Coach June Jones, who will soon move to Hawaii to lead the UH football team, but are they realistic? A single victory at Aloha Stadium next year would be an improvement over the dismal 0-12 season just completed. Jones himself acknowledges that "it may take us a while to get it going, but we will get it going."

However, in a reception at Washington Place, some guests allowed their enthusiasm to extend beyond the realm of football.

"I think this is the best thing to happen to Hawaii this year," Larry Johnson, Bank of Hawaii's chief executive officer, gushed. "Hawaii's been waiting for something exciting like this for a long time. What the economy needs is a new sense of confidence. I believe the hiring of June Jones is going to be the catalyst to get that going here in our community."

Yes, it is true that a successful major college football program can be a shot in the arm for the community. It instills pride, generates income for the UH Athletics Department and puts the university on the map of collegiate sports.

Whether a winning Rainbows team can fight off Asian contagion, top-heavy state government and burdensome taxes so the economy will turn around, however, is another question.

In the meantime, hats off to the three-man selection committee -- John Fink of KHNL, Edwin S.N. Wong of Waterhouse Properties and retired Dr. Edison Miyawake -- for taking the time from individual business endeavors and busy schedules to help the Rainbows select a new head coach.

Carry-on baggage

SOME 4,000 airline passengers and crew members are hurt every year by bags and objects falling from overhead bins, according to the Association of Flight Attendants. A uniform policy for carry-on luggage would reduce the problem resulting from rules based on dimensions that leave most passengers guessing.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires airlines to have carry-on policies but leaves it to each airline to determine the details. FAA regulations require that bags fit into overhead compartments or under seats in front of passengers. The problem is that passengers often don't know what will fit until they come aboard.

Some airlines, including United and Delta, strictly enforce two-bag limits, while others are accused of being more liberal in trying to attract more business passengers who like to carry their own bags. That creates problems when fliers use different airlines on a trip.

The flight attendants' union doesn't advocate a specific bag count but rather a lineal allotment of 45 inches and 13 pounds per passenger. A typical bag would be 14 inches wide, 9 inches deep and 22 inches long. Luggage has increasingly been designed to fit those standards, even though they are not official.

Convenience is important to many fliers who don't trust airlines to handle their luggage or don't want to wait for the luggage to emerge from the plane's bowels. Suitcases with wheels have become easier to handle, and airport stores have allowed passengers to make more last-minute purchases.

A more important issue is safety. The danger of being struck by wine bottles, heavy suitcases and even bowling balls falling from overhead racks is real. Carry-on limits are necessary but they should be consistent.

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Rupert E. Phillips, CEO

John M. Flanagan, Editor & Publisher

David Shapiro, Managing Editor

Diane Yukihiro Chang, Senior Editor & Editorial Page Editor

Frank Bridgewater & Michael Rovner, Assistant Managing Editors

A.A. Smyser, Contributing Editor