House GOP critical
of governor’s
school ideas

By Pat Omandam
Star-Bulletin

House Republicans have criticized recommendations made by Gov. Ben Cayetano to the Department of Education to deal with possible budget cuts of up to $7.4 million this year and $13.4 million next year.

The governor suggested a number of actions, including consolidating schools, reducing the number of school districts on Oahu from four to two and raising the price of school lunch to $1.

House Minority Leader Barbara Marumoto (R, Waialae Iki) criticized the governor's suggestions to consolidate certain schools, including Kalani High School. While some of the ideas have merit, she said lumping schools together is the worst thing leaders can do to Hawaii's students.

Marumoto said recent rankings show Hawaii's secondary schools are the largest in the nation, with 26 schools averaging 1,755 students each. She said they are 90 percent larger than the national average. She added that Hawaii elementary schools are the third largest in the country.

"Small schools, defined as up to 300 students in elementary schools and 600 in high schools, would raise our students' performance and create a sense of community in the classroom," Marumoto said Wednesday.

Cayetano, however, stood by his suggestions, saying they are good ideas. He said the size of a school is not really as important as how the school administration deals with it. School officials must have discipline in dealing with large class sizes and consider alternative schools for kids who have disciplinary problems, he said.

Cayetano said raising school lunch by 25 cents will not affect those who can't afford it because they will continue to receive a free lunch anyway.