School bus,
lunch fees may rise
after review

LeMahieu indicates he wants
public schools to be more
cost-effective

OMBUDSMAN APPROVED

By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

KEAAU, Hawaii -- Learning to drive, eating a school lunch or doing anything requiring a fee for the state Department of Education may cost more in the near future.

State Schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu said the department has just completed a review of all school fees as it looks to generate more revenue for its budget. He said the analysis of the fees will be presented to the state Board of Education in about a month so the board can decide whether changes should be made.

LeMahieu's mention of the fee review came last night after the board approved the department's recommendations on the transfer of the school bus transportation program.

LeMahieu said that bus fees would be included in the list.

Gov. Ben Cayetano is proposing that the student transportation program, its 10 employees and a $21 million budget be transferred from the Department of Accounting and General Services to the DOE.

But the student transportation program is losing money and is currently projected to have a $2.7 million deficit by June 30.

The Cayetano administration said the transfer would tie policies closer with the budget. The governor wants the transfer to be made July 1.

But LeMahieu is proposing -- and the school board agreed with him last night -- that the transfer should be postponed for a year to make sure service is not disrupted and that the program is transferred without any deficits. He said the cost to run the program is more than the amount allocated.

LeMahieu said his department is looking at several options to help make the program more cost-effective. They include reducing the number of differing school schedule changes, changing the distance requirements so that fewer students would qualify for busing, requiring prepayment of bus fees and increasing the amount of money it costs to ride the bus.

The department will be sending to the board an analysis that will include what the fee is, the estimated cost of operating the program, the last time the fee was updated, and what it would cost the private sector to run such a program.

LeMahieu used the driver education program as an example of a fee the department is reviewing. He said driver education currently costs each student $10. The fee was instituted in 1971. But the estimated cost to run the program is $230 per student.

"That's a $220 subsidy."

OMBUDSMAN APPROVED KEAAU -- The responsibilities and complaint procedures of an ombudsman position connected to the Board of Education received final approval by the board last night. But details on when and how the position will come about and the source of funding for the position have yet to be worked out. The board is looking to the ombudsman to offer a fair, impartial and non-adversarial means of resolving conflicts before they escalate into larger problems.