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BOE finds itself
in a ‘no-win’
budget situation

Schools will complain if there
is 'no growth' as mandated
by the governor

ABCs of the school board ballot
Daughter's alleged harassment
prompts suit against schools

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By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

The Board of Education, defying Gov. Ben Cayetano's no-growth budget instructions, says it must give schools more money to get them up and running.

Board member Ron Nakano said past increases in the department's budget during lean years have mainly been to accommodate enrollment increases and court mandates with little room for new programs.

"We're not moving."

The board's Budget and Fiscal Accountability Committee approved a proposal by the Department of Education to increase the department's $1.09 billion operating budget by more than $152 million over the next two fiscal years.

DOE BIENNIUM BUDGET The following are the 10 costliest items in the $152 million increase in the Education Department operating budget request covering years 2001-2003: Special-education teaching positions for projected enrollment increases: $24,273,530 New Century Public Charter Schools fixed cost of staffing: $13,630,366 Clerical staffing: $13,556,390 Restroom supplies: $7,517,386 Contracted school safety managers: $6,636,000 Computerized human resource system: $6,532,690 Contracted evaluation services for special-education compliance: $6,419,610 Electricity rate increase; cover anticipated shortfalls: $5,167,000 Business managers and account clerks for complexes: $4,733,868 School administrator training program: $4,208,933

The department is requesting about $71 million with an additional 1,277 positions for the 2001-2002 fiscal year and $81 million with an additional 1,395 positions for the 2002-2003 fiscal year.

The items are defined in categories of health and safety, legal mandates, standards implementation and school instruction. Budget analysts warned that the figures could go up as more information comes in.

"We believe that these items need to be funded," Assistant Superintendent Laurel Johnston told the board. "This is reality as we see it right now."

But the board is bracing for a not-so-enthusiastic response from the governor. Board member Herbert Watanabe recalled that the last time the board approved a proposed budget above the instructed ceiling, the governor called them into his office and told them, "Go find the money with what you have."

The Cayetano administration told all state departments to submit a zero-growth budget.

However, the DOE could increase spending for enrollment increases, new facilities, repair and maintenance of school facilities and computers.

If the department wants more money for other programs, it must first look at its current budget for resources before asking for more funds, the executive branch has told the department.

The no-growth instructions come at a time when the state appears to be in economic recovery and taking in higher-than-expected revenues.

The board chairman, however, said he believes the department's requested budget amounts to a "wish list."

Board Chairman Mitsugi Nakashima questioned several requests, including $100,000 for two 15-passenger vans and $7.5 million for restroom supplies.

Having the governor make the cuts amounts to passing the buck, he said. "I'm suggesting they go back and pare it down."

Nakano noted that the department has already made cuts to its original list of $210 million in increased spending.

"I find no problem with what we're doing," Nakano said about approving the request. "The governor says we should be more responsible, and we are being more responsible."

Committee Chairwoman Karen Knudsen said schools will complain if there is a no-growth budget, and the board will have to face the wrath of the executive branch if it does not follow the edict. "I think either way is no-win."

The amount being requested does not take into account an anticipated $35 million in costs the department will need to comply with the court mandates of the Felix consent decree covering educational and mental health services to special-needs children, Johnston said.

That amount will be sought as an emergency appropriation during the current fiscal year, then become part of services for the next fiscal biennium.

The proposed biennium budget now goes before the full board, which is expected to vote on it Oct. 5 in Kona.

Daughter's alleged harassment prompts suit against schools Star-Bulletin staff The mother of a former Kipapa Elementary student is suing state Department of Education employees after her daughter may have been repeatedly sexually harassed and assaulted by a fellow student during school and in the A+ afterschool program. The lawsuit, filed yesterday in U.S. District Court accuses school officials of failing to properly supervise its students, train its personnel and properly investigate reports of sexual assault. School employees knew of at least one incident involving the unnamed girl and against other students but failed to take appropriate action, the suit said. At least 10 incidents involving the girl occurred in 1997 and 1998. She didn't tell her mother about the alleged incidents because of threats to her life and safety by the accused boy. The mother tried to transfer her daughter to other schools in the district but school officials refused, despite warnings by counselors and psychologists that returning to Kipapa could harm the daughter's mental and emotional health, the suit said. The mother was forced to enroll her daughter to private school. Kipapa school officials could not be reached for comment.