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DOE urges
lawmakers to
pony up for schools

$164 million is the goal
LeMahieu is seeking for
the next two fiscal years

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By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

Good news coming out of the public school system in the past year and signs of an improved state economy are incentives for state lawmakers to increase their support to public education.

That was the budget message delivered to the Legislature's money committees this morning by Department of Education officials, who are asking for $164 million for the next two fiscal years.

"I invite you -- and challenge you -- to maintain the momentum, to commit to excellence and make this year a turning point for the public schools of Hawaii," state schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu said.

"While our schools still face many challenges, we believe that real change is at hand," added Board of Education chairman Herbert Watanabe.

Both men said signs of educational recovery include:

The Felix Consent Decree: The federal court order to improve educational and other services for special needs students is becoming a manageable, albeit costly, challenge.

Improved test scores, including Stanford Achievement Tests: Given to third-, fifth-, eighth- and 10th-graders, the tests show most students testing at or above the national norm.

Student discipline: The number of disciplinary offenses is decreasing, with declines in the percentage of students involved in the 1999-2000 school year, as well declines in serious offenses.

Teacher certification: The number of nationally certified teachers -- the highest professional credential -- in Hawaii's public schools has increased from one to five in the past year.

Working together: Schools and communities are uniting to provide safe and healthy learning environments for students.

"I can capture here only a few of the more dramatic successes in our public schools over the past year," LeMahieu said. "Now, more than ever, they need to see our visible support lest they weary and waver from their good efforts on behalf of our keiki."

While the DOE is asking for $76.3 million for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and $88.1 million for the following fiscal year, the governor has included just under 9 percent of the total $164-million request in his executive budget.

The DOE' wants $34.5 million for health and safety programs, $86.9 million for legal mandates, $26.2 million to continue LeMahieu's standards-based education reform and $8.7 million for resources for new facilities.

It is asking for an emergency appropriation of $41 million for the current fiscal year for the Felix mandate and $153 million to cover the next two years.