Isle schools
still waiting for
allotted state funds
Lingle is not releasing money
for legislation passed over her veto
Susan Lee said she took a part-time job as the parent coordinator at Jefferson Elementary School in Waikiki because she believes children do better when parents are involved in their schools. But so far it's been a labor of love.
Withheld funds
Reinventing Education Act money not yet released:
» Technology to track student data: $2 million
|
With the fiscal year nearly half over, $1.74 million budgeted by the Legislature to expand the parent-community networking program to all 250 public schools is still in limbo. So is $2 million to upgrade computer systems to track individual student performance over time.
Both items are contained in the Reinventing Education Act, which was passed over Gov. Linda Lingle's veto. Her budget director, Georgina Kawamura, and the Department of Education have been tussling over the funds for months, with no resolution.
"We're spending all this time re-justifying the release of funding for technology infrastructure that's sorely needed," said Rodney Moriyama, assistant superintendent for information technology. "I have a folder three-fourths of an inch thick with all the responses. I'm from private industry. It drives me crazy."
Board of Education Chairman Breene Harimoto said Thursday that he and Superintendent Pat Hamamoto planned to meet with the governor to discuss the funding issue.
Several calls by the Star-Bulletin to Kawamura were not been returned over the last two weeks. Her staff said she has been busy with budget meetings.
In early October, Kawamura told the board that she still needed to be convinced that tax revenues were strong enough and the spending was merited. Attorney General Mark Bennett, who was at the same meeting, said the governor may withhold funds as she sees fit.
Russell Pang, the governor's chief of media relations, said Thursday that the money "is continuing to be reviewed." He noted that the governor has indicated previously that she didn't consider the $4 million directly related to education reform.
The Reinventing Education Act and the federal No Child Left Behind Act both mandate family involvement and tracking of student performance over time.
Without the $2 million for technology, the department has had to delay launch of a new electronic student information system at 78 schools and can't invest in the means to keep it secure and private, Moriyama said.
"I'm afraid to roll out the next phases because I don't have the support infrastructure," he said. "We can't get these things out and hire people. We're past the critical point."
Most Hawaii public schools already have Parent-Community Networking Centers with part-time staff. The extra $1.74 million would extend the program to the 69 schools that don't have them, boost hours to part-time at 22 other schools, and cover supplies, equipment and telephones at 161 schools.
At Jefferson, Lee said she will keep working for 17 hours a week with no pay because she has committed herself to certain projects, and her family can manage financially.
"The parent coordinators do a lot," she said. "They get the volunteers to come in and work at the school and classroom. Depending on each school's needs, they schedule appropriate speakers and workshops."
Across town, Betsy Denzer is supposed to be the new parent-community networking coordinator at Stevenson Intermediate School, but without funding her new role is up in the air.
"They're trying to find other funds to pay me," she said. "I've gone through all the training. At all the schools, the PCNCs are ready to come on board, ready to work."
On the Big Island, Kealakehe High School Principal Wilfred Murakami has held off on hiring a parent coordinator, although he wants one.
"It's a shame that the money has yet to be released," he said, "because the people who always get hurt, who are always at the end of the line, are the students who need the help and support."
