Dozens of public school students and others begged for the survival of programs that help at-risk and special-needs youngsters yesterday as state Board of Education members wrestled with decisions to cut 244 positions and carve $46.3 million from the Department of Education's $2.4 billion budget.

The board's Budget Committee heard school Superintendent Pat Hamamoto and other officials outline reductions to meet Gov. Linda Lingle's demand that each state department reduce its budget by 20 percent. The bulk of cuts are in state or school district-level offices.

“;This is exactly what the president did to Congress,”; said board member John Penebacker, balking at the curtailed discussion because the governor's deadline forces a board decision at its Thursday general meeting. “;We need to do this methodically. We cannot rush through and make an informed decision.”;

More than 2,000 Hawaii residents have made suggestions on what to cut, from closing smaller schools to changing to a four-day workweek to cutting pay across the department, to the department's Web site, Hamamoto told the board.

More than 30 teenagers in the Peer Education Program testified at the meeting, asking that the $936,000 program be saved. Youngsters at 25 high and middle schools work with teachers to educate their peers about substance abuse, school absenteeism and teen pregnancy, and work through other health, social and emotional issues.

Aiea High School student Miah Faatoafe told the board that PEP led him to turn away from fighting and the alcohol-abuse models he saw in his own family. “;I can help other guys with low self-esteem like I had.”;

“;I would not be the person who stands here today,”; said Marine Sgt. Jon Nishikata, who credited the High Core Storefront School in Wahiawa with helping him get out of trouble and to graduate. Nishikata has served two tours in Iraq and volunteers at the alternative school, which has helped at-risk youngsters for 40 years.

Cathy Brown, parent of three public school students, berated the department for deleting $2 million per year funding for science books. “;With all the problems in this country - global warming, the energy crisis - Hawaii children should be the innovators and solution-solvers,”; Brown said. “;We should be ramping up the science teaching, not deleting it.”;

Hamamoto told the board later that the cost of science books would have to be borne by schools' own discretionary funds.

Jasmine Fujiwara, a state resource teacher in the Department of Education's Human Resources Office, told the board they are in danger of failing to comply with federal court settlements about special education if they cut training and professional development programs. “;We got out of the Felix suit because we established these programs,”; she said.

Asked for her solution to the budget-cut demand, Fujiwara responded, “;We could take $100 from every teacher, and we would not have to cut any positions.”;