The state Board of Education late last night approved cuts of about $50 million to the schools budget.

The school board heard testimony from more than 30 people yesterday and received written testimony from dozens asking the board to save their programs or office budgets from the chopping block.

Their testimony persuaded board members as they restored about 90 percent of the funding for programs facing cuts.

David Johannes, a senior at Moanalua High School, used the skills he learned in a Peer Education Program class to help a friend contemplating suicide.

“;I wouldn't have known what to do if it wasn't for PEP,”; said Johannes, 17, who was at a rally outside McKinley High School last night with several other students and teachers trying to save PEP. “;It relieved her to know that I know how to help her.”;

PEP avoided elimination from the Department of Education's budget under the governor's requirement that state agencies make budgets cuts of 10, 15 and 20 percent.

The governor is trying to prevent a $900 million shortfall because of declining state revenues.

A 20 percent cut from the education budget would be about $70 million.

Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, which is 54 years old, was saved from funding cuts for its program.

About 1,500 students in 30 schools around the state participate in the program each year.

“;They (students) need to understand our world is interconnected,”; Jill Takasaki-Canfield, executive director of PAAC. “;They need to understand how these trans-sovereign issues affect their lives. (PAAC is) really to help the students of Hawaii become more competitive in the global market.”;

Donna Ikeda, chairwoman of the Board of Education, said the board had 23 days since it was given the directive to make the cuts.

“;We have had 2,200 responses, which have been looked at and have been incorporated into these proposals,”; she said.

“;It's been very painful,”; she said, adding that she believes the board will approve the budget proposal at the meeting. She said the staff has been working day and night to make the cuts from the state, district, complex and administration levels without touching individual schools.

While the governor requested a 20 percent cut, the board presented a 15 percent reduction.

“;If I can get this passed, then this is the best we can do,”; Ikeda said before the vote.

“;As far as I'm concerned, we don't have a choice”; but to pass the proposal, she said, adding that the governor's deadline is today. Otherwise the governor would make the cuts.

“;Obviously, if we can save (High Core) Storefront and the PEP program, we will. But whenever you take something out, you have to put something in, so that's the hard part,”; she said.

Larry Dembinski, a High Core teacher, said, “;Without our program, you will see graduation rates drop.”;

The High Core program, which also was saved, takes alienated kids from Central Oahu and raises them to their grade level or to graduation.