The state Board of Education has approved a request by 100 regular public schools in Hawaii to increase instructional time by adjusting class schedules or canceling teacher planning days.

  BOE MEETING ON TEACHERS FURLOUGHS

 

Hawaii Public Schools Push to Cut Loss of Days

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The board voted for the change yesterday in light of the elimination of 17 school days, equal to a 7.9 percent pay cut for teachers and staff, due to budget reductions.

Most schools are planning to convert one to three planning or waiver days into instructional days.

Schools have as many as six planning or waiver days, and many have used some of them, officials said. Some planning and waiver days also fall on Furlough Fridays.

Of the requests approved yesterday, 95 schools asked to restore instructional days, and five requested changes in classroom schedules.

For instance, Mililani Middle School will be adding instructional time on Wednesdays on weeks with Furlough Fridays, extending the students' close of day from 2:15 to 2:55 p.m.

At Aikahi Elementary the school plans to convert a planning day on April 5 (Monday) into an instructional day.

The school system had its first Furlough Fridays on Oct. 23 and last Friday and is scheduled to have the third today.