Gov. Linda Lingle says she cannot support a plan proposed by parents to end Furlough Fridays because it pits education against other public services.

The parents' groups Save Our Schools and Hawaii Education Matters announced a plan yesterday to restore 15 lost school days through March 23, 2011, and costs $55 million.

Their plan effectively supports the position of the state Board of Education and Hawaii State Teachers Association in bringing back all educational workers, not just teachers and “;essential”; staff.

Hawaii Education Matters official Jo Curran said six additional days would be funded through teachers converting their planning days into instructional days.

Curran said she hopes that by March 23, a new governor will be able to resolve the issue by fully funding the remaining six Furlough Fridays.

But Lingle said the plan is not a comprehensive solution to eliminate all furlough days. It leaves legislators struggling to find money in 2011 to fund public service programs.

  Residents push new plan to end furloughs

 

Community members gathered to push a new plan to end furlough Friday's in Hawaii.

 

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“;I appreciate that parents have been working to develop constructive solutions to return children to the classrooms,”; Lingle said in a statement yesterday. “;I encourage these parents to ask HSTA to re-open negotiations.”;

HSTA President Wil Okabe and state Board of Education Chairman Garrett Toguchi said they supported the two groups' proposal to end Furlough Fridays.

Okabe said the groups' proposal was consistent with the union's position.

“;I don't believe the public wants the status quo,”; Okabe said. “;I believe they want to end Furlough Fridays.”;

Toguchi praised the groups for supporting an end to all Furlough days.

Save Our Schools ended a weeklong protest and sit-in at the governor's office and state Capitol on Wednesday, but not before some 17 protesters received citations and four were arrested for trespassing.

Lingle refused to talk with Save Our Schools participants in the sit-in.

“;I applaud the parents group for being strong advocates of public education,”; Toguchi said.