Hawaii's Education Department would cut $31.5 million from its $2.4-billion budget by eliminating 165 positions and slashing money for dozens of programs under a slimmed-down funding plan asked by Gov. Linda Lingle.

Schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto, addressing the budget cuts in a live TV broadcast today, said officials are looking to cut programs that would have the least impact on student achievement.

She asked the public to provide feedback on the reduced budget, which will be available on the Education Department's Web site.

”;It's not a crisis yet, but ... it is very serious,”; she said.

The 165 positions that would be cut includes vacant positions and DOE officials say they will try to avoid layoffs.

The state Budget and Finance Department has asked state departments—from education to health and public safety to agriculture—to submit ways of trimming 10 percent, 15 percent and 20 percent of their budgets for the 2009-11 biennium to avoid a $903 million deficit by fiscal 2011.

For the Education Department, the cuts could range from $30.7 million to $68.9 million.

A draft of the proposed budget reductions released today is posted at http://www.doe.k12.hi.us. It includes alternative ways for schools to continue offering programs that are on the chopping block.

Public comment on the budget proposal will be accepted online until 5 p.m. Sept. 29.

A budget recommendation will be posted on the Education Department's Web site on Oct. 2, when it is presented to the Board of Education. Once approved by the school board, the Lingle administration will review the Education Department's budget before preparing its budget request to the Legislature by the end of the year.