Parents Hopeful Amid Furlough Talks

HONOLULU - KITV.com

Parent organizers of a huge rally at the Capitol last month to protest furlough Fridays have high hopes about a meeting at the governor's office Monday.

Parent leaders said they are close to an agreement to reduce school furlough days, a controversial plan to close schools on some days during the remainder of this school year in order to save the state money and reduce a staggering budget deficit.

Since the rally at the Capitol last month, parent organizers have met with the governor's senior policy adviser Linda Smith at the governor's office two times.

Monday will be their third meeting.

In spite of the governor's refusal to use $35 million in federal stimulus money to reduce furlough days, parents are hopeful their students ultimately won't miss so much school.

"There is a way to fund the days we need to go back to school," said Jo Curran, of the group Hawaii Education Matters.

The group's plan calls for $25 million to buy back five furlough days and lengthening 6.5 shortened Wednesdays to full school days.

"We do have really strong agreements from parties involved and we do have a willingness to go forward," "We just need a wee bit more willingness."

Of course, the money part of the plan is the hang-up.

The parent organizers met with school board and teachers union and lawmakers every day last week.

The parent group's plan only addresses furlough days planned for this year and not next year. But the group hopes that if it is adopted it will impress federal officials who are now talking about taking away education grants that Hawaii could be eligible to receive.

Last week U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Hawaii's reduced school days due to teacher furloughs may hurt its opportunity to receive a portion of federal grant money available to states for improving education called Race to the Top funds.

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