Plan would end Hawaii teacher furlough days

updated 10:41 p.m. ET Nov. 15, 2009

HONOLULU - Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle has proposed a plan to end the state's hotly disputed teacher furloughs and cancel a planned 10 percent reduction in school days.

At a news conference Sunday, Lingle called for shifting teacher-only days to regular classroom time and tapping the state's rainy day fund to cancel 27 planned furlough days that were set to take place between January 2010 and June 2011.

Seven furlough days for 2009 will remain in place.

Lingle wants to take $50 million from the rainy day fund but needs approval from the state Legislature.

The Board of Education and state teachers' union agreed to the furloughs to deal with a budget shortfall, but the move spurred lawsuits and the possible loss of millions in federal funds.

More on: Hawaii

More from msnbc.com View an interactive, HD panorama of N.Y.'s 30 Rock   Insider theft a big problem for small charities   Census workers wanted, local roots preferred Ideal beauty a matter of millimeters, study says Answer Desk: Gold may be riskier than it seems Send your holiday pictures to troops

MORE FROM EDUCATION

Education Section Front

Loophole frees mentally ill youth offenders   Study: Schools face shortfalls after stimulus ends Some schools drop driver’s ed to cut costs Teacher on leave for choir's Hooters lunch Parents battle school over son’s locks Police: Girl, 12, raped in school stairwell Education Section Front   Add Education headlines to your news reader: