Kaiser drama program in limbo
By Suzanne Roig
Advertiser East Honolulu Writer
HAWAI'I KAI — Kaiser High School's three-year-old drama program is in jeopardy because of a lack of money.
The only hope for the drama class and its annual production — both offered only in the spring — lies with the school's Parent Teacher Student Association, which hopes to raise the money, said Principal Gayle Sugita.
SUGITA
Rising telephone and copying costs paid out of a $35,000 priority fund — which last year financed the drama program —Êhave forced the school to reprioritize its spending, Sugita said.
The fund also is used for additional staff development workshops and substitutes, health room supplies, someone to take the minutes for Kaiser's school/community-based management group, May Day supplies, telephone, postage and Saturday detention supervisors. But the lion's share goes to administration and copying costs, Sugita said.
Sugita said she had to cover the necessities, and there isn't enough left over for the drama program.
"Last year we took the drama money out of the fund and by the end of the year we had a hard time making ends meet," Sugita said.
A total of $8,000 was set aside from the fund last year to pay for the drama instructor.
Still, Sugita has hope for the spring semester, when the school traditionally puts on a production that is open to the community.
The past three years, the school has put on "Guys and Dolls Jr.," "Fiddler on the Roof" and "A Midsummer's Night Dream."
Referring to the PTSA's offer to raise money for the program, Sugita said that is the future for all schools.
"Our group is fully behind funding this. We don't want to see any programs lost," said Sylvia Gedeon, PTSA secretary. "I feel it's so important for kids to experience drama. it gives them so much self- confidence,"
The group plans to sell dining coupon books and possibly conduct a dinner fund-raiser. The PTSA plans a meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 9 at the school library.
"School groups are going to have to help the schools pay for some of these things," she said.
School pocketbooks are getting smaller, acknowledged Greg Knudsen, Department of Education spokesman. And there's a possibility of deeper cuts to come for the DOE as the state grapples with its budget.
"It's all a balancing act," Knudsen said. "It's a difficult choice. The principal has the ultimate choice of running the school and deciding what to spend its money on."
Experts say drama education is important for personal growth, and research on brain development has shown that experiences with art, color and movement help children learn subjects such as reading or math.
"The performing arts — drama, especially — is the closest you can get to experiencing what it's like to be someone else and their way of life," said Daniel A. Kelin II, drama director of Honolulu Theatre for Youth. "You're thinking it through. You're wearing the clothes, doing the moves, speaking the language — seeing life through another's eyes.
"That's something you don't get in a classroom."
Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com or 395-8831.
