Lingle rejects education bill
By Lynda Arakawa and Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Capitol Bureau
Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed the Democrats' education reform package yesterday, saying it has too many flaws, but also suggested changes to make the omnibus measure more acceptable to her.
Democratic House and Senate leaders say they will consider Lingle's suggestions, but it is unclear whether they will agree to them. The Democrats have more than enough votes to override her veto, and they have only until Monday to make changes in time for next Thursday's adjournment of the session.
Lingle yesterday called her rejection of the measure a "soft veto," saying while she can't support Senate Bill 3238, she would consider a revised version with five changes, particularly one that reduces the power of school community councils.
"To simply let it become law in its current form would be wrong, because it does not even begin to bring about the genuine reform so many fought so hard to achieve, and it raises false expectations for all those who hoped this would be the year that real change would occur," she said. "Let's discard what is wrong with this bill and pass a law that truly moves us forward."
Senate President Robert Bunda and Senate Education Committee Chairman Norman Sakamoto, D-15th (Waimalu, Airport, Salt Lake), defended the bill but said they would review Lingle's proposals. Bunda, however, said he was inclined to override the veto and deal with changes next year.
Bunda, D-22nd (North Shore, Wahiawa), said Lingle's calling her action a soft veto "means she's really not sold on her veto.
"That means she's just playing and toying around with the Legislature and it is a show, so to speak, on how and who is going to take credit on this particular measure. That's not right."
House Speaker Calvin Say and House Education Committee Chairman Roy Takumi, D-36th (Pearl City, Palisades), were more diplomatic. They said that while the bill indeed reinvents the school system, they welcome suggestions.
"The bottom line is we have to support our public education system, and if it is going to improve what our education reform package is all about, I would be delighted to see that we do improve on what we have already," said Say, D-20th (St. Louis Heights, Palolo, Wilhemina Rise).
Say said he would recommend that the Legislature override the veto, and possibly make changes to the omnibus measure via a separate bill. Takumi said he would gather comments from educators about Lingle's suggestions.
The vetoed bill would implement a "weighted student formula," which bases schools' finances on the individual characteristics of students rather than enrollment, by the 2006-2007 school year. It also requires each school to have a council — made up of the principal, teachers, school staff, parents, students and community representatives — that would have discretion over the school's financial and academic plans.
Lingle's five changes include making the school community councils advisory, moving up the launch of the weighted student formula by a year, giving charter schools "their fair share of funding" for facilities and operations, setting standards for principals' performance and holding them accountable, and giving principals control over 70 percent of their budgets, increasing the control in three years to 90 percent.
Lingle said the school community councils provision was the most troublesome, saying they complicate the decision-making process. She said she would be willing to consider a measure that includes four of her five suggested changes, so long as one of the changes addresses the councils.
The governor also emphasized she has not abandoned her proposal to break up the school system into districts with local elected school boards, which Democrats rejected earlier this session. The proposal requires a constitutional amendment, and the deadline for constitutional amendment proposals has already passed this session.
Kapolei High School principal Alvin Nagasako said Sakamoto and Takumi have been good about soliciting principals' opinions on education reform, but before the lawmakers plan their next move he wants them to have a group of school administrators to weigh in on the decision.
Nagasako, whose school hosted the Department of Education's education summit last month, said if principals are to be given more control over their finances, he wants to see more training and resources, such as support staff and business managers, to help with the planning.
"It's nice to be held accountable," he said, but added that it is important to have the tools to control what principals will be accountable for.
Nagasako also warns against making the school community councils only advisory. "All successful schools involve the total school community in as many aspects as possible," he said.
Laara Allbrett, director of the charter school Halau Lokahi, said fair financing and a facilities allowance would go a long way in helping charter schools thrive, rather than merely survive. "Having the facilities funding in our pocket would help ease the pressure of making ends meet," she said.
Halau Lokahi students have been highly visible in the Capitol, lobbying lawmakers for more money and buildings. Allbrett hopes Democratic lawmakers will listen to them and accept the governor's recommendation. "The kids are not up for being political pawns. Don't play with them," she said. "These kids are the reformers, they should be honored."
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 525-8070. Reach Treena Shapiro at tshapiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8014.
