Legislative spotlight focuses on education

By Lynda Arakawa and Gordon Y.K. Pang
Advertiser Capitol Bureau

Public education reform took center stage at the opening of the 2004 Legislature yesterday, with House and Senate Democratic leaders pledging meaningful changes while throwing jabs at Gov. Linda Lingle's call for elected school boards.

Four-year-old Amber Aduja helped her mom, Sen. Melodie Aduja, celebrate the opening of the legislative session yesterday. Sen. David Ige's son, Matthew, also attended. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Democrats indicated an uphill battle for Lingle's proposed ballot question asking whether voters want to amend the state constitution to provide for local school boards, but Lingle said she remains optimistic.

"To say that they're against local school boards, I think is premature," Lingle said. "They say things on opening day ... but then as the session wears on sometimes you change your mind."

Many were hopeful during yesterday's festive opening-day ceremonies, which drew hundreds of people and included musical entertainment, food and flowers to help mark the beginning of the 60-day legislative session.

It is the second session the Democratic majority — which occupies 56 of the 76 seats in the Legislature — will work with Lingle, Hawai'i's first Republican governor in 40 years. Producing results that satisfy the public may be increasingly critical for lawmakers this session, as the entire House and half the Senate will be up for election this year.

Speaker Calvin Say, D-20th (St. Louis Heights, Palolo, Wilhelmina Rise), promised to work with Lingle to "make education reform a reality" and agreed that more decision-making should be done at the school level.

But Say also made it clear that he and other Democrats do not believe elected school boards will work.

"Let me make a prediction," he said. "More school boards will bring more bureaucracy and reduce already strained resources in our classrooms."

Senate President Robert Bunda welcomed in the new session yesterday while urging senators to keep an open mind on education reform and expressing support for devoting resources to the war on drugs. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Say contended Lingle antagonized teachers and principals in her zeal to push through local school boards. "In the process of achieving true educational reform, we must avoid disenfranchising the very people we need to achieve it," he said.

"Our public school teachers and principals are not the enemy, they should be our partners in changing the system for the better."

Senate President Robert Bunda, D-22nd (North Shore, Wahiawa), also remarked that teachers and principals were unfairly attacked. He voiced his support for schools superintendent Pat Hamamoto, who opposes local school boards.

Bunda urged senators to "keep an open mind" but also warned them to "be careful of evidence that appears to have been orchestrated more to support one particular point of view than to achieve true reform."

That was a reference to Lingle's Citizens Achieving Reform in Education panel, which backs local school boards and other measures.

Bunda also said lawmakers should consider other initiatives, including smaller classes and schools, raising the entry age for kindergarten and establishing universal preschool.

The ballot proposal would ask voters whether the state should divide the Department of Education into school districts with locally elected boards.

Hamamoto said she was elated to hear support for teachers and principals.

"This is the first time there was that kind of support," she said.

One public school principal said he thought it was positive that both the governor and lawmakers talked about education. "I think change is good," said Michael Tokioka, the principal at 'Aiea High School. "But I think we need to be careful about jumping into the issue before we know all the information."

Tokioka said he needs to hear more about a new student spending formula or local school boards before he forms opinions.

Following the speeches, House Education Chairman Roy Takumi, said he plans a hearing on the local school board issue and that he is certain there will be a constitutional question this year regarding school governance.

"Whether it's reconfiguring the statewide Board of Education, whether it's some variation of that, that remains to be seen," Takumi said.

Senate Minority Leader Fred Hemmings, R-25th (Kailua, Waimanalo, Hawai'i Kai), expressed support for the Lingle administration's recommendations for local school boards and to put resources and accountability into the hands of principals and teachers.

House Minority Leader Galen Fox, R-23rd (Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kaka'ako) urged lawmakers to "put the money in the hands of principals who thrive if they succeed ... replace them if they don't." He added: "And if we don't trust local school boards, at least let Hawai'i's people decide for themselves whether local boards best help local schools."

Floor speeches also highlighted Hawai'i's crystal methamphetamine problems. Bunda and Say expressed support for recommendations from a joint House-Senate task force that includes spending $21.6 million for more substance-abuse treatment, intervention and prevention programs.

Lingle and the Republicans have been skeptical about the dollar figure and said the state also needs to give law-enforcement officials more tools to combat crystal methamphetamine.

"For critics who claim spending money on prevention is a waste of time, I say this: When it comes to the safety of our children, our families and our entire island community, we must devote adequate resources to the war on drugs or we will continue to lose ground," Bunda said. "We must not let the issue turn into a public-relations battle that has little to do with real solutions."

Say also addressed skeptics of the task force's recommendations. "It is going to take money and commitment from every part of our state to turn back this terrible epidemic."

Hemmings acknowledged differences in how to address crystal methamphetamine use, saying that rehabilitation and law enforcement must work together.

"I know we can produce laws and programs that are going to protect the public from drug-induced crime and rehabilitate those who demonstrate a willingness and commitment to overcome their illness," Hemmings said.

As for addressing the ice problem, Fox said "let's give the police the tools they need so they no longer have to fight the war on ice with one hand tied behind their back."

Bunda and Say also said the Legislature should continue work on the state's Hawai'i Rx program, which aims at reducing prescription drug costs for low-income people. Proposed changes include limiting participation to people earning an income less than 350 percent of the federal poverty level and authorizing the state to secure further discounts by entering into rebate agreements with drug manufacturers.

Lingle has said she would support improving the program.

Say also drew applause from both Democrats and Republicans when he pledged that the House will not approve raising taxes this year.

Advertiser staff writer Derrick DePledge contributed to this report. Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com. Or reach either at 525-8070.