Public schools need the community's help and, to a large extent, they get it.

An Advertiser article chronicled the statistics for charity aimed at the state education system. In 2005-2006, private gifts amounted to $2.1 million, a $400,000 drop from the previous two years.

The reason for the decline isn't evident; it may even be a fluke. What is clear, however, is that many schools are beginning to feel reliant on such gifts, some of which go toward buying basic needs, such as equipment or books.

It's worrying some members of the campus networks that what used to be considered "gravy" is now becoming meat-and-potatoes elements of the school budgets.

Ideally, of course, this shouldn't happen. And if the hiring of a financial officer at the Department of Education improves accountability as it should, inefficiencies in spending may be reduced.

Hawai'i residents must realize that, unfortunately, the schools simply don't seem to have the taxpayer-funded budgets to meet their needs.

So if private charity is needed, the state should help make the most of it.

Drumming up gifts to the school — whether it's money, goods or time — has been a mission for state Sen. Norman Sakamoto for several years.

The Senate education chairman has pressed for a better way to round up donations for schools. There has been some measured progress in that direction.

The pilot, which began last October, will continue for another school year before it can be evaluated, but it's been successful enough that expansion statewide already seems like a plan.

This Web clearinghouse is open to individual volunteers and donors, but it has been especially helpful in guiding community business partners looking for ways to help.

And Sakamoto sponsored legislation, already signed into law, to expand further with business partnerships, by establishing a business/education internship and mentorship program in the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

Anyone who wants to lend a hand to any public school can still do so the old-fashioned way, by picking up a phone. This would include everyone from the mom who has a few hours to help the librarian shelve books to the volunteer crossing guard.