Ben: I always hear the teachers unions say our teachers are doing a great job. Can you please explain the low test scores and the consistently low rankings of our public school students?

Roger Takabayashi: I think our public schools are doing well: The graduates from our 42 public high schools apply and have been accepted to some of the most prestigious universities and colleges in the nation on an annual basis, e.g. Harvard, Yale, MIT, Northwestern, UCLA, North Carolina, Purdue, UC Berkeley, USC, Stanford, West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy. I think this is proof positive that our public schools do provide the education opportunities for our students to succeed. But our schools can't do it alone. Parent support and participation in a child's education are critical elements for their success.

Keith: The governor's budget doesn't include the stimulus money that Congress passed, why not?

Takabayashi: To our knowledge, the governor has not applied for it. The application deadline is July 1, 2009. We hope that the stimulus money comes in as soon as possible. We urge her to apply soon.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was designed and created to support public education. Hawai'i is slated to receive about $313.6 million through this program. The Act clearly states what the funds should be used for:

"Among other things, the Education Stabilization funds may be used for activities such as: paying the salaries of administrators, teachers, and support staff; purchasing textbooks, computers and other equipment; supporting programs designed to address the educational needs of children at risk of academic failure, limited English proficient students, children with disabilities, and gifted students; and meeting the general expenses of the LEA."

Don't forget GT students: Gifted/talented programs in our schools seem to always get the short end of the stick. I feel they are just as important to focus on as any other students with special needs. What's happening is that many schools equate AP programs with GT — when they are not one and the same. What is HSTA doing to address this concern?

Takabayashi: GT, AP, special needs: It's all a matter of money. HSTA is constantly advocating to increase budget allocations for all public schools. A few years ago, a Grant Thornton study showed that the DOE was $279 million underfunded per biennium. The recent economic condition of the state has put us even further behind. The only way we can address these problems is to increase the amount of money that is allocated to our public education system.

Parent: What is the status on the teacher drug testing requirement as part of the past contract? How do you respond to comments that the teachers agreed to drug testing as part of the collective bargaining agreement but now allege that the testing is unconstitutional, which someone presumes that they never fulfilled their end of the bargaining agreement?

Takabayashi: HSTA is willing to implement drug testing, but is seeking guidance from the state Circuit Court on the constitutional legality of random drug testing.

The November court filing follows months of HSTA's efforts to negotiate the terms of random drug testing with the state. As you may know, HSTA agreed in 2007 that it would negotiate the conditions for a random drug-testing program, and as we went through the negotiating process, a number of constitutional and privacy issues surfaced.

In the meantime, HSTA offered to immediately implement drug testing based on reasonable suspicion for all of its 13,000 members. In addition to the constitutional issues, HSTA expressed concerns about the scope of the random drug testing program favored by the governor's office. We petitioned the Hawaii Labor Relations Board (HLRB) for a ruling on the constitutionality of random drug testing, but the HLRB dismissed the request, leaving us no option but to seek guidance from the courts.

Curtis Muraoka: In the HSTA's recent memo regarding the Legislature's drastic and disproportionate reduction of public charter school funding, you stated that the union was willing to push for restoration of such funds in the future. Some public charters feel these cuts were insurmountably deep, and totally disproportionate to the reductions facing the DOE.

What is the union's understanding of the proportionality between the DOE's reduction versus those that are in fact "per student" cuts facing the charters?

Please note, cuts to the PCS system directly come out of "per student" support directly at the school level — it is like cutting the Weighted Student Formula base.

Takabayashi: Very similarly, schools for the 2009-2010 school year were asked to reduce the weight of one by $113. I do not know what the proportion is with regard to the charters. However, among these tough economic times tremendous hits are being taken by all public schools, especially the remote and isolated ones such as Hana, Lana'i, Moloka'i, charters included.

Carol K.: Aloha Mr. Takabayashi. I live in 'Aiea. I keep hearing about poor performing teachers, which impact our students. What does it take to reprimand or fire a teacher? I hear it is almost impossible to do so. Thank you.

Takabayashi: Like any job action, documentation and evidence needs to be gathered and due process followed. Unfortunately, our principals are so overburdened with other tasks that this may be very difficult for them to do. HSTA does not support ineffective or poor performing teachers. But we need to ensure that the proper procedures for job action be followed.

Jeanne Mariani-Belding: Before we log off, can you briefly explain how much is spent on public education in terms of students and teachers and how does this compare with private schools here?

Takabayashi: When you consider approximately $13,400 is spent per child for public education, which includes debt service, as compared to $22,300 per student in some of our top private schools, I believe our public schools are doing a good job. You also have to consider that our public schools service a diverse mixture of students from those with special needs to the gifted and talented. In the private sector, students are pre-screened, and generally speaking, only the top 25 percent get to attend.