A federal education official visiting Hawaii schools to learn more about their challenges and successes said kids need to spend more time in school rather than less.

U.S. Department of Education Peter Cunningham, assistant secretary for communications and outreach, was referring to furlough days and said he will take that message to the governor and other state officials when he meets with them later this week.
“They need to dig deep and tighten their belt in other places,” Cunningham said at Waimanalo Intermediate and Elementary School this morning. “They shouldn’t be balancing their budget on the backs of children. They really should be doing everything they can to keep them in school.”