Larger public schools in Hawai'i could receive some $200 more per student in the 2009-2010 school year under proposed changes to the budget formula.

While changes to the per-pupil funding formula could benefit larger public schools, questions remain about how much the changes could affect smaller schools, which typically need more money per student to cover the cost of teacher salaries and school operations.

"It's our job to fund all schools, and we're trying to find an equitable way to do that. Small schools have always been subsidized by big schools. ... So we saw a need to adjust (the formula) so that big schools don't lose so much," said Michael Harano, principal of Washington Middle School.

Harano is a member of the Committee on Weights, a group of educators and school community members charged with reviewing and recommending changes to the way the state Board of Education decides how much money each school receives.

Tweaks to the so-called "weighted student formula" are being considered by that committee. One of the biggest changes being proposed would be to the formula's "sliding scale," which gives additional money to smaller schools.

Essentially, under the sliding scale, the smaller a school is, the more money it receives. But proposed changes could redefine what a small school is, thereby decreasing the number of schools that receive extra money, said Robert Campbell, director of the state Department of Education's program support and development office.

Now a small elementary school is defined as having fewer than 650 students. That school could receive up to 30 percent extra per pupil depending on the characteristics of the school, such as number of low-income students or English-language learners.

A LOWER THRESHOLD

But the proposal would lower the threshold for a small elementary school to 400 students, which means that many schools now receiving extra money for being small would no longer receive that money, Campbell said.

"This will change the percentage of the budget that goes strictly to dealing with low enrollment from 8 percent to 3 1/2 percent," Campbell said.

Currently, about $900 million is distributed among the state's 256 schools through use of the weighted student formula.

Shrinking the pot of extra money given to small schools would free up money for much larger schools, which have typically lost money under the weighted student formula.

"For years now, big schools have been giving up more money, more money, more money," said Norman Pang, principal of Holomua Elementary School in 'Ewa Beach, the largest elementary school in the state with about 1,440 students.

"We're suffering now. We're bleeding," said Pang, who also serves on the Committee on Weights.

Holomua recently had to eliminate its parent community networking coordinator position because of lack of money, Pang said. The school also deals with class sizes of up to 30 to 35 students and has also had to make tough decisions about various student programs, he said.

"I understand that big schools can afford to drop down in funding to help small schools," Pang said. "At some point, you can't keep giving up money."

Part of the Reinventing Education Act of 2004, the weighted student formula assigns a dollar amount per student, then adds more money to students with greater challenges, such as English-language learners, low-income students or students with disabilities.

The formula was meant to give principals more flexibility and control over how their school's money is spent, including support staff positions, teaching positions, textbooks and supplies. But during the first few years of the weighted student formula's implementation, small schools reported losses in resources that forced some to cut staff, programs or services.

So for the past four years, the Committee on Weights has convened to strike a balance between funding small schools and keeping equitable funding at larger schools.

"The point wasn't to help or hurt small schools or large schools," said Rep. Roy Takumi, chairman of the House Education Committee. "I think the weighted student formula has accomplished transparency. You can disagree with it, but at least now you can see what schools are getting, and why," he said.

Catherine Payne, principal of Farrington High School, one of the largest public schools in the state, said large schools have typically helped subsidize the operating costs of smaller schools.

"It's really a tough call, though, because there will always be winners and losers," Payne said.

Under the proposed changes to the funding formula, Farrington could reap some $1.3 million more.

That compares to a drop of $506,000 at Kohala High, one of the smallest high schools in the state.

ESTIMATES DIFFICULT

But Campbell said it's difficult to estimate how much small schools could lose because of the various factors involved in the weighted student formula. Just like this coming school year, budget loses will be capped at 4 percent, Campbell said.

That prevents any school from experiencing dramatic shifts in their budgets, he said.

Under the proposed changes, Pearl City Elementary would no longer fit in the small-school category. At 510 students, Pearl City will receive some extra money this coming school year for being below the 650-student threshold. But the proposal lowers the threshold in 2009-2010 to 400 students, meaning Pearl City could be left without that little extra.

"I'm going to wait to see what's going to happen. In the meantime, I'm planning accordingly," said Susan Hirokane, principal of Pearl City Elementary.

Hirokane said her school has typically received consistent funding under the weighted student formula.

"You do have to consider all the variables. Our school has a population of English-language learners, a disadvantaged group and other programs. It's not clear cut," she said.

While big schools could benefit from the additional $200 per student, not all big school principals agree with some of the changes.

ROB PETER, PAY PAUL

John Brummel, principal of Mililani High School, which has more than 2,500 students, said more money for larger schools will inevitably mean that smaller schools will have to do with less.

"You're robbing from Peter to pay Paul. I don't want someone to get hurt just because we're supposed to get money that may be entitled to us," Brummel said.

Brummel said he disagrees with the idea of a threshold for small or large schools because it means someone ends up with the short end of the stick.

"If I don't get the full amount, I ask, what am I not supposed to do for those kids? Am I not supposed to have custodial services for them? Am I not supposed to have teachers for them?" Brummel said. "But I'm not going to say that they don't deserve the money and we do. I'm not going to fight with other schools."