Education officials are pushing a proposal to make it easier to close or consolidate small public schools, citing tough economic times and a potential $70 million budget cut next year.

Under a new proposal being considered by the state Board of Education, the authority to initiate the school closure process would shift from the area's offices to Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto.

The reason, they say, is that the current process is complicated and often impeded by politics within individual communities. Also, it has been ineffective and hasn't resulted in a school closure since the 1970s, officials say.

"The current process is cumbersome, and the consequence is that we've never done it in the 20 years it's been on the books," said Randy Moore, assistant superintendent of business services.

This new proposal was prompted in part by the public school system's budget situation.

This year, the DOE has an estimated $24 million budget shortfall, and the department is likely to suffer up to $70 million in budget cuts next year.

"The small schools cost more money per student to operate than larger schools," Moore said.

"In a time of austerity, it is more imperative fiscally for us to look at this. ... It is not efficient for the department to maintain a lot of little schools."

The proposal doesn't identify specific schools for closure, nor does it suggest a certain number.

However, about a year and a half ago, four schools — Queen Lili'uokalani Elementary, Wailupe Valley Elementary, Keolu Elementary and Maunaloa Elementary — were identified by a DOE facilities committee as possible choices for closure or merger with a nearby school.

All four schools were operating below the capacity of their facilities.

COMMUNITY RESPONSE

Wailupe Valley Elementary School, which has seen declining enrollment over the years, was mentioned for potential merger with nearby 'Aina Haina Elementary.

That plan, however, went nowhere.

With the current focus on the economy, Wailupe Valley principal Susan Okano said, the "future of the school remains uncertain."

"We're going to be looking at the data and the different options. Consolidation is an option that might be considered, but it is important to hear the thoughts of the community. We need to be sensitive to that," Okano said.

Okano said possible plans for closure or consolidation will be met with resistance within the community.

"This is a very special school," Okano said.

Wailupe, with a total enrollment of 78 students, is operating well under its capacity of more than 250. Despite that, the facilities are being fully used, Okano said. Two classrooms are being used by Halau Ku Mana Public Charter School and another classroom is being used by Keiki O Ka 'Aina Preschool.

STREAMLINING PROCESS

Part of the problem with the current process is that complex-area superintendents are tasked with initiating the school closure process, and it often prompts public outcry and strong emotions, said Donna Ikeda, chairwoman of the state Board of Education.

"This is not something that complex superintendents want to do, given that they work so closely with schools and their constituents," Ikeda said.

The new proposal allows the superintendent — far removed from school-level politics — to initiate the process, call for public hearings and present a recommendation to the BOE.

Ultimately, the decision to close or consolidate a school would lie with the board.

That would streamline the process but make sure community input is considered before a final decision is made, officials said.

While no school has been closed since the 1970s, one has been consolidated under the current rules. In 1987, students from 'Anuenue Elementary were shifted to nearby Palolo Elementary. 'Anuenue later reopened as a charter school.

Several considerations, such as school population and whether facilities are being fully used, are part of determining whether a school should be closed or consolidated.

But officials must also consider whether there are schools nearby to accommodate displaced students.

For instance, if Maunaloa Elementary School on Maui were to close, students would have to travel 12 miles to the nearest charter school and 16 miles to the nearest public school, said principal Joe Yamamoto.

Maunaloa currently has just over 60 students enrolled, with a capacity of more than 100.

Yamamoto said schools the size of his are often more expensive to operate because the costs are spread out among a smaller group of students.

"It's going to take more than closing four schools to balance the budget," Yamamoto said. "I can see them saving here and there, but it's going to take more than that," he said.

MILLIONS IN SAVINGS

However, board member Herbert Watanabe, a former DOE facilities specialist, said that closing four schools could save several million dollars in personnel costs. There would also be savings in repair and maintenance, he said.

"We would be saving more than $400,000 just from principal salaries," he said.

Ultimately, it's the cost of operating small schools that has prompted the DOE to try to make closing and consolidating them a more viable option.

The weighted student formula, the DOE's method for allocating resources, essentially gives money to each school based on its student population.

But for smaller schools to get enough money to operate, the formula includes 30 percent or more extra in funding, officials say.

"There are many schools operating with less than 100 children. It's just not economically feasible," Ikeda said.

"I've always been an advocate of small schools, but we need to consider what is fiscally prudent."

The DOE has also been under political pressure for the past several years by lawmakers concerned about shifting populations, and the high costs of facility repair and maintenance.

In the last legislative session, state Rep. Roy Takumi introduced a bill calling for an independent board — dubbed the Facilities Realignment Commission — to recommend schools for closure or consolidation in a two-year process. The bill was vetoed by Gov. Linda Lingle.