Dozens of people packed a McKinley High School meeting hall and heard testimony warning of adverse affects of $46 million in public schools budget cuts, but members of a Board of Education committee said cuts must occur.

Yesterday's committee hearing was the first time that board members publicly discussed the budget reduction plan that the state Department of Education first released on Sept. 24.

Board members heard lengthy testimony from teachers, students and administrators on proposed cuts to public charter schools, special education, resource teachers, peer education and other areas of possible reduction.

Jasmine Fujiwara, a DOE employee speaking on behalf of about 36 resource teachers whose positions are on the chopping block, told board members that the elimination of those positions could possibly affect the quality of special education.

"One of the programs to be cut is the teacher training program for special education," Fujiwara said.

"We fear if you cut our program, we risk falling out of (federal) compliance."

Many gave similar testimony, but board members made no promises.

"If you were sitting on this side of the table and you had to come up with monumental cuts like this, what would you come up with?" said board member John Penebacker.

"It's easy to be on the other side."

Yesterday's committee meeting is a lead-up to a full board meeting Thursday night, when the BOE is expected to make a decision on the budget reduction plan.

In total, the proposed cuts make up slightly less than 15 percent of the DOE's discretionary budget. That's still well short of $69 million in cuts for a worst-case-scenario budget plan that Gov. Linda Lingle asked the DOE to create because of the state's declining tax revenues.

The DOE budget reduction plan includes cuts of 244 positions in state and district offices, but largely preserves school-level programs and staff.

CALL FOR CUTS

The cuts are part of a request by Lingle that all state agencies come up with 10 percent, 15 percent and 20 percent budget-cut scenarios for their 2009-11 discretionary budget because the slowing economy has eroded state tax revenue.

The DOE had already cut about $20 million from its budget, including $10.2 million cut by lawmakers in this year's Legislature. The BOE recently approved $9.3 million in budget cuts to meet 4 percent across-the-board reductions imposed by Lingle.

Several teachers and administrators expressed concerns about cuts to programs that are close to the classroom.

For instance, the plan outlines a nearly $1 million cut to the DOE's Peer Education Program, a school-level program where students help other students deal with health and social problems.

The cut eliminates 15 teaching positions and two support staff members.

DOE officials told the board yesterday that school administrators and school community councils who value the program may choose to fund the teaching positions through the school's "weighted student formula" budget.

Before the meeting began, about 20 students representing peer education programs at several DOE schools lined Pensacola Street outside of McKinley High School. The students held banners and signs in support of the program.

"I went through a lot of trouble at home with my parents getting a divorce. Peer education gave me something to look forward to," said Jacob Coelho, a Roosevelt High School senior.

SUPPORT FOR POSITIONS

Meanwhile, charter school officials protested a cut of nearly $1.9 million for student services coordinators on their campuses.

"This is a very important position in charter schools," said Steven Hirakami, the principal of Hawai'i Academy of Arts and Science on the Big Island.

Hirakami argued that SSCs work with special-education students to make sure they are receiving the services they need.

But board member Garrett Toguchi said that the positions are not mandated positions, but the functions they provide are.

"You're not required to staff that position," Toguchi said.

However, Hirakami said the position is necessary, even if it's not mandated.

"Common sense would require me to have one. I wouldn't operate a school without one," he said.

'DOUBLE BUDGETED'

DOE Budget Director Adele Chong told board members that the $1.9 million cut is being made because of a budgetary oversight.

"It's really double budgeted right now," Chong said.

Chong said charter schools have been receiving a separate check to pay for their SSC even though their per-pupil money should cover the salary for that position.

Ivalee Sinclair, the chairwoman of the Special Education Advisory Council, testified against cutting funds for certain special-education programs, including services to children with autism, testing and monitoring and the complaints management program.

"I would ask the board to be careful in your consideration so that the funds that are cut do not in any way jeopardize the federal funds for special education," she said.

Jill Takasaki Canfield, the executive director of the Pacific and Asian Affairs Council, testified in support of the program, which helps about 1,500 students a year. The organization offers a wide spectrum of classes and programs, from those for at-risk youth to students seeking college preparation.

The program could suffer a cut of about $48,000.

"Half of our after-school classes, the students need the credit to graduate," she said. "We provide a safe alternative during the critical after-school hours."