About 165 positions spread across state and district public school offices — from resource teachers to support staff — would need to be eliminated under a $31.5 million budget cut to the state Department of Education.

However, state Superintendent Patricia Hamamoto in a live televised presentation laid out a budget cut proposal — a 10 percent reduction in DOE's funds — that covers barely half of what Gov. Linda Lingle has requested.

"We are going through a fiscal situation. It's not a crisis, yet," Hamamoto said during a live broadcast on cable TV. "These are hard times and it's painful."

Just 12 days ago, the governor requested all state agencies come up with 10 percent, 15 percent and 20 percent budget cut scenarios for the 2009-2011 budget. That means education officials must continue to work toward a plan that cuts some $69 million.

Hamamoto's budget cut proposal largely protects school-level positions and programs. But education officials said today they were not certain that would continue to be the case as the department works toward a deeper, more severe budget cut scenario.

"The targets we have from the governor are even higher," said Adelle Chong, DOE budget director. "The board didn't want us to touch schools ... but most of the money we have is at the school level."

Included in the budget cut proposal is a plan to eliminate numerous vacant state and complex-level administrative positions. For instance, Hamamoto proposed cutting about $215,000 in teacher reserve positions that are currently vacant.

Despite vocal opposition to proposed athletics cuts back in August, the DOE is also proposing cutting some $800,000 from the public school athletics budget. During Hamamoto's live remarks, she explained that sports directors across the state collaborated to figure out areas within the budget that could be trimmed.

The athletics cuts are largely "B and C funds," meaning supplies and equipment. Hamamoto is also proposing cutting athletic's transportation budget by more than $300,000.

The budget cut proposal also includes an elimination of the DOE's Peer Education Program, a program taught by trained peer educators where students help other students deal with health and social problems.

Nearly $1 million in cuts will come from peer education program, including the elimination of 15 teaching positions and two support staff.

So what could this budget cut mean for the average student?

"There might not be a tutor for her, or the tutor may be part-time," Hamamoto said. "Much of the equipment and supplies ... may not be there for her or readily available," she said.

A large portion of the cuts being proposed are to funds that would normally be used for supplies and equipment. For instance, the DOE is proposing cutting some $643,000 at nine alternative learning centers across the state, which help to education at-risk students.

The money also represents funds that are used to pay for hourly employees at these learning centers.

Daniel Hamada, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and support services, said this doesn't mean that the alternative learning programs are being cut.

"The intent was take away as much from these 'B and C funds' and preserve the school learning," Hamada said.

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

The department has also been notified of about $5.7 million that has already been removed from its budget by the state Department of Budget and Finance.

Included in those mandatory cuts was $1 million appropriated for early childhood education and the state's newly formed Early Learning Council, approved by lawmakers last session in order to begin developing a statewide preschool system.

Other mandatory cuts taken from the DOE's budget included nearly $2 million for equipment, $1.2 million in technology upgrades, a $460,000 grant for the Hawai'i 3Rs program as well as $750,000 for furniture at new facilities.

About 73 percent of the Department of Education's budget is in salaries and fringe benefits. Another 26 percent is in supplies and other expenses, such as electricity costs, student transportation, food service, special education and testing contracts.

In addition to budget restrictions, the governor has placed a hiring freeze on all current and future vacancies. The DOE is seeking a waiver from the governor to address the possibility of turnover on the school-level.

A draft proposal of the new BOE budget reductions are posted on the DOE Web site at www.doe.k12.hi.us. The DOE is asking for public input on the draft through Monday.

The DOE will then submit its budget reduction proposal to the state Board of Education on Oct. 2. The recommendation will be available for public viewing on the public school system's Web site that day.

Then on Oct. 6, the BOE's Budget & Fiscal Accountability Committee will discuss and take action on the recommendations at its 3 p.m. meeting.

The governor has set an Oct. 10 deadline for the budget reduction proposal.