Thousands of teachers and other school staff would be fired, or the school year wrapped up in April, if furlough Fridays are not allowed.The department of education's estimate came when asked what could happen if the federal court blocks the Friday shutdowns.
A federal judge weighs in again next week whether school furloughs will be allowed to continue. The board of education asked department leadership what if schools are forced to open on furlough Fridays?
"If we have to live within the budget we have and we're not allowed to do furloughs we would have to layoff thousands of people. Thousands? That’s for next year you mean? No, this year,” said Adele Chung, DOE Budget Director.
The superintendent of schools gave more specifics on how they'd make up the $64 million elsewhere, and a heated exchange followed
"We know it would be more than a thousand so it'd be a couple thousand or more,” said schools superintendent, Pat Hamamoto. “We would lay off all our probationary, non-tenured, non-tenured licensed teachers would be laid off.”
She said special education and tenured teachers would be protected.
"Have you considered doing other things other than layoffs? Have you considered running the school year the school system until the money runs out,” asked John Penebacker from the Board of Education.
"It would probably be in the April/May time frame or early on that we would finish up school,” said James Brese, DOE Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Superintendent.
"I would rather you take off the top and go in there and slash and burn if you have to, but I’m getting tired of being accused to protecting a bloated bureaucracy,” said Mary Cochran from the Board of Education.
Earlier, the governor said furlough day replacement options don't have to include layoffs or a shorter school year.
"Of course there are alternatives, you could negotiate for a five percent pay reduction and continue to teach every day, and there would be no impact on children and their education,” said Gov. Lingle.
Any change, though, would require a binding union contract to be renegotiated.
The governor said she is very comfortable reopening the contract.
