CUT TROUBLING FROM STUDENT STANDPOINT

Hi. My name is Kaj and I attend elementary school. I am concerned about furlough Fridays because I value my education. With 17 Fridays gone, all my friends and I have less time to learn what we need to know. I'm worried that Hawaii State Assessment test scores will be lower than usual.

I'm also concerned about the teachers and school staff because they work hard and they're getting less money to support their families. They will have to squeeze what they would have taught us on those Fridays into the rest of the week.

Parents who work during the day have to find childcare and that costs money. Most people can't afford it. The special education students are used to routine and need the extra help from their teachers. Furlough Fridays break that routine and that's not good for them.

I think that we can solve this problem by cutting the budget in other places. Education should be a priority. The children of today are the future and we need to make sure that our future is bright!

kaj pastor | Käneohe

LONGER DAYS COULD BE PART OF SOLUTION

I'd like to offer a solution regarding the "furlough Friday" upheaval: Restore teachers' full salaries, implement a four-day school week with days lengthened by one hour to make up for instructional time lost the fifth day, and cut all administrative, non-school-level salaries by an appropriate percentage since staff will not be working 40 hours per week (unfortunately, a union issue).

On Mondays or Wednesdays, rather than Fridays (I've read sporting events are causing an issue with Friday closures), shut down everything — administrative offices, schools, transportation, sanitary/maintenance workers, food service, etc. Substantial savings would be realized in operational expenses, according to Dwight Takeno (The Hot Seat, Nov. 1).

Other school districts have adopted this schedule to work within their shrinking budgets. Studies have found the annual assessment test scores have either remained the same or increased and there tends to be a lower rate of absenteeism on the part of both students and teachers.

Instructional hours remain about the same, so individualized education plans are still OK. Homework assignments can be utilized as an opportunity for even further achievement (independent learner benchmark). Just "Google" four-day school week.

debra okamoto | Kapolei

RETIRED TEACHERS COULD POSSIBLY FILL IN

Would it be possible for retired school teachers to fill in as volunteers for the days that the regular teachers are being furloughed? I'm sure that there are lots of retired teachers who would be willing to help the state and also their fellow peers.

richard w. mitchell | Waipahu

IF ONLY OFFICIALS HAD HALF DE LIMA'S SENSE

The brilliant, talented Frank De Lima, who spends much time at our public schools, says it all in his furlough parody. If our politicians had half the insight Mr. De Lima shows, perhaps our kids in Hawaii would not be shortchanged where school days are concerned.

Our Mainland daughter who went to school here was appalled at the lack of concern for our keiki and agrees that Mr. De Lima knows how to get the point across. Thank you, Frank! Run for governor.

shirley cannell | Waipahu

B&BS

OPERATIONS ARE MOST UNWELCOME

In response to Will Page's comment ("City property tax bill passes," Oct. 28) that many people living near the (B&B) establishments welcome them into their neighborhoods: Show me these people!

I built my family home 20 years ago in a nice quiet neighborhood. Today, within 100 yards of my home, there are three B&Bs. Unlicensed? Probably. Under-insured? Probably. Unwanted? You bet. Paying taxes? I doubt it. Hurting the hotel industry? You would think so.

This was a nice quiet place to live and raise a family. Now the street is clogged with rental cars, and we have new neighbors every week. Come on, Mr. Page, is this what you really want for the area we both grew up in?

mark erwin | Kailua

FILM OFFICE

STATE WILL STILL HAVE FOUR COUNTY OFFICES

In response to the "Film office good for Hawaii's youth" (Letters, Oct. 26), blasting Gov. Lingle's budget cuts necessary to our great state, the taxpaying public should be made aware that Hawaii will still have four county film offices operating on four islands, Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island.

The people in these offices are professionals that know their particular island's locations, production people and facilities very well and do a tremendous job.

william kenny | Kailua, Kona, Hawaii

RAIL TRANSIT

MAYOR'S FLEXIBILITY MAY SEE REAL TEST

Showing an uncanny grasp of the obvious, Mayor Hannemann has magnanimously agreed to extend the start of rail to January 2010. He described the delay as mynah (or was it minor?), thus showcasing his willingness to " be flexible and compromise."

I have a feeling his willingness to be flexible and compromise will be tested in coming months when the EIS is released and lawsuits are filed. To paraphrase Churchill: Mayor Hannemann can be counted on to do the right thing, once he has exhausted all other options.

peter chisteckoff | Mililani