John Kim: The DOE and BOE have always said that their first priority is to the students of Hawai'i. If that is true, it is very difficult to understand why the furloughs (on instructional days, not teacher prep/training/professional days) are best for students.

Please explain why this isn't just another example of our educational leaders doing what's best to appease the unions — that are not looking out for the best interests of the students.

Garrett Toguchi: The board worked hard to reduce expenses while preserving instructional days. We streamlined programs, eliminated 239.5 employee positions, closed Wailupe Valley School, and reduced funds for materials and equipment.

But after all that, we still had to come up with $117 million in labor cost savings. In the end, the board, the department, HSTA and the governor agreed to a contract that doesn't lay off teachers.

Seamster: Did the district look forward to what ramifications this decision would have on families? What collaboration with community providers did the district engage in to ensure our keiki wouldn't be left alone at home?

Garrett Toguchi: The department has been meeting with a number of organizations and community members interested in providing care and programs for students during furlough days. Just yesterday, the department and the board met with some 50 individuals to answer questions about use of school facilities, hiring of teachers and other related issues.

Nanakuli Bill: The schools superintendent and teachers' union worked out a deal that was beneficial to teachers but devastating to students. The BOE is elected by us to look out for our children's best interest. Why didn't the board intervene and work out an agreement that didn't include furloughs on school days?

Garrett Toguchi: Unfortunately, I cannot disclose what was discussed in negotiations due to confidentiality. I can tell you that our intent, and understandably that of teachers, is to preserve as many days as possible.

Oliver: I feel the BOE is too large and is often unable to make decisions on controversial decisions, as pointed out in a recent Advertiser editorial. Do you support reducing the number of board slots? How about breaking up the district into smaller ones, with more localized school boards?

Garrett Toguchi: Good question. A smaller size board? Haven't thought about it, but perhaps you should pitch that to the Legislature. I don't support creating more boards. I could go in to a long argument about that, but let's just say that bottom line is that it would cost more and there has been no proof that it would result in improved academic achievement statewide.

Pono: What do you see as the biggest obstacle to creating positive change in our public schools? Is it the unions or the administrative bureaucracy? Or is it an ineffective Board of Education? Enough with subpar public schools. Get it right for our kids!

Garrett Toguchi: The biggest obstacle is a ill-informed or, worse, a misinformed public. People need to go to their neighborhood schools and see what's going on. When there are functions, even if you don't have a child at the school, go find out! You'll find a lot of positive things and it really makes you feel better about educators and the kids.

Alohamom: For the children on free and reduced-priced breakfast/ lunch that rely on at least two meals daily, will the DOE provide lunch wagons to drive around the state to feed these children?

Garrett Toguchi: No, sorry. I wish we could, but the federal program that reimburses us won't allow it.

LC: The governor is looking for state worker sacrifice. Because she cannot furlough or lay off the BOE/DOE employees, was there any good faith effort by the BOE to look into the possibility of the administrative, support staff making a sacrifice as well via pay cut or furlough? Who has authority to impose such measures? If you say these positions are covered by HGEA and UPW and are subject to negotiation, then, call me clueless, but whose responsibility is it then to negotiate with those unions for BOE/DOE employees? Does BOE/DOE have a voice in negotiations besides the governor and mayors?

Garrett Toguchi: First of all, the other workers are in a different union. That's not an uncommon assumption to miss, so I won't call you clueless. The DOE/BOE is working with the administration and the two other unions as it relates to school level ops. But, ultimately our proportion of employees is small compared to the rest of state government. We will have to wait for the governor to work out an agreement with UPW and HGEA, but they (everyone) are well aware that we have different needs. The BOE made huge cuts to this current two-year budget. People forget because it was done last October/ November. But we cut about $80 million before the Legislature began in January, then we lost another $40 million. Also, the superintendent and her staff will all be taking furloughs.

Diane: How come the teachers didn't apply their furlough days to their intercession? That way the kids would already be on a scheduled break.

Garrett Toguchi: Intercession is a nonworking day, kind of like a holiday. A furlough takes place on a working day. So, no work no pay. We did think about that in the beginning.

Sara: What's the status of our libraries? The public is stepping up with donations. The BOE must support libraries in these tough times. People need that resource more than ever.

Garrett Toguchi: The public library system offered two plans to the board to comply with a $6 million reduction to its $30 million budget. The first included closing five libraries. The second proposal included reducing hours and intermittent branch closures due to law staffing levels.

None of the plans received approval because members were concerned about the negative impact that library closures would have on the public, especially today when more people are relying on library services to find jobs.

However, the state librarian has the authority to reduce hours and implement other cost-saving measures without board approval. The library system will be affected by the negotiations with UPW and HGEA. We're awaiting the outcome of those two negotiations to determine our next steps. In the meantime, I encourage members of the public to contribute to their neighborhood libraries.

Mom of 2 Teens: Why was it more important to take away instructional days vs. planning days? I am concerned that we have sacrificed our children's education because some feel we need to share in the hurt, but the only ones really being hurt here are the children.

Garrett Toguchi: I can tell you that the noninstructional days are not without importance. Education has gotten a lot more scientific than when we were in school. Schools use those days to pore over quarterly assessments for every student. That helps determine who is on track and who needs help. The schools then use noninstructional time for training on specific interventions that can help certain struggling students. So, to say that noninstructional days are not important is not true. I don't like the fact that we've had to cut, cut, cut. But, unless people are willing to go to their legislator and the governor and advocate for funding, we're left holding the bag.

Alohamom: For the charter schools that didn't furlough, was it because they had better planning?

Garrett Toguchi: No. The charter schools are having their own funding problems because they enrolled more students than they had expected. That's a good thing because it shows the interest. But, they (like the DOE) have a set budget. In addition, the charter schools were given a budget cut by the governor, and they'll have to decide on their own how to handle it.