WAILUKU - Maui County public school students are heading back to classrooms this week and next week, but this year their teachers and administrators have a lot more to be concerned about than the usual preparations for the first days of school.
In this poor economic climate with the state trying to close a $729 million budget shortfall, there are worries about furloughs, staffing reductions and cuts to school budgets.
Gov. Linda Lingle has proposed furloughing state employees - an effort that does not directly affect the state Department of Education, which is not under her direct control. However, the governor has said that she will trim the education budget in the hope that the department will consider furloughs.
The status of furloughs is uncertain following a court ruling against the plan in Oahu Circuit Court. The governor is now moving to layoff state workers while not giving up on the furlough option.
Although the furloughs and other economic matters are on the minds of teachers and staff, school Complex Superintendent Lindsay Ball said he is encouraging his personnel to turn their attention to the children.
"We want teachers and administration to focus on the students. That's why they are in school," said Ball, who oversees the Hana, Lahaina, Lanai and Molokai complex.
Still, he understands their concerns.
"As you know, we are on pins and needles like the rest of the state workers. We have to wait and see what's going to happen," he said.
School principals note the economic gloom among their staffs, but the thrill and freshness of a new school year have managed to work their way into their spirits, too.
"We are very excited to have (students) come back," said Sue Alivado, principal of Paia Elementary School, which will see some students in classrooms today.
Alivado said she hears concerns about furloughs and budgets "every day." She tells her staff that there are no definite details, so "don't worry."
Alivado said she feels confident about maintaining her staffing levels because the school is seeing an increase in enrollment. Her school tentatively expects to see 240 students this year, 25 more than last year - an 11.6 percent increase. (A state Department of Education spokeswoman said official enrollment numbers for all schools will not be released until September. Numbers of students are tallied a few weeks after they return to school.)
The new Paia students come from families no longer able to afford private school tuitions, new residents in the district and transfers into the school's Hawaiian language immersion program, the principal said.
At Baldwin High School, Principal Natalie Gonsalves said she is excited about the new school term and feels "very positive it's going to be a great year."
Gonsalves said construction on the Wailuku school's long-awaited new library should begin this school year, and gates should soon be installed to close off Halia Nakoa Road, which runs by the school gym, to ensure the safety of students during school hours. The gates may be up as early as September, and advance notice of the road closure will be given, she said.
Lahainaluna Principal Michael Nakano said he told his teachers that although there are economic challenges, including doing "more with less," they must "continue to push forward to focus on the students."
"That's the key, no matter what happens, we have to push on," he said.
"We had an exciting opening (for teachers Tuesday). It was very upbeat," Nakano added.
At Kaunakakai Elementary, school renovations continue, but the school will be ready to accept students when it opens on Monday, said Roxanne Lee, the school administrative services assistant. Over the summer, a number of major improvements were completed, including changing carpeting and lighting.
Workers were still replacing windows this week, Lee said. If all the work isn't completed before Monday, it will be done after school.
There will be new faces at the helm of two other Molokai schools.
Richard Stevens will be the new principal at Kilohana Elementary, and Denise Kelly will be temporarily assigned to Molokai High.
Overall, Ball, one of two complex area superintendents in Maui County, said it should be another "interesting year." He said his complex of schools will work on improving math scores and skills, areas in which the schools' test scores lagged behind federal and state standards.
Ball also is dealing with the possible closures of Keanae School and Maunaloa Elementary School on Molokai. Public school officials are continuing to discuss and study the closures as possible cost-cutting measures.
Keanae's one-room schoolhouse has not had students since late 2005, but East Maui families and supporters want to keep the school open to possibly alleviate the need for students to make the daily 16-mile bus ride into Hana for school.
A task force to examine the Keanae School closure is proceeding.
A meeting will be set soon on Molokai for a task force to examine the closure of Maunaloa, Ball said. Maunaloa is continuing its normal operations, he added.
Ball said issues will be examined thoroughly for both schools.
"It's not something we are going to jump through and make a decision," he said.
Both Ball and Bruce Anderson, the Maui complex area superintendent for the other Maui County public schools, said this year they will also be working on professional development for teachers.
* Melissa Tanji can be reached at mtanji@mauinews.com.
