BOE, LINGLE MUST FIND PATH TO A COMPROMISE

It's a sad commentary that random drug testing is now a part of the
cost of doing business. And no one likes the notion that random drug
testing is needed in our classrooms.

But, teachers, however reluctantly, agreed to a contract last year
that mandated such testing and the state Board of Education and the
Hawaii State Teachers Association signed a memorandum of understanding
over the testing.

Now, as the Department of Education moves forward toward implementing
the plan, an unseemly fight between the BOE and Gov. Linda Lingle is
playing out.

Hawai'i's taxpayers pour a staggering amount of money - more than $2
billion - into the DOE. In return, taxpayers expect that money to be
well spent and our children - our future leaders - to be well educated.

The DOE proposed using Impact aid money to initially fund the drug
testing because funding for testing was not included in the
administration's supplemmental budget.

BOE Chairwoman Donna Ikeda countered that it is more important for the
money to be used for classrooms and the governor should come up with
funds for the drug testing. And the BOE last week voted not to fund
the program.

The governor's office argues that the DOE has $30 million left from
its operating budget. That money, however, is left over at the school
level, according to Ikeda, and is money the schools want to use for
purchases such as computers and textbooks.

Should the administration have included drug-test funding in the
supplemental budget? Yes. The administration argues that some of the
$30 million can be used for the $500,000 drug-test program. Likewise,
$500,000 could have been specified in the supplemental budget.

Should the BOE, in retaliation, refuse to approve funding the program?
No. If the board doesn't like the DOE proposal, the board should have
ordered the department to find a way out by using non-classroom funds.

And, finally, should teachers' pay raises be held up over this dispute
as Lingle suggested? Of course not. This is a management fight, not
the teachers' fight.

Everyone seems to be now in their respective corners waiting for the
next BOE meeting.

We suggest both sides agree to compromise on funding -and do it
quickly so they can move on to the more important task of providing a
quality education for our youth.