Over 8,000 members of the Hawaii State Teachers Association (about 60% of their total membership) voted yesterday in support of a proposal to end public school furloughs in the state. A vote was not strictly necessary but union leadership said they were interested to see what members thought - 84.5% of those voting were in favor of the proposal. At the moment, there are 21 more 'Furlough Fridays' planned in the state - four more in this school year, and seventeen in the next. The union proposal suggests using $92 million in state funds to restore school on those 21 days. A separate proposal created by Governor Linda Lingle suggests using only $30 million dollars to replace just 'essential staff' on the scheduled furlough days. The union is hoping to garner pressure from parents, students, etc., but the Governor remains firm for the time being, saying there is simply not $92 million more to be had in the budget.
See "Teachers' union votes overwhelmingly for agreement to end Furlough Fridays", Honolulu Star-Bulletin, April 1, 2010