Hawaii governor trades barbs with parents protesting in her office to end school furloughs

Hawaii governor, parents at sit-in trade barbs

HONOLULU — Gov. Linda Lingle and parents angry about Hawaii’s shortest-in-the-nation school year who have been conducting a sit-in at her office fired verbal barbs at each other Wednesday as the protest hit its seventh day.

The demonstrators held their most well-attended news conference, with more than two dozen parents, their young children and supporters filling Lingle’s office lobby, where the parents and other adults have been camped out.

Two sit-in participants, both University of Hawaii students who are not parents, were arrested Tuesday night on misdemeanor trespassing charges. Six other protesters who have been issued two trespassing citations also risked arrest Wednesday if the tried to remain in the office after closing hours. Eighteen others have been cited once.

Lingle told a radio audience Wednesday morning that the parents, members of an informal group called Save Our Schools, do not speak for most parents.

“They don’t represent all parents,” the governor said. “They don’t represent the community. They’re self-appointed people. And I don’t meet with everyone who demands to have a meeting with me and especially people who have this kind of approach.”

Lingle added: “We’ve done our best … to treat them in a respectful way even though they are being completely disrespectful in their actions and their activities.”

At their news conference, the parents thanked the receptionists, sheriff’s deputies and other members of the governor’s staff for their kindness during the sit-in.

But two parents who are among the protest’s organizers expressed exasperation with Lingle, accusing her of evading the effort to end furloughs that have cut Hawaii’s instructional calendar by 17 days this school year, the shortest in the country.

“She unfortunately continues to play the victim, deflecting attention from the fact that the children of Hawaii have suffered the most from her lack of political will and continued political posturing,” said Joann Marshall, 39, whose has two young daughters.

“That comment that we are a small group is (meant to) discredit and discourage,” said Teresa Kessenich-Chase, a UH graduate student who has attended some of the sit-ins. “Of course we’re a small group. We’re trying to occupy an office overnight with no bathrooms. I don’t think thousands of people are going to come out wanting to do that.”

By early Wednesday evening, a dozen adults and two children remained in the office. About six said they would remain until they were cited, and a few of those planned to remain overnight.

The furloughs were approved by Lingle, the teachers union and school officials last year to help deal with a severe state budget shortfall. As a result, Hawaii students go to school four days in most weeks.

Marguerite Higa, another parent, called on the three major candidates for governor later this year to explain how they will eliminate furloughs. Lingle is in her second and final term as governor.

The two protesters who were arrested Tuesday night were immediately bailed out with funds the parents’ group has collected. Honolulu attorney Eric Seitz, who unsuccessfully sued the state to end the furloughs, said he would represent the two and others by, in part, challenging the constitutionality of the trespassing statute.

Lingle has offered a $62 million deal that would eliminate the remaining 21 furlough days by bringing back teachers, nurses, security guards and other essential workers.

But the Hawaii State Teachers Association and the state Board of Education have already inked another pact costing $92 million that would bring back all 23,000 education employees. The governor insists the still-strapped state can’t afford it and refuses to release that much money.