Molokai Schools Get Help

Sen. Kalani English is looking out for the little guy. He recently proposed an amendment to a bill that puts an inadvertent budgetary strain on small, remote schools.

The Reinventing Education Act of 2004 established a weighted student formula for schools to receive money – meaning the more students at a school, the more money would be needed and given. However, smaller schools received less funding since then – some were shut down.

English, who represents Hana, East and Upcountry Maui, Lana’i, Kaho`olawe and Molokai, decided to counter this disadvantage. It gives small, remote schools – any public school within a 15-mile radius from the only public high school or on an island – money based on “categorical allotments” instead of weighted students. This guarantees a minimum number of positions and resources to make sure smaller schools are able to continue.

“This is from years of observing hardships in Lana’i, Hana and Molokai,” English said.

It was passed by the Senate on Monday, and if signed into law will go into affect July 1, 2010.