Superintendent Christina Kishimoto informed public school employees late Monday that they will be furloughed one day a month starting January 4 to help cope with the state budget shortfall.
While Governor David Ige called for two furlough days a month, the superintendent said that she wanted to minimize further loss of instructional time for students.
This means that 10-month employees, which include teachers, counselors, school librarians, and registrars, will be furloughed one day a month. Twelve-month employees, which include principals and office staff, will be furloughed two days a month.
January 4, the first furlough day, had been scheduled as a teacher’s workday with no students on campus. The second, February 12, falls during the week when teachers have one day with no students for Teacher’s Institute Day, a date that differed by island.
Beyond February, Kishimoto projects possible furlough dates that would take effect only “if Gov. Ige determines that circumstances require continuation of the furlough.”
Those projected furlough days for 10-month employees would fall on: March 1, March 22, April 23, and June 1.
For 12-month employees, the furlough days are the same for the first two months. Their projected furlough days beyond February are March 1, March 15, March 22, April 23, June 1, June 18, June 25, and June 28.
By Kristofel Abella
Ka Lā News staff writer
