Groups to rally to end furloughs

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 05, 2009

Parent groups are organizing a rally tomorrow urging state legislators to fund public education and restore the 17 school days eliminated to meet budget cuts.

The rally at the state Capitol is scheduled from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.

The groups, Save Our Schools Hawaii and Hawaii Education Matters, said they'll be sign-waving to bring attention to the problem of Furlough Fridays, as well as providing science activities for children.

"There is a solution to this crisis — funding can and must be restored to the public schools," Save Our Schools Hawaii spokeswoman Clare Hanusz said.

"Hawaii's public school children cannot afford to lose any more days of school and are looking to leaders to broker a solution immediately."

Information about the rally may be obtained on the Web sites HawaiiEducationMatters.org and sites.google.com/site/saveourschools808/ or by calling 232-1481, 636-3283 or 384-9682 .