It’s great that Hawaii’s Department of Education is using modern technology to communicate with its masses — there are about 179,700 public students, after all — so kudos for trying to roll out its SchoolMessenger text-messaging system last week. Problem was, many families didn’t know it was coming — so when an automated text message went out last Monday to parents, many believed the text from 67587 was a scam, so deleted it.

Rolling out at 200 of the state’s 256 public schools, the new system requires an opt-in. It’s worth keeping in the loop on HIDOE’s mass messages on important school updates. So if you’re among the many who deleted SchoolMessenger’s opt-in alert, you can still sign up: See www.schoolmessenger.com and download the smartphone app.

Political peril in cutting federal workers’ pay

Hardly anyone could be surprised that President Donald Trump wants to cut the federal budget by withholding raises for civilian federal employees. He’s never been a fan of the sector, anyway, and the administration is scouting around for ways to offset the budget deficit.

But it will be surprising if he can make it stick. Trump needs the support of Congress, some of whom are elected in districts heavily populated by federal employees — and this is an election year.

The president said on Friday he’d study the issue over the weekend. So, as he often says, “we’ll see what happens.”