House Finance Chairman Marcus Oshiro said the state Department of Education’s repeated warnings about possible massive cuts of school bus service are "irresponsible fear-mongering."
In a letter delivered to the department Thursday, Oshiro criticized the agency for recent communications listing schools that may be affected and urged supporters to contact the Legislature to ask that the public school bus services be fully funded.
In the most recent communication, sent by email Thursday, Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua District Superintendent Patricia Park urged her colleagues to spread the word about the expected shortfall and ask community members to contact their lawmakers. "It is very urgent and imperative that you communicate with others to see if you can influence the decision-makers regarding funding the $20 million shortfall" for student transportation, Park said.
The decision-makers include Oshiro (D, Wahiawa-Poamoho).
Department spokeswoman Sandy Goya said student transportation costs remain a problem. "We know everyone’s concern is first and foremost for students and families," she said. "It is our hope we can continue to focus our efforts on finding solutions to the skyrocketing bus contract costs."
Last week the department said it was looking at whether funds from other programs could be diverted.
Education officials previously warned that school bus service for most Oahu communities and urban areas on neighbor islands could be eliminated next school year. The cuts would affect about 25,000 students, about 71 percent of regular-education students who ride the bus. No services for special-education students would be eliminated.
The department requested $42 million, but the House has supported less than half of that and the Senate has backed $23 million. Lawmakers are in conference committee on the issue.
Oshiro, in his memo to the department, said its warnings to the public mark an "extreme and inflammatory position."
"From my view, this is irresponsible fear-mongering," he said. "Unfortunately, this seriously puts into question the management and credibility of your entire department."
Oshiro said the department should be looking for ways to cut costs, not service. He said funds for student transportation exceed the total budgets of seven state departments combined, and he said under current contracts the cost of transporting a child to school is about $1,251 annually. Of that, taxpayers pay about $1,171, he said.
"If the general public knew of this, I’m sure they would be as outraged as I am," he wrote. "Clearly, something is wrong with the way your department is managing the school transportation services."
