CONTRACT ISSUED IN LINE WITH FTA RULES

In the recent article on Mayor Hannemann's announcement regarding the construction start date for the rail project, Sean Hao reported that the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation warned that the city should not sign any contracts until the programmatic agreement is signed.

Hao misinterpreted the ACHP letter. The letter does not say the city should not sign any contracts. The letter is merely citing a part of the standard federal regulations applicable to any project. Hao should have researched this complicated process before he created a negative scenario.

Federal regulations do not prohibit the authorization of project planning activities, provided that such actions do not restrict the subsequent consideration of alternatives to avoid, minimize or mitigate the project's effects on historic properties.

The city selected a contractor for the first phase of construction, recognizing that no commitments related to the implementation of the project should be made until the conclusion of the environmental review process. We checked with the Federal Transit Administration, and its legal counsel assured us that the terms of the contract limit the activities of the contractor to those that would support the environmental review process, and to those that would not have an adverse impact or limit the choice of reasonable alternatives.

toru hamayasu | Department of Transportation Services

STATE BUDGET

TEACHERS ALREADY GO BEYOND THE CALL

The state did not get into a financial crisis overnight. As an educator, I find it insulting that the governor continues to use the media to blame teachers and claim they don't have the best interests of the students at heart.

I'm paid from 7:45 to 2, arrive at school at 6:15, leave at 3 on most days, taking home a bagful of work that can take anywhere from one to three hours to correct, lessons to plan, etc. I spend about $100 to $200 of my money to keep the class running.

Now protestors are asking for even more with less compensation. It is no secret that the state has been struggling for years: The governor should have cut back gradually. Many teachers accepted the contract out of desperation, not wanting to strike and to help prepare and plan for what was inevitable.

On a related note, closing the Hawaii State Film Office is another great fiscal decision — of course we all want to close down the office that makes a profit and brings in exposure for the Islands that is priceless. Why don't we close down all the high-performing schools too?

jeri tokumoto | Aiea

EACH OF US NEEDS TO PITCH IN AND HELP

Just a question: Have you written a check for 8 percent of your monthly salary to the state for your share of the budget deficit?

No one wants higher taxes or a cut in services, but you can't have it both ways. Each of us needs to do something about the deficit, and the pay cut for teachers and state workers is a start. But at some point we need other solutions. We have a teacher shortage already, and cutting the salary isn't going to help fill the need.

We need to look at all options — cut waste within all departments, combine schools within communities, restructure jobs and eliminate some of the services that are offered to the community. We are all in the mess together and if we want the services or better education, then it may mean higher taxes to provide these things.

There have been fundraisers and donations for athletics and special interests — let's see some of those donations going for education, the homeless or other services. People, get out your checkbooks and supplement the budget to help get through this crisis. Look for a solution to the problem, don't just complain about it.

Wilma mallory | Aiea

FURLOUGHS

CATALUNA GOT IT RIGHT: LET'S MAKE BEST OF IT

At last, a voice that makes sense. Thank you, Lee Cataluna, for your column in Tuesday's (Oct. 27) Advertiser titled "Make the best of those furloughs." I almost cried because finally here was a voice that made sense and was entertaining to boot.

Let's challenge our students, parents, educators, and leaders to apply their energies toward constructive activities that help Hawaii get back on its feet. I will donate $100 to a fund that rewards any student or teacher who makes the best use of their furlough day.

Necessity is the "mother of invention."

Imua Cataluna!

chris nakamatsu | Kailua

NO SYMPATHY FOR UNPAID VACATION

Teachers and their union claim to have the students' best interest at heart and have been vocal critics of the furloughs. Seems like everyone has forgotten that these are the same people that fought Gov. Cayetano tooth and nail when he proposed more instructional days in return for their pay increase to end the teacher walk-out.

If the union and teachers really cared about students and each other, they would have taken an across-the-board pay cut with no days off to prevent layoffs and loss of student class time. It's what the private sector has had to do.

So while we feel sorry for the students, there's no sympathy for your unpaid vacation day.

C. Y. Watase | Honolulu

SHIFT DOE WORKERS FROM OFFICE TO CLASS

If I were the head of the Hawaii Department of Education, I would do three things.

1. Offset furlough days away from Friday as currently taken by central office and district office personnel, many of who are former teachers.

2. Take all those former teachers who are in the central and district offices and mobilize them back into the classrooms to fulfill class time on Fridays — the current furlough days. It would reduce the student-to-teacher ratio.

3. Extend the Wednesday school days so that our children receive more classroom time; schools currently adjourn at 12:15 p.m. on Wednesdays, which further shortchanges our public school students.

As fully two-thirds of the DOE headcount are not teachers, we need to move more of this headcount back into the classroom — the true firing line of education — and where they are so desperately needed.

von kenric kaneshiro | Honolulu