by Andrew Walden

HB 2972, better known as the “School Closure Bill.” is on a “potential veto” list released by Governor Lingle’s office June 23. The governor’s veto consideration comes after communities and families from Hilo to Waimea voiced their strong opposition. Governor Lingle said a May 22 letter from Ted Hong, requesting her to veto HB 2972 was one of the first opposition letters to the bill she received.

Angry parents gathered in several mid-June meetings Honoka`a, Laupahoehoe and Pa`auilo to denounce the bill and demand explanations from Rep Dwight Takamine and Sen. Lorraine Inouye for allowing the bill to go through without notifying the affected communities.

House District 1 candidate Steven Offenbaker wrote governor Lingle saying; “At no time as this bill was making its way through the legislature was the community informed about it. Our representation failed to protect our communities or give us an opportunity to do it ourselves. We were completely excluded from this process.”

In her intent to veto message, Governor Lingle pointed out the final bill unfairly targeted small rural schools in East Hawai`i. Ted Hong, running for the Senate District 1 seat vacated by Inouye said: “The Governor’s veto is welcome news and a triumph of the community in East Hawai`i in getting their voices heard. Common sense would have told legislators that this bill was bad from the beginning….”

Patrick Walsh, reform candidate for Hawai`i Board of Education said: “These small community schools should be celebrated and embraced, not measured against dubious projections and threatened with sanctions like closure.”

The Governor has until July 8 to make a final decision on the bill. Messages can be sent to: governor.lingle@hawaii.gov .