A federal judge Monday rejected a request to stop public school furlough days in Hawaii, and encouraged lawyers representing parents challenging the school system’s cost-cutting plan to try to settle the case, the Honolulu Advertiser said.
Judge A. Wallace Tashima of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said he did not feel the legal challengers have enough evidence to prevail, the story said.
But the judge said the plaintiffs, represented by private lawyers Eric Seitz and Carl Varady, demonstrated that special education students will suffer “irreparable harm” because of the state’s decision to eliminate 17 instructional days from October though May. However, Tashima said, ordering schools to reopen would cause more harm than good, the story said.
Lawyers fighting the furloughs told the Advertiser they appeal the decision and continue to pursue the lawsuits.
