Transcript:

Speaker: Kathryn Matayoshi, Interim Superintendent, Hawaii Department of Education

Over the past few years, the state has faced a serious budget crisis. All state agencies have faced difficult decisions. In the past school year we had to make some very difficult cuts. And in the coming school year we're facing at the Department of Education, another $142 million dollars in reductions. The result is that the Board of Education and the Department have had to undertake a painstaking and painful budget review. In the process, we needed to decide on how to cut programs and now how to reduce positions. There is a reduction-in-force process now in effect where we unfortunately have to impact our employees, our most important resources. During these challenging times we know that everyone will be under tremendous stress and there will be a high level of anxiety because we all work together, and we care about each other. And we need to remember in these coming days that we should exercise that duty to care for each other as colleagues, as friends, as part of the Department of Education Ohana dedicated as always to serving the children of the State of Hawaii. Thank you for your dedicated service as we face these really difficult times. Mahalo.

Video compliments of DOE Teleschool