HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Faced with public pressure, the Board of Education has decided not to cut funding from Learning Center programs. Student supporters celebrate a victory after a last-minute campaign.

Last night, students at Mililani High School watched the news fight to save learning centers at the state levelwhich helps pay for after-school theater, robotics, agriculture and other programs.

On Thursday, they took school buses downtown to testify before a vote at the BOE meeting on a proposal that would cut $1.7 million from the Department of Education’s budget for 29 learning centers.

“We are not just numbers on a sheet of paper. We’re impacting society and that’s what we’re here to do,” said Mililani High School student Teah Vaoifi.

State Rep. Amy Perruso called the proposed budget cut “wrong” and “irresponsible.”

After widespread criticism, board members are ruling against the cut, saying the proposal is part of an effort to give more power over school-level spending.

“The board feels this is not the right time to change the way Learning Centers are funded,” said Roy Takumi, president of the Board of Education.

Takumi also said that the BOE generally believes that schools should decide the economic, fiscal and academic destiny of each school.

For most of the students who packed the BOE boardroom, it was a first-time experience testifying before a government board.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been in this building and done something like this. I think it’s really cool,” said Mililani High School student Alexa Kamalani Grean.

“Our message is that these learning center programs are really critical to our success and our high school community,” said Jayce Hasegawa, a junior at Mililani High School.

That group says the arts, robotics and other beloved programs are being saved for now, and this was a lesson in advocacy outside the classroom.

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