Video by David Corrigan

LAUPAHOEHOE, Hawaii: The Hawaii State Board of Education may have granted Laupahoehoe School approval to convert to a public charter school, but a large number of teachers, students and residents are now opposing the plan.

There was a large turnout in the Laupahoehoe school band room on Thursday night for a community meeting organized by Noralyn Pajimola, which was billed as the first for the organized opposition to the charter school plan.

In 2009 supporters of the charter school movement rejoiced when the community voted to go ahead with the charter school conversion.

However, some of those same supporters now say they feel like they were misled into voting for the charter conversion, under the threat that the school would be closed as a cost cutting measure by the Department of Education.

Thursday’s meeting was an opportunity for those who are against the conversion to voice their opinion; many of whom initially supported the charter plan and voted for the conversion, but say they have changed their mind after seeing that the budget numbers under the proposal don’t add up.

With a room full of both charter school supporters and charter school opponents… it didnt take long for tempers to flare. This video presents snippets of some of the thoughts and feelings expressed at the meeting.

Newscast story – Laupahoehoe reacts to charter school approval