From the Honolulu Advertiser:

Today is the deadline for full implementation of random drug testing of public school teachers, but the standoff between Gov. Linda Lingle and the state Board of Education over who should pay for it makes it an unfunded mandate and leaves questions about legal and contractual consequences.

Both the state Department of Education and the Hawaii State Teachers Association were feverishly meeting last week to hash out the final details of the policies and procedures for the random drug-testing program.

Those policies are likely to be in place today, education officials said.

However, the question of funding remains unresolved, with both the BOE and the governor refusing to pay for the testing despite today’s deadline. Over the past several months, both sides have insisted that the other pay for it.

“There is no money,” said Donna Ikeda, BOE chairwoman. “I have been assured that the policies and procedures will be in place, but there is no funding.”

That leaves questions about whether a two-year teachers’ contract that specifically calls for implementation of drug testing by June 30 has been violated.

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