During swearing-in ceremonies for one returning and four new Board of Education members yesterday, Gov. Linda Lingle said she looked forward to working with the new board and took the opportunity to renew a push for one of her mantras — getting more money down to schools and into the hands of teachers.

"It's ridiculous to have teachers use their own money" to buy classroom supplies, she told a full Supreme Court courtroom gathered to see Kim Coco Iwamoto, John Penebacker, Donna Ikeda, Eileen Clarke and Mary Cochran sworn in for four-year terms.

"We don't ask firefighters to buy their hoses. We don't do that with any other government employee," Lingle said. "We give our employees the resources they need, and teachers need to be treated in that same fashion."

Lingle has long been at odds with the statewide school board, but so far her proposals to increase the number of boards and give each island its own have failed to gather enough support to move. However, she has said she hopes to launch the idea again in the coming legislative session.

But yesterday she reached out to the new board members, saying she hoped to work cooperatively and collaboratively with them.

When Herbert Watanabe, first vice chairman of the board, told the governor the schools need more money, Lingle said that's a common refrain from all state departments. But she also acknowledged that she hopes to work with the board to see gains made and get the money down to the school level.

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.