President Bush renewed his call for school vouchers yesterday, suggesting the payment system could help stem declining enrollment in Catholic schools around the country.

Bush's proposal wouldn't have a dramatic effect on Hawai'i's Catholic schools, however, since they have experienced healthy enrollment.

Hawai'i's Catholic school officials said while they support the idea of vouchers and school choice, many local Catholic schools would only be able to support a small influx of students.

"We couldn't pull in a lot of students, but we could pull in some," said Betty White, principal of Sacred Hearts Academy in Kaimuki. "But I'm not going to get too excited. I've been hearing about vouchers for 20 years and it never goes very far."

Bush's new proposal is to spend about $300 million on "Pell Grants for Kids." That plan would allow parents with a child in a low-performing public school to send their child to a Catholic school or some other private school. The plan seeks to solve two problems: give students in a struggling public school an out while helping save Catholic schools experiencing declining enrollment.

From 2000 to 2006, about 1,200 inner-city religious schools have closed, forcing many students into underperforming inner-city public schools, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

However, Hawai'i's Catholic schools aren't facing the same severe enrollment problems as many of its Mainland counterparts, say local Catholic school officials.

From 1997 to 2007, enrollment in Hawai'i's Catholic schools has dropped by less than 2 percent, according to the National Catholic Education Association.

"Because of Hawai'i's unique socioeconomic environment, it is different," said Tim Los Banos, dean of academics at Saint Louis School.

He said many of Hawai'i's Catholic schools tend to be "generational," pulling in families who have been associated with the school over a long period of time. Los Banos also pointed out that Hawai'i tends to have a higher rate of private school enrollment compared with the Mainland.

ELEMENTARY PROBLEMS

Carmen Himenes, superintendent of Hawaii Catholic Schools, said high school campuses continue to experience steady enrollment. However, many of the Catholic grade schools have been having a more difficult time.

"At the elementary level, we've had to work harder," Himenes said.

Many of the Neighbor Island elementary-level campuses have had the most difficult time, she said. For instance, St. Joseph on Maui had a total enrollment of 122 in 2006, which declined to 91 this school year.

"Those schools tend to be smaller, so even a shift of 20 or 30 students has a big affect," Himenes said.

While the high school enrollment continues to be robust, Himenes said the fear is that the elementary enrollment could eventually affect the high schools.

"The high schools will have to work harder over time," she said.

White said Sacred Hearts is already working overtime to keep its enrollment steady.

"Twenty years ago, we would have a waiting list and we didn't even have to advertise. We didn't have to do a thing," White said. "Now, the options open to parents are wider. If you want to keep your enrollment steady or climbing, the school has to work hard."

Mike Baker, president of Maryknoll School, said the high school level is already at capacity — about 570. With a long waiting list, he said the high school would be unable to accommodate an influx of students with vouchers.

The elementary level could handle "a small increase in students," he said.

"I truly believe parents should have a choice in education," said Baker, who has been a longtime supporter of school vouchers and school choice.

He said the vouchers would allow families who may not be able to afford a private education to have access to one.

CONCERNS RAISED

However, not everyone is convinced vouchers are the answer.

Los Banos of Saint Louis said vouchers would not solve all of the problems that Catholic schools face.

He said Catholic schools nationwide face higher operational costs as the population of nuns and brothers have dwindled. Catholic schools are now largely taught by educators from the private sector, which has made Catholic education more expensive.

Teachers' unions and public school officials also are staunch opponents of vouchers.

"The Department of Education has always questioned private school vouchers that would undoubtedly divert federal funds from public education," said Sandra Goya, spokeswoman for the DOE.

About 47 of Hawai'i's 282 public schools are in restructuring, the most severe sanction under the federal No Child Left Behind law. Students at those schools would qualify for Bush's new voucher proposal.

State Rep. Roy Takumi, chairman of the House education committee, said vouchers go against the country's "fundamental" concepts of universal public education and separation of church and state.

He said vouchers are essentially "a lottery that hurts poor children."

"If the government hands you a check for $3,000, it's not going to be enough to send your child to private school," Takumi said. "You're going to have the middle class leaving and poorer children would be left in public school."