Without casting too rosy a glow over the latest developments, the public can at least find hope in the proposed settlement with the Hawaii State Teachers Association labor contract. Perhaps other unions will follow suit.

Given the dire economic outlook and budgetary constraints, the concession of 17 furlough days for most teachers, though presenting financial hardship for their families and schedule upheaval for the students, still inflicts less lasting damage to the educational mission than layoffs. It's also less disruptive to the economy overall to avoid adding to the unemployment rolls, when feasible.

The question now should be: How can the state maximize public services and keep the overall pain of the labor cuts to a minimum?

Today Hawai'i's 13,000 teachers will vote on whether to ratify the agreement. Assuming they do, the other public-worker unions still in the midst of negotiating should make an effort to strike a deal that meshes with the public schools settlement, as much as possible.

Finding efficiencies will be key to mitigating the impact of cuts to programs, services and labor. Coordinating furloughs can achieve better results here than pay cuts. If teachers and students are going to be off for 17 Fridays, unions for the office workers and the blue-collar positions should seek those days off, too. Why bring cafeteria workers in, or run the electricity, if children are not there?

As for the working parents' quandary, businesses should allow flex time and work-from-home options where practical. For older students, families can explore creative solutions using some of this time for community service for credit. Partnerships should be sought for limited after-school programs.

There is no easy way for families to navigate around this many four-day school weeks, and they will need help and flexibility from employers and cooperation from nonprofits and other institutions that can help soften the edges of a short-term crisis. Pulling together as a community will help make the best of this bad situation.