HONOLULU -- Leaders of Hawaii state House and Senate on Friday announced they have agreed to hold a special session on Gov. Linda Lingle's plan to use $50 million from the rainy day fund to cut school furlough days.

House and Senate Democrats agreed with the governor's plan to do away with 27 teacher furlough days starting Jan. 1, by changing 15 instruction days to classroom days and using rainy day funds to buy back 12 furlough days.

Senate President Colleen Hanabusa and House Speaker Calvin Say said they want to see some kind of ratification or straw poll of teachers along with an agreement with all parties involved, including the governor, Board of Education, Department of Education and the Hawaii State Teachers Association.

"I think the most important part of this is that we are all in agreement, including the governor," Hanabusa said.

"Once we know what they have agreed upon, that $50 million, which is part of the rainy day fund, will be part of the measure to be adopted during the special session," Say said.

One problem is that the $50 million may be as much as $10 million short of what is needed to cover all 27 days. Legislators said they will only allot the $50 million.

They said while they wait for the plan, they will begin work with their attorneys and the attorney general on a bill to be passed in the special session to release the rainy day funds.

The leaders said they are moving cautiously to make sure their bill and their session does not interfere with the collective bargaining process.

They have the votes for a five-day special session. Lawmakers hope to schedule the special session by the middle of December or at least finish by the end of the year.