HONOLULU -- House Democrats on Thursday decided that lawmakers would not pursue a special session to eliminate the public school furlough days.

The legislators decided to ask the state and the Hawaii State Teachers Association to return to bargaining table to change the contract to eliminate future furlough days.

The state's deal with the HSTA set 17 furlough days for traditional schedule schools and 21 days for campuses on year-round schedules.

Parents, lawmakers and community leaders have called for restoring education days for students.

The lawmakers said they will tackle funding when session begins in January. They said they need to focus on the larger $1.2 billion shortfall the state faces in the next two years.

State Budget Director Georgina Kawamura briefed lawmakers on the shortfall and financial situation the state faces.

A number of schools have requested switching waiver days and teacher instructional days to classroom time in an attempt to make up some of the lost days. Other schools have extended shorter days with longer hours.