HONOLULU — A federal judge and lawyers involved in two lawsuits that seek to end Hawaii's teacher furloughs may meet this week to discuss settling the cases.

The private meetings with U.S. District Judge David Ezra could occur in advance of a Nov. 9 hearing before Senior U.S. Circuit Judge Wallace Tashima of Pasadena, Calif.

Tashima will be in Hawaii next week.

Ezra recused himself from presiding over the cases last week but Tashima named him to manage the settlement talks.

Meanwhile, the parents' attorneys say the state Department of Education is contacting parents of special-education students to discuss ways of continuing their instruction despite the furloughs.

They say arrangements for one child have been made, and the parents have settled.