HSTA: Hilo Chapter president's holiday message, 12-13-2016, posted 12-15-2016

Season's Greetings Colleagues! As the fall semester comes to an end, I would like to thank each of you for your hard work and dedication, and the support that you provide for our students. Many Hilo Chapter teachers and their guests attended the NEA Retirement Workshop held at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel on Nov. 18. It was a very informative presentation made by Herb Shiraishi and the staff of the Shiraishi Financial Group.   This is our contract negotiation year, and Hilo Chapter Negotiation Co-Chairs Evette Tampos and Aaron Kubo have been continuing their school visits with UniServ Director Rae Yamanaka and me.  Please continue to support our Negotiations Team by wearing “Red for Ed” on every Tuesday and by participating in upcoming HSTA events.  I wish all of you a happy holiday season and a happy new year.  Mahalo for your time. Dawn Kiyoko Kainoa Raymond HSTA Hilo Chapter President

Copyright © 2016 Hawaii State Teachers Association, All rights reserved. Mahalo for your engagement. Our mailing address is: Hawaii State Teachers Association 1200 Ala Kapuna Street Honolulu, HI 96819 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Hilo HSTA Chapter: We're looking for presenters for Institute Day, Feb. 16, posted 12-6-2016

Aloha Hilo Chapter members: We are looking for presenters to provide workshops of interest to your colleagues at Hilo Chapter's Institute Day, on Thursday, Feb. 16 at Kea'au High. If you are interested in sharing your skills with other teachers, this opportunity is for you! Please complete the following application and forward it to Hilo Chapter Institute Chair Christopher Ho at christopherho.hsta@gmail.com by Dec. 16. Name/Organization: Phone Number: Contact Name: Fax Number: Mailing Address: Email Address: City/State: Zip Code: Workshop Title: Briefly describe your presentation: Equipment needs: Workshop time: 45 minutes <  >Session I: 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. <  >Session II: 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. Set up: No earlier than 30 minutes prior to your selected workshop time, Presenter should be ready by the session time selected. Applications will be taken on a first come, first serve basis. HSTA reserves the right to deny applications of businesses or organizations that are in conflict with HSTA policy. Deadline:  Application is due no later than Dec. 16. Return completed form by forwarding this email to Christopher Ho, (preferred):     christopherho.hsta@gmail.com or by mail to:                                      Christopher Ho c/o Kea’au High School 16-725 Kea’au-Pahoa Road  Keaau, HI  96749 Questions? Contact Christopher Ho at (808) 747-3619 or via email at christopherho.hsta@gmail.com. Mahalo! Copyright © 2016 Hawaii State Teachers Association, All rights reserved. Mahalo for your engagement. Our mailing address is: Hawaii State Teachers Association 1200 Ala Kapuna Street Honolulu, HI 96819 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

New Draft of Hawaii Blueprint for Public Education from Governor's ESSA Team, posted 12-5-2016

Email from Darrel Galera

Date: 12-5-2016

Thank you once again for taking time to attend and participate in the ESSA Team town hall meetings and / or ESSA Team community forums that were held from July through November.  

Our sincere appreciation for sharing your recommendations for the Hawaii Blueprint for Public Education.

The purpose of this email message is to share the current working draft of the Hawaii Blueprint for Public Education that is based on your input and recommendations.    

We welcome any additional feedback and input that you may have.

Please provide your input and feedback here:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/educblueprintdraft

Please feel free to share this draft with others.

The Governor’s ESSA Team is still meeting and working to have a final draft in the near future.  

A recent article from the Star Advertiser on the education blueprint is provided below

Happy Holidays!

Darrel Galera

Chairperson, Governor’s ESSA Team

http://www.staradvertiser.com/2016/12/04/hawaii-news/ige-excited-to-share-education-blueprint/

Ige excited to share education blueprint

By Nanea Kalani

December 4, 2016

David Ige:

The governor says his blueprint for elevating the school system is meant to complement the DOE’s strategic plan

Gov. David Ige contends that Hawaii can outperform its peers as one of the country’s top public education systems within the next decade under strategies contained in an “education blueprint” the governor helped craft.

The plan envisions a school system that better prepares students for an innovation-driven economy and better supports teachers while empowering school leaders and targeting resources at the school level.

“I’ve always believed that our public schools can only achieve greatness if we take responsibility for them,” Ige said in an interview in his office at the state Capitol. “It’s not going to be somebody, especially at the federal level, deciding what we need to do in order to improve our schools.”

Improving the state’s public schools has been an ongoing endeavor throughout his 30 years at the Legislature, where he served as education chairman in both the House and Senate. Now, as governor, Ige has set out to make education reform a hallmark of his first term in office.

After selecting a group of 19 voluntary advisers in the spring, the governor called for a blueprint to guide a revamping of the state’s public school system to improve results for students.

The governor’s team — made up of educators, principals, community leaders, lawmakers and business executives — assembled a plan after months of gathering public input through an all-day education summit followed by town-hall meetings and community forums across the state.

The blueprint, which will be presented Tuesday to the Board of Education, identifies broad goals, including efforts to foster and support innovation in schools; empower school leaders with resources and decision-making authority; expand public early-childhood education; and elevate the teaching profession through improved working conditions.

Ige said the results exceeded his expectations.

“I’m proud of the work. It does capture, I think, the essence, the notion that it is about empowerment; it’s about innovation; it’s about investing in people, our educators, the teachers, the principals; and trusting those closest to the children to make the most important decisions,” he said.

He’s also pledging resources to support his blueprint: the governor plans to include a request in his budget for $10 million in each of the next two years to support implementation of strategies.

“The $20 million … is kind of ensuring that there are funds if, through the innovation process, through the blueprint, there are ideas that surface that we would be able to move forward with them,” he said.

Ige credited the task group for “giving voice to every idea and every person who came to participate and share.” Despite that tall order, retired Principal Darrel Galera, whom Ige tapped to lead his blueprint team, said much of the public input fell along similar themes.

“Once it was clear what the vision was — the governor’s vision that this is not about improving test scores by so many percentage points but about Hawaii should have the nation’s top-performing school system — once the community members heard that vision, the input and the feedback was surprisingly consistent,” said Galera, who Ige has since appointed to the BOE.

“They knew we weren’t asking for a gripe session,” Galera added. “They actually gave us their best thinking. So the themes that emerged were consistent at every meeting: We have to fix the (standardized) testing, we have to support teachers, we have to support our kids better. It came out loud and clear.”

Ige has appointed all but one of the nine voting members on the Board of Education, which sets statewide education policy. The governor said he doesn’t view his plan as in competition or at odds with the Department of Education’s recently completed strategic plan. He instead sees it as complementary.

“The board is very focused on assuring that the strategic plan is aligned and consistent with the blueprint,” Ige said. “Our view is that the blueprint is the long-term plan, like 10, 15 years. And the strategic plan is this year moving forward.”

Both plans will be carried out by a new schools chief. The contract for Kathryn Matayoshi, who has held the superintendent post since 2010, is set to end June 30. The BOE voted last month to begin a search process for a new superintendent, a decision Ige maintains he was not behind.

“It really is the board’s decision. I have not been involved with that,” he said. “I do support the board’s decision to seek and to embrace a superintendent search. I believe that the blueprint is really transformational in the sense that we did try and take a step back and try to take a broader view. And it really is about finding leadership that can embrace the blueprint and implement it in the best way possible.”

Ige announced his plans for a blueprint soon after passage of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA, which devolves federal control over public education to states when it comes to school accountability, teacher evaluations, student testing and support for struggling schools.

He said he saw the new flexibility as an unprecedented opportunity for Hawaii to revamp its school system. He dubbed his task group the Governor’s ESSA Team, but he charged members with going beyond the scope of the federal law in drafting the blueprint.

Ige said he recognizes that any education reform effort will need to go beyond the Department of Education. His 19-member team also includes, for example, the director of the state Labor Department, the head of the Executive Office on Early Learning, legislators and business executives.

“A great public school system — I believe it’s the foundation of our community,” Ige said. “I think more importantly the quality of the public education system drives the economy. There’s no doubt in my mind that there’s an absolute direct correlation — the better our public schools are, the better our economy will be.”

http://www.staradvertiser.com/2016/12/04/hawaii-news/ige-excited-to-share-education-blueprint/

Rep. Tsuji's memorial service: asking for pictures and notes of condolences, 11-21-2016, posted 11-22-2016

To: WIS 

From: Rae Yamanaka

Re: Rep. Tsuji's memorial service: asking for pictures and notes of condolences

THIS MESSAGE IS GOING OUT BCC TO ALL SLLS.  PLEASE LET YOUR TEACHERS KNOW.

 

Representative Clift Tsuji’s memorial service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 4^th at Dodo Mortuary.  Viewing will be at 2pm and the funeral services will be at 4pm.

 

Representative Tsuji was a great friend to teachers and a supporter of public education.   He will be missed.

 

I am asking for any pictures or notes to the family that we can include into a booklet for the Tsuji ohana.  Please send them to me by Nov. 30^th so we can include them into the booklet.

 

Thank you,

rae

 

Rae A.Yamanaka

HSTA Hilo UniServ Director

Hilo Lagoon Centre

101 Aupuni St., ste.219

Hilo, HI  96720

Phone:  (808)935-9301 office; (808)365-6979 cell

Fax:  (808) 969-7492

Email:  ryamanaka@hsta.org

 

An Injury to One is an Injury to ALL!

 

Member Matters: HSTA launches 'Thank a Teacher' ad campaign; Vote Nov. 8; HSTA's new YouTube and Instagram accounts; HSTA backs rail school impact fee, 11-4-2016; posted 11-5-2016

HSTA launching 'Thank a Teacher' ad campaign Four prominent citizens reflect on the positive impact their Hawaii public school teachers had on them in HSTA’s TV and Internet “Thank a Teacher” campaign that begins next week. Watch the "Thank a Teacher" video on HSTA's Facebook page. Actor and martial artist Jason Scott Lee, who graduated from Pearl City High, is one of those featured in the spots. Two television commercials featuring Lee and other well-known public school graduates will air on Hawaii News Now, KHON and KITV between Nov. 9 and 27, targeted after the election and before the prime holiday shopping season. The TV spots will run during major seasonal programming such as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the finale of Dancing with the Stars and the American Music Awards. Links to the ads will also appear online starting Nov. 16 on Facebook, Hawaii News Now’s web page and other sites related to education and family interests. The spots end with Cynthia Chang, a kindergarten teacher at Noelani Elementary, portraying the teacher who gets hugged by Daniel Brummel, a first grader at Noelani. His mother, Kristen Brummel, a resource teacher for Honolulu district, also appears with Daniel and Cynthia in the commercials. Each 30-second spot concludes with the tagline, “It only takes a moment to thank a teacher.” Read more about HSTA's "Thank a Teacher" campaign. Designer Sig Zane also appears in the commercials. He said as a student at Roosevelt High, his greatest influence came from his art teacher, Mr. Ishibashi. Sunshine Topping, an executive at Hawaiian Telcom, spoke in the commercials about Mel Kaetsu, her anthropology teacher at Hilo High. Maake Kemoeatu, a former pro football player for three NFL teams, remembered how much public school teachers meant to him when he moved to Hawaii from Tonga at age six, unable to speak English. HSTA Executive Director Wilbert Holck said the “Thank a Teacher” campaign is “our way of promoting something that’s important for teachers — to know that people appreciate them for all they do for children and their communities.” Read more about HSTA's "Thank a Teacher" campaign.   Subscribe to and follow HSTA's new social media accounts Be sure to subscribe to HSTA's new YouTube channel and follow us on Instagram for the latest videos, photos and news about our Association and public schools in Hawaii. Subscribe to HSTA's YouTube channel here. See one of the new 30-second HSTA "Thank a Teacher" television spots on Instagram now, before it begins airing on Honolulu TV stations Nov. 9. Follow @HSTAvoice on Instagram.   Early voting ends Sat. Nov. 5; HSTA recommends General Election political candidates for Nov. 8 election Early walk-in voting continues for a final day tomorrow across the state and will end Saturday, Nov. 5, along with late voter registration. See a list of early voting sites and hours here. Late voter registration ends on Nov. 5, just three days before Election Day on Nov. 8. HSTA board members sign wave with State Senate candidate Stanley Chang. After a lengthy process that included a candidate questionnaire, interviews, and a review of voting history, HSTA’s Board of Directors, in concurrence with the HSTA Government Relations Committee, recommends teachers vote for the following candidates in the General Election. Read the full list of HSTA's State House and Senate recommended candidates here. In the presidential race, the HSTA recommends Hillary Clinton, a Democrat. The HSTA recommends the re-election of U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D) as well as U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D), representing rural Oahu and the neighbor islands in Hawaii’s Congressional District 2. The HSTA also recommends sending Colleen Hanabusa (D) back to Congress in the 1st Congressional District seat she previously held representing urban Honolulu in the U.S. House.   HSTA backs Honolulu rail school impact fees The Hawaii State Teachers Association testified strongly in support of a Department of Education proposal to charge developers school impact fees for each apartment built along a four-mile stretch of the rail transit line through urban Honolulu. Watch this video with HSTA testimony in favor of rail impact fees for schools. As many as 40,000 new apartment units could be built along the rail route between Middle Street and Ala Moana Center in the next 30 years. The DOE is proposing developers along a stretch of the rail line pay a $9,374 impact fee for each apartment unit they build to help expand existing schools near rail or build new ones. Right now, there are 13 public schools along that portion of the rail project. The DOE estimated public school enrollment in this part of Honolulu will grow by as many as 9,000 students in the next couple of decades because of rail. So the DOE predicted needing up to six new elementary schools, one and a half middle schools along with one and a half high schools along the rail route through urban Honolulu. At a DOE public hearing on the proposal Nov. 2 at Farrington High, HSTA President Corey Rosenlee testified in strong support. “We encourage the Board of Education to pass this,” Rosenlee said at the hearing. Read more about the rail line school impact fee proposal. “There’s going to be a point with all these new buildings going up in Kakaako that we are going to need new schools. And the question is if we don’t have these fees, are we not going to build these schools?” Rosenlee added. “Are our schools going to be old before we fix them? The reality is that we need to start these impact fees now so we develop this fund so that when our schools need these buildings, we have the ability to fund it.” Public comments on the proposal can be emailed to the Department of Education at heidi_meeker@notes.k12.hi.us. Copies of the written analysis of the proposed Kalihi to Ala Moana district, including a map of the district, are also posted on the HIDOE website at: http://bit.ly/ImpactDistricts.   Air, hotel and other travel discounts   Being a member of HSTA means you can earn great discounts on airlines, hotels, rent a cars and attractions in Hawaii and on the mainland. Here's a list of updated HSTA discounts for air, hotel, car rentals and more.   Benefits of Belonging, retirement planning and Degrees Not Debt workshops The Membership Services Committee brings you a host of workshops over the next couple of months. First, come find out your benefits of belonging to HSTA and how we are here to support you. Get connected to:  Our HSTA community and member benefits HSTA VEBA Trust insurance plans and protection  Our HYPE (Hawaii Young Professional Educators) program for new educators Professional development courses  Benefits of Belonging: Kona Chapter Thursday, Nov. 17 4:15 p.m. Kealakehe Intermediate Library Workroom RSVP By Nov. 4  Sign up for Nov. 17 Kona Benefits of Belonging Retirement Workshops: Honolulu/Central Pre-Retirement Planning Workshop Thursday, Nov. 17 4:30 p.m. HSTA headquarters, Red Hill RSVP for Nov. 17 Pre-Retirement Workshop at HSTA Honolulu "Are you on track to retire?" Workshop Wednesday, Nov. 30 6 p.m. Side Street Inn, Kapahulu Avenue RSVP by Nov. 22. Please RSVP with your name, phone number and the number of people you are bringing to the workshop. Hosted by our NEA retirement specialists. Please RSVP to tereen@shiraishifinancialgroup.com Leeward Pre-Retirement Planning Workshop Thursday, Dec. 1 4 p.m. HSTA headquarters, Red Hill RSVP by Nov. 22 RSVP for Dec. 1 Pre-Retirement Workshop at HSTA "Are you on track to retire?" Workshop Monday, Dec.19 6 p.m. Waikele Golf Course RSVP by Dec. 8. Please RSVP with your name, phone number and the number of people you are bringing to the workshop. Hosted by our NEA retirement specialists. Please RSVP to tereen@shiraishifinancialgroup.com Central/Honolulu Pre-Retirement Planning Workshop Tuesday, Jan. 24 4 p.m. HSTA headquarters, Red Hill RSVP by Jan. 10 RSVP for Jan. 24 Pre-Retirement Workshop at HSTA HYPE Degrees Not Debt workshop Do you have federal student debt and are unsure of whether you qualify for federal loan forgiveness programs such as Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF), Teacher Loan Cancellation (TLC) and/or Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)?  Wednesday, Nov. 16 4:30 p.m., in-person workshop 6:30 p.m., online virtual workshop HSTA headquarters, Red Hill Read the NEA's degrees not debt page.   HSTA members head to NEA minority and women's conference Mahalo to the members selected to represent Hawaii at the NEA West Minority Leadership Training and Women’s Leadership Training Conference.  The MLT and WLT programs prepare educators to be powerful advocates for their students, their profession, and their association. This conference prepares ethnic-minority members with foundational leadership skills and teaches them how to advocate for student-policies and social justice issues that impact their schools and communities.   Representing HSTA at the San Diego conference in December are: Romeo Eleno, Lanai Chapter Cheney Kaku, Hilo Chapter Shaun Kamida, Honolulu Chapter Ashley Olson, Maui Chapter Christian Santomauro, Windward Chapter Amanda Seymore, Central Chapter   Nominations being accepted for Pono and Friend of Youth awards HSTA’s Youth, Human, and Civil Rights (YHCR) Committee is pleased to announce that nominations are being accepted for the annual Friend of Youth Award and Pono Award. The Friend of Youth Award honors an outstanding individual from the community whose work has positively impacted the youth of Hawaii. The Pono Award is HSTA's social justice activist award. It recognizes one exceptional member who demonstrates the ability to lead, organize, and engage educators, parents, and the community to advocate on social justice issues that impact the lives of students, fellow educators, and the communities they serve. Click here to nominate someone for HSTA's Friend of Youth Award. Click here to nominate a teacher for HSTA's Pono Award. Nominations for both awards are due Jan. 9.

Education Votes article, posted 11-5-2016

Article on Clinton's and Trump's positions on EDUCATION:

http://educationvotes.nea.org/2016/10/29/clinton-and-trump-offer-vastly-diferent-education-visions/?utm_source=EdVotes&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=EdVotesEmail&utm_content=Election%202016

Hilo Chapter Report: New member dinner held; Sign waving Monday; School visits completed, posted 11-3-2016

Aloha Hilo Chapter Members: I hope that all of you had a restful fall break.  ESSA Town Hall Meeting The Every Student Succeeds Act Town Hall meeting was held August 24 at Waiakea High School cafeteria. There was a good turnout of more than 100 people to talk about their vision for improved public schools in Hawaii under the new federal education law. HSTA was well-represented at the ESSA meeting.   School Visits We have started school visitations and will continue to visit schools within our chapter. The purpose of these school visits is to hear from you, our members, about your concerns, issues, feedback for negotiations and other thoughts or recommendations you may have about how we can support each other through HSTA. State President Corey Rosenlee and I visited Kea’au Elementary, Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences (HAAS), Pahoa High and Intermediate, Keonepoko, Waiakea Elementary, Waiakea Intermediate, Waiakea High and Ka’Umeke Ka’eo PCS. Hilo Chapter Negotiations Co-Chair Aaron Kubo and I visited Ha’aheo, Kaumana and Hilo Union. Hilo Chapter Negotiations Co-Chair Evette Tampos and I visited Kua O Kala PCS, Kea’au Middle, and Mountain View Elementary.   KKP Kahua & New Teacher Dinner In September, Membership Co-Chair Debra Borges spoke to Kahua participants of the Ka’u, Kea’au, Pahoa (KKP) Complex, encouraging them to sign up as HSTA members. She did a quick briefing on the benefits of being a member.  She and Membership Co-Chair Edwin Kagawa also planned a Benefits of Belonging New Teacher Dinner which was held on Sept. 23 at the UH Hilo dining hall.   Upcoming Events: Political Action Activities: Sign Waving – *Monday, Nov. 7 from  4 – 5 p.m. on sidewalk by the Civic Auditorium. Grand Rally to follow at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale. *Wednesday, Nov. 9 – Mahalo sign waving from 4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. in front of King Kamehameha Statue on Kamehameha Avenue. Next RA – Tuesday, Dec. 13, from 5 – 6:30 p.m., Kea’au High School Library Mahalo for your time. Dawn K. K. Raymond HSTA Hilo Chapter President

Copyright © 2016 Hawaii State Teachers Association, All rights reserved. Mahalo for your engagement. Our mailing address is: Hawaii State Teachers Association 1200 Ala Kapuna Street Honolulu, HI 96819

Member Matters: Bargaining session held; Thousands of teachers send in photos of support; School impact fee public hearings scheduled; Early voting!, posted 10-29-2016

Thousands of teachers send 'red for ed' photos for Friday bargaining session   Teachers from at least 105 public schools across the state sent in "red for ed" photos of support to HSTA's Negotiations Team members as they sat down for their third bargaining session with the state Friday. Watch a special video with photos from teachers statewide. Teacher photos lined the walls of the HSTA conference room where Friday's bargaining session was held. More than 2,300 HSTA members posed in photos of support for HSTA's bargaining team and emailed them in this week. HSTA Negotiations Team. Front row, L to R: Shannon Kaaa, Diane Mokuau. Back row: Corey Rosenlee, Paul Daugherty, Osa Tui. McKinley Registrar Osa Tui, chair of HSTA’s Negotiations Committee, said, "As negotiations progressed, I was enamored by seeing your faces as they towered over the employer group while you stared down at them." Some walls in HSTA's Conference Room A got a makeover, thanks to photos from teachers across Hawaii. Watch a special video with photos from teachers statewide. HSTA's SPED Committee made a presentation to the employer during negotiations Friday, detailing the concerns of special education teachers. From L to R: HSTA SPED Committee members Dawn Raymond from Waiakea High, Dale Matsuura from Roosevelt High and Nancy Sakamoto from Solomon Elementary. The next bargaining meeting will be held after the Thanksgiving holiday. HSTA's contract with the state expires June 30, 2017.   BOE seeks applicants to replace schools superintendent The Board of Education plans to discuss beginning the process to search for a superintendent of Hawaii’s public school system at its Nov. 1 General Business Meeting. The proposed action calls for the BOE to form a committee to, among other things, determine the process and timeline for the search as well as the composition of the group performing the search.  It is anticipated that the BOE will conduct its search over the coming months, with the hopes that a successful candidate will begin employment on July 1, 2017. This proposed action is being initiated in anticipation of the ending of the contract term of current Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi (June 30, 2017), the BOE said. “This is an ideal time to transition to new leadership that will help the DOE continue its efforts to reduce the achievement gap and prioritize achievement for all students,” said BOE Chairperson Lance Mizumoto. Read HSTA President Corey Rosenlee's comments about superintendent changes here.   Public hearings to be held on urban Honolulu school impact district  The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) will hold two public hearings on a proposal to create a School Impact District for the neighborhoods along the Kalihi to Ala Moana portion of the Honolulu Area Rapid Transit route. The Board of Education requested the hearings in anticipation of residential growth in those areas and will vote on whether to approve the new district. The impact district would require residential developers or homeowner/builders to pay about $9,374 per unit in impact fees to help cover land and construction costs for new or expanded schools. “We encourage teachers to testify and tell the Department of Education why developers need to help shoulder the burden for new or improved public schools in the urban Honolulu area,” said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee. “So many of our schools need new facilities and these funds would help them improve for children in town.” Public hearings will be held: Wednesday, Nov. 2 Farrington High School Library Conference Room 3 to 5 pm. Thursday, Nov. 3 McKinley High School’s Hirata Lecture Hall 5 to 7 p.m. Public comments on the proposal can also be submitted in writing to the Department of Education. You can email the comments to: heidi_meeker@notes.k12.hi.us. Read more about the school impact fee proposal here. HIDOE already collects school impact fees in Maui and Leeward Oahu. Copies of the written analysis of the proposed Kalihi to Ala Moana district, including a map of the district, are available by contacting the HIDOE Planning Office at 784-5080. Copies are also posted on the HIDOE website at: http://bit.ly/ImpactDistricts.   Early voting underway; HSTA recommends General Election political candidates Early walk-in voting has begun across the state and will continue through Nov. 5. See a list of early voting sites and hours here. Voters have until Nov. 1 to request a mail-in ballot. Late voter registration ends on Nov. 5, just three days before Election Day on Nov. 8. HSTA board members sign wave with State Senate candidate Stanley Chang. After a lengthy process that included a candidate questionnaire, interviews, and a review of voting history, HSTA’s Board of Directors, in concurrence with the HSTA Government Relations Committee, recommends teachers vote for the following candidates in the General Election. Read the full list of HSTA's State House and Senate recommended candidates here. In the presidential race, the HSTA recommends Hillary Clinton, a Democrat. The HSTA recommends the re-election of U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D) as well as U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D), representing rural Oahu and the neighbor islands in Hawaii’s Congressional District 2. The HSTA also recommends sending Colleen Hanabusa (D) back to Congress in the 1st Congressional District seat she previously held representing urban Honolulu in the U.S. House.   ESSA team travels to Moanalua to unveil draft blueprint to improve public schools   Gov. David Ige’s Every Student Succeeds Act Task Force will hold a final follow-up community meeting to share findings and focus on a draft blueprint for public education in Hawaii. Teachers are encouraged to attend and give feedback on the initial plan for improving Hawaii's public schools. “First, we will share the findings of input and feedback received from town hall meetings. Second, we will unveil a working draft or outline for a new blueprint for public education in Hawaii,” said Darrel Galera, a retired public school principal who chairs the ESSA Task Force and was just appointed to the Board of Education. “We also want to collect more specific input, feedback and advice for a final version of a blueprint for public education in Hawaii.” The final meeting will be held on Oahu: Nov. 2: Moanalua High library, Oahu, 6 to 8 p.m. Register for the Nov. 2 Moanalua High ESSA forum here.   HSTA's next social justice workshop features Kumu Hina teaching her gender diversity curriculum, "A Place In The Middle." The workshop will be held at HSTA's Red Hill headquarters on Saturday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Register for Nov. 12 Place in the Middle Kumu Hina workshop. Take NEA survey; you could win an iPad mini  The National Education Association (NEA), Corwin and Learning Forward want to know how professional learning impacts your teaching and your students’ learning. The following survey measures how your professional learning aligns with the Standards for Professional Learning, which outline the characteristics of professional learning that lead to effective teaching practices, supportive leadership, and improved student results. Please take 20-25 minutes to complete this survey. You could win one of three iPad minis. NEA will share survey findings with leaders across the country to deepen their understanding of the learning you experience and to influence ongoing improvement. Teachers’ voices are essential to this process, so thank you for sharing your experience. Please complete survey by Monday, Oct. 31. To thank you for your participation, we will enter everyone who completes this survey into a raffle to win one of 3 iPad minis. The winner will be announced by Nov. 7.   Benefits of Belonging, retirement planning and Degrees Not Debt workshops The Membership Services Committee brings you a host of workshops over the next couple of months. First, come find out your benefits of belonging to HSTA and how we are here to support you. Get connected to:  Our HSTA community and member benefits HSTA VEBA Trust insurance plans and protection  Our HYPE (Hawaii Young Professional Educators) program for new educators Professional development courses  Benefits of Belonging meetings: Hamakua Chapter Friday, Nov. 4 4:30 p.m. Thelma Parker Memorial Library Conference Room 67-1209 Mamalahoa Hwy., Kamuela (Next to Waimea Elementary) RSVP ASAP Sign up for Nov. 4 Hamakua/Waimea Benefits of Belonging. Kona Chapter Thursday, Nov. 17 4:15 p.m. Kealakehe Intermediate Library Workroom RSVP By Nov. 4  Sign up for Nov. 17 Kona Benefits of Belonging Retirement Workshops: Honolulu/Central Pre-Retirement Planning Workshop Thursday, Nov. 17 4:30 p.m. HSTA headquarters, Red Hill RSVP for Nov. 17 Pre-Retirement Workshop at HSTA Hilo "Are you on track to retire?" Workshop Friday, Nov. 18 5:30 p.m. Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Mala Ikena Room RSVP by Nov. 4. Please RSVP with your name, phone number and the number of people you are bringing to the workshop. Hosted by our NEA retirement specialists. Please RSVP to Jeannie at 808-969-6722 Honolulu "Are you on track to retire?" Workshop Wednesday, Nov. 30 6 p.m. Side Street Inn, Kapahulu Avenue RSVP by Nov. 22. Please RSVP with your name, phone number and the number of people you are bringing to the workshop. Hosted by our NEA retirement specialists. Please RSVP to tereen@shiraishifinancialgroup.com Leeward Pre-Retirement Planning Workshop Thursday, Dec. 1 4 p.m. HSTA headquarters, Red Hill RSVP by Nov. 22 RSVP for Dec. 1 Pre-Retirement Workshop at HSTA "Are you on track to retire?" Workshop Monday, Dec.19 6 p.m. Waikele Golf Course RSVP by Dec. 8. Please RSVP with your name, phone number and the number of people you are bringing to the workshop. Hosted by our NEA retirement specialists. Please RSVP to tereen@shiraishifinancialgroup.com Central/Honolulu Pre-Retirement Planning Workshop Tuesday, Jan. 24 4 p.m. HSTA headquarters, Red Hill RSVP by Jan. 10 RSVP for Jan. 24 Pre-Retirement Workshop at HSTA HYPE Degrees Not Debt workshop Do you have federal student debt and are unsure of whether you qualify for federal loan forgiveness programs such as Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF), Teacher Loan Cancellation (TLC) and/or Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)?  Wednesday, Nov. 16 4:30 p.m., in-person workshop 6:30 p.m., online virtual workshop HSTA headquarters, Red Hill Read the NEA's degrees not debt page. OPEN ENROLLMENT OCTOBER 1-31, 2016 The HSTA Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association Trust is offering Active HSTA members an OPEN ENROLLMENT PERIOD for: Critical Illness Insurance (CII) Long Term Income Protection (LTIP) Plan effective date is Jan. 1, 2017. Learn more at HSTA VEBA Trust's website, www.hstaveba.org or call 808-440-6940 or 1-800-637-4926 (toll free from neighbor islands).   Nominations being accepted for Pono and Friend of Youth awards HSTA’s Youth, Human, and Civil Rights (YHCR) Committee is pleased to announce that nominations are being accepted for the annual Friend of Youth Award and Pono Award. The Friend of Youth Award honors an outstanding individual from the community whose work has positively impacted the youth of Hawaii. The Pono Award is HSTA's social justice activist award. It recognizes one exceptional member who demonstrates the ability to lead, organize, and engage educators, parents, and the community to advocate on social justice issues that impact the lives of students, fellow educators, and the communities they serve. Click here to nominate someone for HSTA's Friend of Youth Award. Click here to nominate a teacher for HSTA's Pono Award. Nominations for both awards are due Jan. 9.   Watch a special video with photos from teachers statewide. See a list of early voting sites and hours here. Voters have until Nov. 1 to request a mail-in ballot. Late voter registration ends on Nov. 5, just three days before Election Day on Nov. 8. Read the full list of HSTA's State House and Senate recommended candidates here. Read HSTA President Corey Rosenlee's comments about superintendent changes here. Read more about the school impact fee proposal here. Please take 20-25 minutes to complete this survey. You could win one of three iPad minis. Register for the Nov. 2 Moanalua High ESSA forum here. Sign up for Nov. 4 Hamakua/Waimea Benefits of Belonging. Register for Nov. 12 Place in the Middle Kumu Hina workshop. RSVP for Nov. 17 Pre-Retirement Workshop at HSTA Sign up for Nov. 17 Kona Benefits of Belonging RSVP for Dec. 1 Pre-Retirement Workshop at HSTA RSVP for Jan. 24 Pre-Retirement Workshop at HSTA Read the NEA's degrees not debt page. Check out HYPE's website for teachers new to the profession. Apply for an NEA Foundation grant for educators. Click here to nominate someone for HSTA's Friend of Youth Award. Click here to nominate a teacher for HSTA's Pono Award.