VICTORY! Ige will air condition classrooms, Message from HSTA President, 1-25-2016

Teachers are deeply committed to the success of every student. View this email in your browser Dear Colleagues, Once again, collective action works. In August, teachers, parents, and students were very vocal and united in demanding that our overheated classrooms be cooled. We told anyone who would listen that our students were sweltering, and learning was impeded when it was so hot.  Governor Ige was listening. He heard each of us and today in his State of the State address announced his ambitious plan to cool 1,000 public school classrooms by the end of this year and additional classrooms each year through the end of 2018. Pat yourselves on the back and know that it was your doing — your years of consistently raising the same concern — that got through to him. And while you’re at it, reach out and thank Governor Ige for taking the initiative to put students first. Further, contact your legislators to let them know how important this is to you and that you appreciate their support of Governor Ige’s plan. We have been talking with you about the importance of collective action for a while -- that, when many voices come together, things get done and changes are made. And now you can see firsthand that it works. Our fight for Schools Our Keiki Deserve does not end here. There are many more changes that need to be implemented, all of which are in our Omnibus Bill. And so, on February 5, we need you to bring yourself, your colleagues, friends, neighbors, and family to the Capitol to rally for our keiki. We need as large a group at the Capitol as possible to send a strong message that we will not back down: Our keiki deserve our help. Let this victory with Governor Ige and air conditioning inspire and motivate you to continue making your voices heard. We did it. Let’s do it again. I will see you at the State Capitol on February 5 at 3:30 p.m. Sincerely, Corey Rosenlee HSTA President     EXCERPT OF GOVERNOR IGE'S SPEECH: Governing in the right way also looks to the future.  For me, our highest single obligation is to take care of our children.  The classroom is a sacred learning space, but students will fail to learn the lessons of their teachers when temperatures soar to over 100 degrees.  There is enough blame to go around.  Our children deserve better from us. We need to cool our classrooms now, in energy-efficient ways that align with our commitment to end our dependence on imported fossil fuels.  Clean energy technology is changing rapidly and it’s becoming more efficient.  The Department of Education has already launched an energy-efficiency program called Ka Hei.  This is a start and we need to take it farther. I am working with the DOE, other state departments, utilities and clean energy companies to cool 1,000 public school classrooms by the end of this year and thousands more each year through the end of 2018.  We are going to get this job done. To start, we will use $100 million of Green Energy Market Securitization funds to immediately install energy-efficiency measures and air conditioning units in classrooms where our children need it the most.  By using existing GEMS program dollars, the Department of Education and its energy-efficiency partner, OpTerra, can quickly access affordable financing for a large portion of its cost to air condition our classrooms.  I know you share my concerns.  Let’s work together to support our kids.  You have my personal commitment that I will do all in my power to serve them.  I’ll work with anyone else who wants to do the same. This, too, is long overdue.   HSTA:  United in the pursuit of excellence for Hawaii’s public schools. 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

Correction: Important HSTA Elections information for Hilo Chapter Members, 1-25-2016

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The previous email had an incorrect reply address. The correct address is ekagawahsta@gmail.com. Please use this one to inform Edwin about your intent to be a candidate. 

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Hilo Members:  

Nominations for Hilo Chapter Elections are due at the next RA. If you plan to run for office and would like to speak or have someone speak on your behalf please let me know by Tuesday, January 26.

The meeting will be held on Thursday, January 28 at Kea'au High School Library and starts at 5:30 p.m.

Each candidate (or candidate's representative) will be allowed up to 2 minutes to speak. You may also have any of your campaign materials available at the RA. This is to provide equal opportunities and access for all candidates and is not required.

Send your request to ekagawahsta@gmail.com

Edwin Kagawa, President
HSTA Hilo Chapter
 

Important HSTA Elections information for Hilo Chapter Members, 1-22-2016

Hilo Members: Nominations for Hilo Chapter Elections are due at the next RA. If you plan to run for office and would like to speak or have someone speak on your behalf please let me know by Tuesday, January 26. The meeting will be held on Thursday, January 28 at Kea'au High School Library and starts at 5:30 p.m. Each candidate (or candidate's representative) will be allowed up to 2 minutes to speak. You may also have any of your campaign materials available at the RA. This is to provide equal opportunities and access for all candidates and is not required. Send your request to ekagawa@gmail.com Edwin Kagawa, President HSTA Hilo Chapter

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

Date Correction to Elections Info Sent Earlier Today, 1-21-2016

Correction to Absentee Ballot Timeline If you want to obtain an absentee ballot to vote in the upcoming HSTA elections, you must request it prior to midnight January 29, 2016. Membership will be validated and ballots mailed February 8, 2016. request absentee ballot A previous email had an incorrect deadline to request a ballot. We're sorry for the error.    Request an absentee ballot Chapter Election Timeline Chapter positions information matrix State Election Timeline State NEA RA Delegate Nomination Form

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

Important HSTA Elections information for Hilo Chapter Members, 1-21-2016

Make Your Voice Heard:  HSTA Hilo Chapter and State Elections HSTA members will soon vote for people to represent their interests with HSTA business. These positions include chapter officers, Board of Directors, HSTA Convention delegates, and state and chapter level delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly this summer. Why should you run for office? Getting involved means you get to help make the decisions about HSTA policy and operations. Simply put, you help to steer the ship. Plus, HSTA representatives get to rub elbows with teachers from other schools both on your island and statewide. It's a great opportunity to network, get energized, and learn about your profession. Here are some important dates and information:  If you want to be nominated to be a state delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly, you must complete a nomination form and submit it to the HSTA office by February 5, 2016, by close of business.  (download nomination form)   If you want to run for a chapter position, the nomination process will be held on January 28, 2016 at 5:30 p.m. at Keaau High School Library. (more information) If you want to obtain an absentee ballot, you must request it prior to February 7, 2016. Membership will be validated and ballots mailed February 8, 2016. (request absentee ballot) This year, Chapter and State elections will be conducted at the same time.    Request an absentee ballot Chapter Election Timeline Chapter positions information matrix State Election Timeline State NEA RA Delegate Nomination Form 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

HSTA Elections for Hilo Chapter: request for assistance with voting sites, email 1-14-1016

Dear WIS Colleagues, The following email was sent to me as your Head Rep. Please note the date of the Hilo Chapter Vote:  Feb. 18 from 2:45 - 5:45 pm. If you would also like to assist, please let me know! Joy Grabar hstajgrabar@gmail.com Lynn Kashinoki <lynn.kashinoki@gmail.com>	4:56 PM (19 hours ago)

Hi All,

Happy New Year!  Hope the start of the new year is going well.

We will be having five voting sites this year on  Feb. 18, 1016 for Hilo Chapter.  We are in need of people that will not be on the ballot to help with the five voting sites.  Please share the information and have teachers contact Kerinne and myself if they can help on Feb. 18, 2016 from 2:245 - 5:45 pm.

Voting Sites:

1. Hilo Inter Auditorium
2. Waiakea High Cafe
3. Keaau High Library
4. Keonepoko Elem Cafe
5. Kau High & Pahala Elem Band Room

Thanks for helping to get the word out!

Lynn Kashinoki and Kerinne Smith

Hilo Chapter Elections Co-Chairs 

Urgent Union Information, posted 1-11-2016

Teachers are deeply committed to the success of every student. View this email in your browser

Dear Colleagues, Today the Supreme Court listened to oral arguments regarding the Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association case.  In this case, the appellants believe they should not have to pay fair share fees. These fees are the cost of union representation and bargaining. No one is required to join the union, but unions are legally required to represent all workers.  Right now, the appellants are basically saying they should get these services for free. They believe union members — like you and I — should pay for them.  Unions are made of people who join together to make their voices heard on issues that affect the entire group.  For teachers, that includes fighting for things like smaller class sizes and healthy learning environments, in addition to collective bargaining for salaries and teaching conditions.    Make no mistake, this lawsuit is an unadulterated attempt by big money to weaken unions, reduce wages of the middle class and increase income inequality. In right to work states, workers earn an incredible $5,971 less per year, and have fewer protections in the workplace.  As a history teacher, I know how hard our country has fought for union rights and what life was like before unions protected workers, including sweatshops, child labor, and starvation wages. I am proud to share that 96.2% of our colleagues have chosen to become members, and we expect that number to be even higher by the end of the year.  We, the members of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, are stronger when we unite together to fight for better schools for our students and our children. The Supreme Court will most likely decide this case in June. In the meantime we can take action. Sign up non-members, prepare for potential attacks, and most importantly let’s stand together. Thank you, Corey Rosenlee HSTA President

HSTA:  United in the pursuit of excellence for Hawaii’s public schools.

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