Senate poised to approve HSTA ConAm Monday, sending it to voters
HSTA’s Constitutional Amendment for a surcharge on residential investment property to better fund public education took another important step toward reality Wednesday. The State Senate voted unanimously to accept state House language in the bill that calls for the proposal to be on the ballot for voters to decide this fall.
First, we can’t thank all of you enough for submitting testimony, meeting with lawmakers and testifying in person in favor of our proposal.
We also are very thankful to one of our champions, State Senator Michelle Kidani, the Senate Education chair, who made the motion on the floor today for the State Senate to agree with House language that was broader than previous versions of our proposal, helping to allow the broader language needed when adding anything to the Hawaii Constitution.
If a majority of the State Senate votes to approve the proposal Monday (April 23) during a session that begins at 11:30 a.m., our Constitutional Amendment will go on the ballot before voters in November. We have our fingers and toes crossed that this will happen! Look for an HSTA Facebook Live from the Senate for final debate and discussion of the proposal at midday Mondaythat will be archived so you can see it after school, at home later in the day or whenever.
The Senate and the House want to assure that the surcharge is levied only on residential investment properties in the state, second homes worth $1 million or more. The legislators stressed their intent in their committee reports that those with a home-owner exemption would not have an additional surcharge. If the voters approve of the amendment allowing the state to add a state surcharge to property, it will be lawmakers, with public input, who will decide the details of the surcharge during next year’s legislative session. Their intent again, is to only add this surcharge to residential investment property over $1 million in value. Those types of specific details, including any exemptions, will be decided next legislative session with enabling legislation.
Read HSTA President Corey Rosenlee's complete letter to members about the ConAm.Again, many thanks to the thousands of you who helped this important legislation move forward. And a special mahalo to our chapter presidents as well as members of the Government Relations committee and Speakers Bureau for your many contributions helping us make great progress. Your collective action has paid off so far and we will ask for more help from you later this year to help us assure a majority of Hawaii general election voters vote “yes” to bring in the money to give our keiki the schools they deserve.
HSTA helps Hanalei teachers, students affected by flooding
Hanalei Elementary was hit hard by flooding on Kauai, with at least four classrooms badly damaged. The campus grounds were flooded and cut off from all roads while serving as an evacuation shelter during the storm's height over the weekend. With the school closed to students all this week, the HSTA has worked collaboratively with Hanalei Elementary's teachers, principal and the complex area superintendent to assure that the campus and classrooms are properly cleaned and safe before students and teachers return. The HSTA will make a monetary donation to the school to help cover the cost of replacing teachers' materials, equipment and other educational items lost to the flood waters.  Above: Teachers are among the volunteers scrubbing down students’ desks and other furniture.
 Above: It takes a village: teachers, staff, parents and volunteers from the community have been working for days to clean up Hanalei Elementary to make it a safe place to learn and teach again. Mahalo to our 14 Hanalei Elementary teachers for putting on their work boots and spending the week cleaning and working at the school under trying conditions. Your commitment to our keiki is amazing! HSTA Kauai UniServ Director Tom Perry visited the school several times to see that teachers' and students' needs are being met and any concerns have been properly handled.
HSTA pollsters may call you soon
 Periodically, the HSTA hires an outside research firm from Hawaii to survey voters on key educational issues and survey our membership. It’s important to have unbiased feedback on how we are doing. The firm began calling a representative sample of our members Wednesday and will continue polling over the next few days, so don't be surprised if you receive a call on your mobile phone or land line. We have had some difficulty with members terminating the interviews before they are completed, because the survey can take 15 minutes or more. Please help us by being willing to complete the full survey. Those who weren't able to stay on the line may receive a call back from our pollster to complete the survey and assure we gather a full set up data.All of the individual responses are kept completely confidential and we are never given the names of those who took the survey. We would love for you to participate and want to thank you in advance for agreeing to share your valued opinions.
Are you one of 1,400 teachers whose license expires this year?
The Hawaii Teachers Standards Board (HTSB) has asked the HSTA to remind members that teachers need to renew their licenses in a timely manner. As of mid-April, there are approximately 1,400 teachers whose licenses will expire this year, so they need to take action before June 30, 2018. Failure to hold a valid license may result in a fine of up to $500. If your license expires on June 30, 2018, you must login to your HTSB account between January 2 and June 29, 2018, and complete your renewal process. Here is the link to the HTSB. You are strongly encouraged to renew early in the renewal period, as you must allow for processing time. Renewals submitted after June 29, 2018, may not be processed in the event of unexpected issues.
Under the HSTA collective bargaining agreement (contract) Appendix IX- Licensing Fees, teachers who qualify shall have their licensing fees paid by the employer. Tenured teachers who have an evaluation rating of “effective” or “highly effective” and submit a request to the HTSB to have the employer pay the fee (on or before the date the fee is due) will qualify for this benefit. If educators fail to meet these requirements, they will forfeit the benefit of payment of the annual license fee and will be personally responsible for the fee payment.
All others must login to their HTSB account and pay their own license and permit fees. A $25 late fee shall be assessed if not paid by the due date. Refunds for license fees you have already paid cannot be refunded by HTSB. If you have questions for HTSB send a message to them using your account Contact HTSB tab or call the HTSB office at 808-586-2600.
HSTA hosts SPED Task Force Facebook live Tuesday
 HSTA appointees to the Superintendent’s Special Education Program Review Task force have been working with other stakeholders including representatives from DOE, HGEA, parents and the community to present the Superintendent with a series of special education recommendations. The recommendation process is nearly complete and the HSTA representatives would like to brief our members on the work. Members are encouraged to view the presentation and ask questions about the process and or recommendations live on HSTA's Facebook page, Tuesday, April 24 at 4:30 p.m. The HSTA representatives on the SPED task force are: Corey Rosenlee – HSTA President, Campbell High Andrea Eshelman – HSTA Deputy Executive Director Justin Hughey – Special Education Teacher, Kamehameha III Elementary Dale Matsuura – Student Services Coordinator, Roosevelt High School, former SPED classroom teacher. Tanya Weida – Leeward District Autism Specialist, former SPED FSC classroom teacher
HSTA Student Program Annual Conference
Read and comment on draft secondary Social Studies standards by April 30
A draft of revised secondary Social Studies standards has been completed by teams of Hawaii teachers and content experts in the field to ensure the most up-to-date pedagogy and scholarship. Teachers were crucial to the work creating these draft standards, the first update in 13 years.
To directly access information and links to the draft standards, please copy bit.ly/SSReviewWelcome into the address bar of your web browser. To view this information from the Hawaii State Department of Education’s website, please paste http://hawaiipublicschools.org into the address bar of your browser. The link to the standards review is contained on the front page under the heading titled, “Draft Secondary Social Studies Standards open for public review through April.”
The review process goes through April 30. There are eight courses (6-12) available for review on Google Forms and no limit to the number of courses a person can review. The surveys were designed to encourage comprehensive input within the survey. The data will be provided to the Secondary Social Studies Standards Review Team for their consideration. The DOE seeks broad input from both teachers and the public, so please share the link with family, friends and colleagues. Read more about the secondary draft Social Studies standards
Health coverage Open Enrollment runs now until April 30
The Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund, more commonly known as the EUTF, provides medical, chiropractic, prescription drug, dental, vision and life insurance benefits to all eligible State of Hawaii, City and County employees and retirees. Each year the EUTF holds an open enrollment period starting Monday, which allows employees to modify their plan enrollments. Read EUTF’s open enrollment flier here Watch the HSTA-EUTF Open Enrollment presentation on HSTA's Facebook page. (You can read questions and responses here too)Watch the HSTA-EUTF Open Enrollment presentation on HSTA's YouTube Channel.The open enrollment period for EUTF health plans began Monday, April 2 and runs through Monday, April 30. Click here for more information about Open Enrollment. What are the new rates and when do they go into effect?The new rates go into effect on July 1, 2018. Coverage dates are from Sunday, July 1, 2018 through to Sunday, June 30, 2019. Premium deduction amounts will come from paychecks starting Friday, July 20, 2017 through to Friday, July 5, 2018. The rates can be found in the links below. EUTF (Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund): https://eutf.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Active-Rates-Eff-July-1-2018-All-BUs-Except-12-s.pdfHSTA VB: https://eutf.hawaii.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Active-Rates-Eff-July-1-2018-HSTA-VB-s.pdfWhat is the difference between the 2017 rates and 2018 rates?HSTA developed a comparison sheet for members use. Please note this comparison is an UPDATED version as EUTF officials have updated rates since they first provided HSTA numbers in January.Open Enrollment FAQs, including...
What is the difference between EUTF and HSTA VB plans?
Who can enroll in HSTA VB plans?
How are the EUTF premium rates determined?
What types of things should I take into consideration when selecting my plan?
What is meant by 75/25, 80/20, and 90/10 PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) and HMO Plans?
What plan(s) am I currently on?
What do I need to do if I want to make a change?
Who can I contact if I have questions?Informational sessions throughout the state and webinars are being held throughout the month of April and last about an hour and a half. HSTA understands how difficult it is for our members to attend these sessions as most of them happen during the work day. So at our request, the EUTF added three webinar briefings after school from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on April 18 and 25. See 2018 EUTF Open Enrollment seminar times and locations here.
HSTA, NEA offer free justice circle training
 To address the need for professional development in restorative justice for its members, the National Education Association (NEA) has partnered with Advancement Project, HSTA and the Department of Education to offer a FREE restorative justice circle training Monday, June 4 - Thursday, June 7 on Oahu. This experiential training will provide attendees with an understanding of the circle process and its potential for building relationships within the school community; promoting healthy communication; preventing and resolving conflicts; developing social emotional learning and youth competencies; and creating safe spaces to address difficult issues, trauma and healing. Learn more and apply to attend restorative justice circle training by May 4.
HSTA dues are tax deductible!
From The New York Times: 25-Year-Old Textbooks and Holes in the Ceiling: Inside America’s Public Schools
Broken laptops, books held together with duct tape, an art teacher who makes watercolors by soaking old markers.
Subscribe to and follow HSTA's social media accounts
Be sure to subscribe to HSTA's YouTube channel and follow us on Instagram for the latest videos, photos and news about our Association and public schools in Hawaii.
| 
