Happy Thanksgiving, posted 11-26-2-15

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Happy Thanksgiving   Thank you for all you do inside and outside the classroom every day.  Wishing you a safe and happy holiday weekend with your loved ones.

HSTA:  United in the pursuit of excellence for Hawaii’s public schools. Unsubscribe | Update your profile | Forward to a friend Copyright (C) 2015 Hawaii State Teachers Association All rights reserved. Mahalo for your engagement. Hawaii State Teachers Association 1200 Ala Kapuna Street Honolulu, HI 96819

Special Member Services Member Matters: The Benefits of Belonging, 11-22-2015

The Pro Bowl is Back in Hawaii! As an HSTA member, you and your friends & family are eligible for special benefits with your ticket purchase.  Watching the game is always more fun with a group. Bring your own group and let us enhance your game day fun with some special fan experiences. Seats are limited and on a first come first served basis - don't be left on the sidelines! Read more details HERE>>> Want to attend the big game but don’t live on Oahu? Check out these new air, hotel, and car partnerships: Click HERE to find out about HSTA specials at some of your favorite hotels.

Transpacific Discounts >>> Island Air Specials >>> Mokulele Specials >>> --> Car Rental Discounts >>>

HSTA is committed to your professional growth. It's time to register for HSTA Spring 2016 Professional Development Courses. Check out: www.PD.hsta.org Neighbor Island schedule coming soon! Member Services Survey Thank you for participating in the membership survey.  PleaseCLICK HERE to see the results.

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Special Education Update, 11-13-2015

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The following information is being provided as a follow up to our members as a result of the recent feedback we received during the statewide listening tour, first quarter school visits, Institute Week, and the Special Education Committee Survey Results. The HSTA Special Education Committee The HSTA has five (5) members that serve on the Special Education Committee.  The SpEd Committee is a joint committee with the DOE that is tasked with “fact-finding and problem–solving operational and working conditions” (Article VI, HH).  The committee held the first meeting of the school year on October 30th.  The committee is actively discussing and working on the following areas related to Special Education. Recruitment and Retention of Licensed SpEd Teachers Supports needed for SpEd Teachers Options to create more time within the work day for IEP-Related Tasks If you have specific questions related to the work of the SpEd Committee, please email the HSTA staff liaison Ray Camacho at rcamacho@hsta.org.He can pass on your feedback and questions to the HSTA SpEd Committee members. Know Your Rights – Special Education It is clear that a serious shortage of qualified special education teachers, bell schedule changes, and budget cuts have had seriously impacted the ability to effectively support our special education students. The HSTA continues to pursue ways to support the rights of teachers working with special education students, including but not limited to contract enforcement, negotiations,and legislative priorities. One of the most time consuming parts of working with special education students is not the instruction itself but the compliance paperwork and meetings.   This burden is most difficult for the SpEd teachers themselves, but also affects the regular education teachers servicing those students. We are discovering that in some cases administrators can be very creative and supportive in leveraging the limited resources of the school.However, in other cases we have schools that are clearly violating the collective bargaining agreement and making decisions based budget constraints rather than student need. As such, the HSTA would like to highlight two areas related to your rights and special education. IEP Case Assignments, Substitution and Vacancies An Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a written statement about the educational program for a child with a disability. It serves as a management tool used to ensure that the child receives the needed special education and related services. It also serves as an evaluation device when used to determine the extent of the child's progress toward accomplishing projected goals.  Generally one teacher is assigned to monitor and manage the IEP for a given student.  Within a given school the IEP cases should be distributed among the various SpEd teachers in an equitable manner based on categories such as grade level, type of disability, or  level of the case. Recently it has been reported that a number of administrators have taken the case load from an absent teacher and or an emergency hire and given it to another teacher.   This action is in violation of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).  The CBA or contract does NOT allow for one teacher to substitute for another (Article VI, N).  The case load of one SpEd position should not be moved to another teacher as a result of vacancies and inability to fill a position with a licensed SpEd teacher.   If this type of required “substituting” for another teacher is occurring teachers should contact their HSTA UniServ Director for further assistance. Time Related to the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) Process Time for the Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) process, including meetings and other related preparation tasks, should be handled in the following manner: The administration should utilize the bell and master schedule to identify and provide time for teachers within the 7 hour work day to complete such tasks.  The administration can also consider hiring of substitute teachers to provide coverage and relief for teachers during the workday to attend IEP meetings.   Teachers should also be released wherever possible during non-instructional time, before the end of the school day, when assuming assigned duties which require activity after the work day (i.e. for an IEP meeting). Wherever possible, relief should also be provided from non-professional duties such as yard duty.  The administration may also provide up to 10 (1) early release days for participation in the IEP process (Article VI, HH).   Although each school handles the IEP process differently, teachers should actively ask that time be provided during the workday, via the above options. If the principal is not utilizing the above options, the HSTA Association Policy Committee (APC) should place this topic on the agenda for discussions with the principal.  If teachers are being required, mandated, and/or directed to perform specific IEP related tasks outside of the scheduled workday there may be grounds for a grievance. Each situation is different and teachers should consult their HSTA UniServ Director for further assistance. Special Note:  Each school has an Academic and Financial Plan.  This plan plays a critical role in determining how resources are allocated and prioritized.  Teachers should pay close attention to the academic and financial plan process as it has a great impact on the way the school utilizes resources related to SpEd. Teachers have specific rights under the contract to have a say in the school budget. If a school has more questions, the schools HSTA Association Policy Committee (APC) should contact their respective UniServ Director for additional information and guidance.

HSTA:  United in the pursuit of excellence for Hawaii’s public schools. Copyright © 2015 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 Hilo Chapter November RA, posted 11-9-2015

HSTA Hilo Chapter November RA from Your Chapter GR Representatives Your Voice is Needed Let's talk about the schools our keiki deserve. This month, we will be meeting with our State Legislators and County Council members. Share what's happening in your classroom. Please let us know whether you are coming so we can plan accordingly.  Refreshments will be provided. See more details and RSVP at the link below: http://bit.ly/novemberRA   November 2015 19 REGISTER NOW Wear your HSTA pride. Red for education on Tuesdays! FRIEND ON FACEBOOK Have you taken the Hilo Chapter PD Survey? http://bit.ly/hilochptPD HSTA:  United in the pursuit of excellence for Hawaii’s public schools. Copyright © 2015 Hawaii State Teachers Association All rights reserved. Mahalo for your engagement. Unsubscribe • Update subscription preferences Hawaii State Teachers Association 1200 Ala Kapuna Street Honolulu, HI 96819 USA

Ethics Commission Update, 11-06-2015

Ethics Commission Update   As HSTA waits for the Hawaii State Ethics Commission’s decision on a petition for declaratory order filed on education travel August 15, 2015 the Ethics Commission, for the third time this year, is scrutinizing activities of public school teachers.  HSTA’s attorney, Colleen Hanabusa, believes that Ethics Commission Executive Director, Les Kondo,” is overstepping his authority” and “violating due process.” In an interview with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Hanabusa said “that Kondo is inappropriately interfering in issues covered by collective bargaining agreements between the DOE and teachers.” Even Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi has criticized recent Ethics Commission opinions. The Ethics Commission opinions on education travel impacts students and families who have planned with teachers for months and years for trips. In addition to keeping classes waiting in limbo, some families will not be reimbursed for monetary investments made to date.  HSTA is prepared to work with our lawyer on next steps pending the Ethics Commission’s decision. To read the entire Honolulu Star-Advertiser article, please go to http://bit.ly/1P3omo1 See what two Hilo teachers say about education travel HERE>>> August 27, 2015 HSTA member email http://eepurl.com/bxjv41 Join the conversation on the Hawaii State Teachers Association Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/HawaiiStateTeachersAssociation   Wear Your RED Shirts on Tuesdays Mahalo Chiefess Kapiolani Elementary School teachers for wearing HSTA pride and for your commitment to Hilo students.   Send your school pictures to info@hsta.org

Take Action Now It’s been 13 years and 302 days since No Child Left Behind – the main education law that governs our schools -- was signed into law. Everyone acknowledges that this law isn’t working for students. It’s done nothing to address students’ unequal access to opportunities like AP classes, art programs, and technology. It’s pushed out critical and creative thinking skills in favor of test prep. This is particularly a problem for our most vulnerable students.  Luckily, the current legislation being considered is a huge improvement over current law. Our challenge now is to get a final bill passed. We need Congress to act now, in the best interest of students, and pass a law that ensures equal opportunity and a high-quality education for all our students, regardless of their zip code. Email your representative now. It only takes a few minutes!   Enhancing the Curriculum Through the Arts  Professional Development Workshop for K-6 Teachers Text in Motion: Creative Approaches to Reading Comprehension PDE3 Course # AR180102, Section # 279048  Taught by Daniel A. Kelin, II and Maggie Costiga Details HERE>>>

Member Matters, 10-30-2015

HSTA VEBA Trust Open Enrollment until October 31, 2015. View this email in your browser Lump Sum Payment   If you did not receive the lump sum on your October 5, 2015 paycheck, and believe you were wrongfully denied the payment, you must inform HSTA no later than November 2, 2015.  Please go to this link:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HSTAlumpsum and complete a short questionnaire to help determine if a claim can be filed on your behalf. Upon completion of the form an HSTA staff person will follow up with you for next steps. Eligible teachers should have received the $2,000 lump sum as part of the supplemental agreement reached on April 22, 2015.  Eligible teachers are defined as “all active full time licensed teachers who have completed probation or began serving probation prior to July 1, 2013.”  Eligible half-time teachers shall receive $1,000 lump sum.   More details about the lump sum payment are included in the October 5, 2015 Member Message: http://eepurl.com/bBypfn   Government Relations: Friend of Education Congressman Mark Takai   Our thoughts are with the Congressman as we wish him a speedy recovery wrapped in a warm aloha.  He was back on the hill this week and voted in favor of a bipartisan budget deal.  To email him, please go to https://takai.house.gov/contact/email 10-Minute Campaign Red for Education and Unity Wear your red HSTA shirts on Tuesdays! Send your pictures to info@hsta.org. Like us on Facebook.   According to the Fall 2015 ERS publication Holomua (page 3), all active members, inactive vested members and retirees are eligible to vote for this trustee position. You should have received a voting packet consisting of a ballot, candidate information sheets and a return envelope. Voted ballots must be received by KMH LLP at 1003 Bishop Street, Suite 2400, Honolulu, HI 96813 andpostmarked by October 21, 2015 to be considered valid. The new ERS Board Trustee will be announced in December. If you did not receive a voting packet, please contact Garet Sasaki of the election auditing firm KMH LLP at: (808) 543-3302 or by email at: ERSBallot@kmhllp.com as soon as possible. - See more at: http://www.hsta.org/index.php/news/2015-ers-trustee-elections-scheduled-for-september#sthash.6FzRMVMp.dpuf Professional Development Registration Open!  Free Spring 2016 Professional Development Courses on Teaching ELLs More Information HERE>>> Talking About Ethnicity and Inequality in Education  November 7, 2015 8:30 a.m. Check-In 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. University of Hawaii Campus Center  PLEASE RSVP HERE to receive information about $5.00 registration process. Share this opportunity with a colleague HERE>>> Worth a Read: Research shows that New Orleans school reforms have created a set of schools that are highly stratified by race, class, and educational advantage. Research report and brief by the Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education's (SCOPE) Frank Adamson, Channa Cook-Harvey, and Linda Darling-Hammond.  Read the full-length report or research brief HERE>>>