Member Matters for April 29, posted 4-30-2016

Lawmakers approve $100 million for cooler classrooms State lawmakers Friday approved spending $100 million on heat abatement in public school classrooms -- ranging from ceiling fans, solar-powered vents and air conditioning -- bringing relief to teachers and students. “Today was a huge victory for students across the state who will finally be able to focus on their learning rather than the heat,” said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee. “We are so grateful that lawmakers are helping to improve the learning environment for students across the state by cooling these classrooms.” “This money allows us to experiment and bring the cost of air conditioning classrooms down,” Rosenlee said, pointing to the example of two elementary schools on Molokai that converted quickly and relatively cheaply to air conditioning using solar technology this spring. As of mid-April, the DOE reported about 37 percent of its 11,820 classrooms have air conditioning. The DOE has completed assessments of classrooms at the top 32 schools on its heat abatement priority list. The DOE said the project will be divided into installing solar-powered air conditioning for all portable classrooms and other heat-abatement measures including photovoltaic and split-system AC on permanent buildings. Other anti-heat measures include installing ceiling fans. See the DOE's heat abatement priority list Thank a Teacher campaign next week; like HSTA on Facebook and win an Apple iWatch, airline gift certificates  Be sure to like HSTA’s Facebook page and be on the lookout for our Thank A Teacher message on Wednesday which is Teacher Appreciation Day. All you have to do is like and share our teacher appreciation Facebook message between Wednesday and Friday, and you’ll be entered in a drawing for an Apple iWatch, $100 gift certificates from Mokulele Airways and other prizes. Watch our FB site for more details!  HSTA will also be giving away other great teaching tool prizes to members in May.  Watch Member Matters and our Facebook site for further details and announcements of the winners. Read more Gov. appoints HSTA leader and elem teacher to ESSA panel  Gov. David Ige Thursday appointed Amy Perruso, HSTA’s state secretary-treasurer and a history teacher at Mililani High School, to the volunteer board that will develop a blue print for public schools consistent with the new federal Every Student Succeeds Act. The governor also named Waikiki Elementary teacher Catherine Caine to the panel. "I am so grateful that the governor has appointed two teachers to this important panel, giving us a strong voice as we plan improvements to public education in Hawaii,” Perruso said. “I look forward to listening to the community and surveying our HSTA members so we can work cooperatively towards a better future for public school students across the state."    Please Take Negotiations/EES Survey to Make Your Voice Heard Just a friendly reminder, please make sure to take the survey on “teacher evaluation.”  With contract negotiations coming up in 2017, your negotiations committee wants to hear from you Please remind your colleagues to take the survey, too. The survey will run through May 1, 2016. Click here to take the survey $100 million to cool classrooms Take the EES/Negotiations Survey HSTA officer appointed to ESSA panel Win an Apple iWatch

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WIS Librarian to serve as NEA RA State Delegate, posted 4-29-2016

To: WIS Colleagues
Re: NEA RA State Delegate appointment
From: J. Grabar

Congratulations

Debbie Anderson  

NEA RA State Delegate 

Debbie will be one of fifteen delegates who will represent Hawaii at the Washington, D.C. Convention. In addition to Hilo Chapter, she has volunteered to serve in Hamakua and Windward Chapters.  She is soliciting ideas for NBIs; if you would like to submit any, please contact Debbie (NBI fax deadline is Saturday, April 30, 2016).

Thank you, Debbie, for supporting teachers and expressing a strong voice at the forefront of political issues! Your actions strengthen Hilo Chapter's impact on education in Hawaii.

     

Governor Ige names ESSA Team Members, posted 4-29-2016

To:  WIS Colleagues

From: Debbie Anderson

Aloha, Teachers,

       Home »Latest News, Newsroom, Press Releases »GOVERNOR’S OFFICE NEWS RELEASE: Governor Ige names ESSA team members

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE NEWS RELEASE: Governor Ige names ESSA team members

Posted on Apr 28, 2016 in Latest News, Newsroom, Press Releases 

ESSA Team will develop blueprint for Hawai‘i’s education

HONOLULU –Gov. David Ige today announced the names of the newly selected members of the Governor’s Team on ESSA –Every Student Succeeds Act. The team will work to develop a blue print for Hawai‘i’s public schools that is consistent with ESSA and will maximize opportunities and possibilities for Hawai‘i to transform education.

The team was selected by Gov. Ige based on recommendations and applications, including one recommendation each from Senate President Ronald Kouchi and House Speaker Joe Souki.

“Our goal was to get a good cross-section of stakeholders with diverse backgrounds and experiences. The work of the ESSA team will be an inclusive process that will involve town meetings and a summit to allow all to participate,”said Gov. Ige.

The ESSA team will ultimately be responsible for assessing the current public school system and identifying areas of need.

Gov. Ige appointed Darrel Galera as chairman of the ESSA team earlier this month. 
Here is a complete list of members:

Philip Bossert           Community member, Director of Strategic & International Program, HAIS

Catherine Caine               Elementary School Teacher, Waikīkī Elementary

Kamana‘opono Crabbe   CEO –Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Darrel Galera            Chariperson, Executive Director, Education Institute of Hawai‘i

Keith Hayashi           Principal, Waipahu High School

Michelle Kidani          State Senator, Chair of Senate Education Committee

Brennan Lee                       Student, State Student council

Ann Mahi               DOE –Complex Area Superintendent Waianae/Nanakuli

Hubert Minn            Member, Board of Education

Lauren Moriguchi             Executive Director, Office of Early Learning

Steve Nakasato                  Principal, Pearl Ridge Elementary School

Alan Oshima            President, CEO Hawaiian Electric Co.

Catherine Payne                Chairperson, Charter Schools Commission

Amy Perruso                      Teacher, Mililani High School

Stacey Roberts                   UH Professor, Chair of Educational Administration Program

Carol Shikada                     DOE –Educational Specialist (Kaua‘i)

Linda Takayama                Workforce –Director of Labor & Industrial Relations

Stephen Terstegge            Parent/Military, Castle High School

Takashi Ohno                     State Representative

The team had its first preliminary, introductory meeting today. Meeting minutes will be regularly distributed to the Legislature, Schools Superintendent, Board of Education, Department of Education and will be posted on the governor’s website at: governor.hawaii.gov.

An Education Summit will be scheduled this summer to give organizations and individuals the opportunity to discuss possibilities for a future-focused education system and solicit input on key recommendations to the state’s ESSA plan.

---------------------------

Date: Thu, Apr 28, 2016 at 2:10 PM
Subject: Congrats! Next alternate to NEA RA
To: Debbie Anderson

Hi Debbie,

Congratulations! Due to resignation of a state delegate, you are the next alternate to the NEA RA state delegate position (funding).

This means also that I can attend the 7/8 post-Conference Save Our Schools Rally & People’s March for Public Education & Social Justice to the Lincoln Memorial and 7/9 mini-Conference at Howard University http://saveourschoolsmarch.org/2016/03/sos-coalition-event-lincoln-memorial/, 

and perhaps the Joint pre-Conference on Women's and Minorities' issues.

Thank you for your votes!

---------

From the Network for Public Education (NPE) - a study of the new evaluation systems. Haven't read it yet, but point #4 in the Executive Summary reads: 

4. There is substantial evidence that new evaluation practices require teachers and administrators to spend significant amounts of time on completing forms and paperwork, with scant evidence of a positive impact on instruction or student outcomes. We recommend that evaluations require less paperwork and documentation so that more time can be spent on reflection and improvement of instruction.

Take a look at the recommendations on their infographic:

http://networkforpubliceducation.org/2016/04/6460/

TOY Honorees and Retirees, 2015-2016--Luncheon tickets still available!

Teacher of the Year Honoree & Retiree Luncheon, 2015-2016

Sunday, May 1, 2016, Nani Mau Gardens, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Participating Schools' Honorees and Retirees are noted in chart below. If you would still like to purchase a luncheon ticket, please inform Joy Grabar or Tabitha Booth as soon as possible!

	Honorees	Retirees
Connections		Shelly Ebersole Phyllis Cabral
Hawaii District Office	Nerie Padamada
Hilo High	Mari Nakamura	Sephen Nemeth Sidney Nozaki Jennifer Perry Erin Neizmen
Hilo Inter	Haunani Haasenritter
Hilo Union	Kelsie Valledor-Yoshida	Sandra Miyao Greta Pung Sharon Furstenwerth Sandra Miyao
Kapiolani	NA	Wynne Peralta Ceclia Kawabata Susan Spencer
Kaumana	Cathy Iwaoka	Cathy Iwaoka Diane Ortiz
Keaau Elem	Lori Tanaka	Wendy Roberts
Keaau High	Judith Elise Pratt	Claudia Calles David Calles
Laupahoehoe	Josie Harding
Mountain View	Hali'a Kai	Claire Fernandez
Na Wai Ola	Anna Aoki
Naalehu Elem	Mary LeGrandeur
Pahoa Elem	Amber Makuakane
Pahoa High	Ward Gardner	Margaret Kelleher Kerry Meyer
Volcano Arts Science	Heather Hand
Waiakea Elementary		Karen Shindo Shawn Paiva Ann Lau
Waiakea High		Colleen Ray
Waiakea Intermediate	Kim Aburamen	Sharon Iwasaki
Waiakeawaena Elementary		Ada Kubo Christine Ahia

RA Meeting 4-21-2016 Notes, posted 4-26, 2016

HSTA HILO CHAPTER Representative Assembly Meeting Agenda Notes

Kea’au High School
5:30 pm -7:00pm
April 21, 2016
Notes taken by Joy Grabar, posted 4-26-2016

Director: Val DeCorte (Hilo High)  val.decorte@hawaiiantel.net
President:  Edwin Kagawa (Keaau Middle) ekagawahsta@gmail.com
Vice President:  Dawn Raymond (Waiakea High)  Dray4774@hotmail.com
Treasurer:  Cheney Kaku (Hilo Intermediate  ckkaku@gmail.com
Secretary:  Karen Kohagura (Pahoa Elem)  kkohagura@hotmail.com
UniServ Director:  Rae Yamanaka  935-9301, ryamanaka@hsta.org

1. Meeting called to order – Edwin Kagawa
2. Help a Colleague in Need -- LeeAnn I.
1. Donna Banks, Hilo Union School, has cancer
2. Please donate sick days/vacation days
3. Leave Sharing Donation forms (completed) and info sheet in Workroom
3. Special Guest – Cliff Fukuda, NEA Director for HSTA
1. Shared NEA Newsletter (see on Bulletin Board in Workroom)
2. NEA endorses Clinton because of anti-high-stakes testing stance
4. President’s Report – Edwin Kagawa
1. Convention updates and acknowledgements
2. Encouraged all teachers to participate in EES Survey by May 1st
3. Click here to take the survey
5. Treasurer’s Report  
6. Board of Directors (BOD)  Report
7. Committee Reports: (to be reported as needed)
8. Elections –Lynn Kashinoki, Kerinne Smith
1. See Results of 2016 Hilo Chapter Elections (on Bulletin Board in Workroom)
9. Constitution, Bylaws and Resolutions (CBR) – Karen Kohagura, Cheney Kaku 
10. Government Relations –Kawaileleohi`ilawe, Hope McKeen
1. Interviews with government officials on-going
2. Endorsements to be announced on May 14th
11. Membership –Debra Borges
1. Excellence in Teaching Luncheon tickets are still available
2. Honorees and Retirees listed
3. 16 schools are participating
12. Negotiations –Evette Tampos, Aaron Kubo
1. All teachers are urged to complete EES Survey
2. EES Survey results will serve as data for negotiations
3. EES survey data is critical to show teachers' viewpoints on EES, contract issues
4. Survey closes May 1, 2016
5. Click here to take the survey
13. Youth, Human and Civil Rights (YHCR) –Tina Miyataki
14. Institute – Dawn Raymond, Christopher Ho (incoming)
15. New Business
16. Upcoming Events
1. Excellence in Teaching Luncheon – May 1
2. Community Activities
1. Special Olympics – April 23
2. NALC Food Drive – May 14
1. Volunteers needed to assist at the HILO POST OFFICE
2. Starts at 2 pm
3. Wear covered shoes
17. UNISERV Report/SLL Training –Rae 
1. Anticipate announcements re: Pacing Guides
2. NEGOTIATIONS WORK GROUP seeking participants 
1. CTE and SpEd Content Areas
2. Looking for 25 interested volunteers to address contractual concerns
3. Hilo Chapter could spearhead the initiatives if we have involvement
4. Submit queries to Rae 
3. Teacher Appreciation Week
1. first week in May
4. See Bulletin Board for information:
1. Professional Development courses: Summer & Fall 2016
1. Course list also available at www.pd.hsta.org
2. 2016-2017 Calendar 
3. If you are not yet registered to vote, please complete wiki wiki Voter Registration
18. Next RA Meeting: May 19, 2016 (5:30 pm) at Keaau High School
1. Last meeting with Edwin as Hilo Chapter President 

We never know when we are creating a memory. . . FIGHTING FOR GREAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS...
YESTERDAY. . . TODAY. . . TOMORROW! A Child is More Than a Test Score. . . Put Keiki First… Thanks for all your help and support!