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.
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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
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