HSTA recommends Hanabusa for Congress, posted 6-27-2016

HSTA recommends Colleen Hanabusa in U.S. House race  The Hawaii State Teachers Association Board of Directors has voted unanimously to recommend Colleen Hanabusa in the race for Hawaii’s 1st congressional district, representing a large part of Oahu in the U.S. House. “Colleen has a long record of public service and has always been a strong advocate for public schools,” said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee. “Most recently, Colleen successfully represented the public school children of Hawaii in the courtroom, successfully arguing to restore the ability of teachers to escort their students on educational trips.” The primary election will be held Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. Polling places across the state will open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Election Day. To register to vote, find your polling place and other election information, go tohttp://elections.hawaii.gov/.

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 Add us to your address book

HSTA wins in court: Teacher travel reinstated, 6-17-2016; posted 6-20-2016

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE To my fellow educators, Today I want to share the good news that a Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of HSTA late this morning, throwing out the state Ethics Commission's opinion that prohibited teacher travel on educational trips. This means teachers can resume the worthwhile practice of taking our students on educational travel. I know this year was difficult on many of you because of how passionately you care about our students and want to give them many learning experiences outside the classroom. This year many community members, parents and legislators publicly voiced their support and appreciation for how teachers dedicate their time to our students by taking them on these trips. This is a victory for teachers, but most important, for Hawaii’s public school students. I want to especially thank HSTA attorney Colleen Hanabusa, who was the force in winning this court decision. Hanabusa argued that the Ethics Commission erred in not going through a rule-making process before issuing both an advisory opinion and guidance memo saying that teachers violated the ethics code by accepting “free trips” to accompany classes on educational travel. Judge Rhonda Nishimura ruled both the opinion and the memo are null and void. The judge also found the commission’s decision was subject to rule making, because it affected a broad group of teachers, students and others. More than 31 class trips were canceled because of the ethics opinion and many others were not planned out for fear of violating the ethics code. Today’s decision does not change the $400,000 that the Legislature appropriated for teacher travel. These funds will still be available for chaperones to take trips. Once the DOE has decided the process of applying for this money, we will share those details with you. Aloha, Corey Rosenlee HSTA President Read the entire Schools Our Keiki Deserve here.

Member Matters: 21 hours, PD credit info explained; NBCT update; HSTA commends DOE transgender guidelines; Members attend state Democratic Convention, posted 6-9-2016

21 hours and PD credit info, deadlines explained HSTA recently clarified several questions from members about the 21 hours and professional development credits. Generally, the form that outlines the use of the 21 hours is due to complex area superintendents at the start of the school year. Questions about how the PD credits work, when the credits will be posted and how the DOE handles awarding credits to charter school teachers will be answered here: 21 hours and PD credits FAQS   National Board Certified Teachers update, FAQs  HSTA has received some inquiries about National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) and the state law that governs the bonuses they receive, so we wanted to provide you with an update. Many of you may have been tracking the changes in the state law last year which changed some of the categories for which the additional $5,000 is paid to teachers. This payment is on top of the regular $5,000 NBCT teachers receive for holding NBCT status. We have compiled an update on what the law says about NBCT, who qualifies for an additional $5,000 for schools in focus, priority or superintendent zones, and how those various bonuses are paid.The information is available at this link:National Board Certified teachers FAQs   HSTA commends DOE for transgender student guidelines HSTA Tuesday applauded the Department of Education for coming up with guidelines that take effect next school year to protect the rights and address the needs of transgender students. The DOE’s draft guidance makes clear that schools should recognize and respect students’ gender identities and grant them access to whichever restroom or locker room they feel most comfortable using. The draft guidelines also said students should be able to dress according to their gender identity and schools should address transgender students by their preferred name and pronoun, regardless of their legal name and gender. “We commend the DOE and the BOE for setting forth, in state policy, an agenda that recognizes gender diversity throughout Hawaii’s public school system,” said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee in testimony before the Board of Education Tuesday. “Our schools must be welcoming for all keiki, regardless of their race, socio-economic status, sexual orientation or gender identity.” Read more here: HSTA commends DOE for transgender student guidelines   Emergency hire teachers rules explained  HSTA has received a few inquiries from emergency hire teachers regarding rules affecting their ability to be reemployed next year, so we have investigated their questions with the DOE to provide the following answers.   The ability for emergency hires to continue to teach in the state without a State Approved Teacher Education Program (SATEP) and passing the Praxis is dependent on the licensing board issuing them an ongoing emergency license.   As of SY 2015-2016, the DOE is no longer accepting a Praxis admission ticket or examinee score report for Code 5 teachers within their first year of employment as a form of demonstrating active pursuit towards licensure. Now, Code 5 teachers must submit documentation from a SATEP "confirming [their] application has been submitted or indicating that [they] are currently enrolled in, have been accepted into, or have provisional/conditional acceptance into a SATEP." Fore more information click on this link: Emergency hire teacher rules explained    HSTA members attend state Democratic Convention We would like to give our wholehearted thanks to HSTA members from across the state who were delegates at the Hawaii Democratic Convention over the Memorial Day weekend. Raina Whiting from Hawaii Island was elected as a delegate to the national Democratic Convention, Juli Patten was elected as an alternate for the Presidential Electorate, and HSTA Vice President Justin Hughey of Maui, who attended as a super delegate, was re-elected to the Education Caucus as the male representative on the Democrats’ State Central Committee while also serving on the Resolutions Committee. Other teacher delegates included Mireille Ellsworth and Shannon Kaaa from the Big Island, Rebecca Wimmer from Maui and from Oahu, Laverne Moore, Marcus Nakama and Lisa Rodrigues. Meeting at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, the Democratic convention approved a resolution written by HSTA to urge state lawmakers to increase public school funding. To read more about HSTA participants in the convention, click here: HSTA members attend state Democratic Convention   21 hours and PD credits FAQS National Board Certified Teachers FAQs HSTA commends DOE for transgender student guidelines Emergency hire teacher rules explained  HSTA members attend state Democratic Convention

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 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Summer Activities, posted 6-9-2016 Sign-waving; Mark Nakashima Community Mtgs; Hilo Triathlon; Kai Kahele Activities

Email post from: Edwin Kagawa

Date: 6-9-2016

Re: Summer Activities, Hilo Chapter

Hilo Chapter Executive Board, 2015-2016 Head Faculty Reps and Staff:

Hello All!  

Hope you are all enjoying your summer vacation.  Currently,  we have the following activities planned for the summer:

Hilo Chapter sign-waving

We will be sign-waving to support our recommended  candidates on Tuesdays this summer along Kamehameha Avenue in front of the Kamehameha Statue, Hilo Bayfront from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. (6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19).  Please wear red HSTA t-shirts.  

Mark Nakashima:  Legislative Post-Session Community Meetings

Representative Mark Nakashima our endorsed candidate for House District #1 will be holding community meetings  – Wednesday, 6/15 at 6:00 p.m. at Kulaimano Center in Pepeekeo.  Monday, 6/20 at 6:00 p.m. at Laupahoehoe Public Library, Humanities Room.  Wednesday, 6/22 at 6:00 p.m. at De Silva Elem. School Cafeteria.  Thursday, 6/23 at 6:00 p.m. at North Hawaii Education and Research Center (NHERC) in Honokaa.  Saturday, 7/30 at 11:00 a.m. at Paauilo Mauka Kalopa Community Assn. General Meeting in Kalopa State Park.  If you can attend, please come to support and wear any HSTA shirt.

Hilo Triathlon

Volunteers are needed for body marking:  Saturday, 7/9 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Moku O’la Room. Sunday, 7/10 from 5:00 – 7:00 a.m. at James Kealoha Beach Park.  Wear red HSTA shirt.  Please contact Rae Yamanaka if you are able to help. 

 ryamanaka@hsta.org

Kai Kahele Activities

Phone Banking

Senator Kai Kahele is our endorsed candidate for Senate District #1 and he is asking for help on 7/5, 7/6, 7/7, 7/11, 7/12 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at his campaign HQ in Keaukaha (next to Verna's)

Mass-Sign-waving

Senator Kahele will be having a mass sign-wav ing on July 13^th at 4:30 p.m. in front of the Kamehameha Statue, Hilo Bayfront.

Fundraiser

Senator Kahele is having a fundraiser on July 14^th at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale.  If you can help at the registration/Sign-in table from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. please let us know.

Please check emails regularly.  Our endorsed candidates are planning their campaigns and activities may be forthcoming.

Have a safe and fun Summer!

Thank You

Edwin Kagawa, President

HSTA Hilo Chapter  

FW: Hilo Triathlon: July 9-10, 2016: REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS!!!!!

To: WIS Faculty

From: R. Yamanaka

Re: FW: Hilo Triathlon: July 9-10, 2016: REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS!!!!!

Date: posted 6-2-2016, email

THIS MESSAGE IS GOING OUT BCC TO ALL SLLS.  PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR TEACHERS.

Hi all,

We are looking for volunteers to help with body marking for the Hilo Triathlon on July 9^th and 10^th.

July 9^th from 10-5pm at the Moku O’la room at Hilo Hawaiian

July 10^th from 5-7am at James Kealoha Beach Park

Please let me know if you are available on any of these dates and what times you are able to be there.  Wear your red HSTA shirt.

I also need your t-shirt size so that you can receive a volunteer race shirt.

Hope to hear back from you by June 17^th.  Please pass this message onto your faculty members.  If you have friends who wish to volunteer I can get them an HSTA shirt to wear.

Thanks,

rae

Rae A.Yamanaka

HSTA Hilo UniServ Director

Hilo Lagoon Centre

101 Aupuni St., ste.219

Hilo, HI  96720

Phone:  (808)935-9301 office; (808)365-6979 cell

Fax:  (808) 969-7492

Email:  ryamanaka@hsta.org

HSTA negotiated the first personal leave provision for public employees in1972.