| HSTA settles grievance giving bonuses to hundreds of teachers
HSTA settled a statewide class grievance with the state Aug. 1, awarding lump sum payments of up to $2,000 to more than 300 public school teachers.
During 2015 re-opener negotiations, the HSTA and DOE agreed that tenured teachers and those who began probation before July 1, 2013 would receive a lump sum payment of $2,000 (full-time) or $1,000 (half-time). There were two contractual disputes over who was entitled to the lump sum payments: teachers on leave of absence without pay (LWOP) on October 5, 2015, affecting approximately 300 teachers and another roughly 30 teachers who were rated less-than-effective under the Educator Effectiveness System (EES). As a result, HSTA filed a class grievance against the state Department of Education in October 2015.
“This is a fair compromise that avoids time-consuming arbitration,” said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee. “We were glad to advocate for our members to ensure they receive the bonuses they are entitled to.”
The settlement provides that teachers are eligible for payment if they meet the following requirements: qualified teachers who were on LWOP shall receive the $2,000 lump sum payment upon their physical return to work from unpaid leave; teachers rated less than effective or marginal shall receive the $2,000 lump sum payment upon receiving an effective or highly effective rating for the 2015-16 school year. For processing of payments, the DOE will be given up to 60 days from the executed agreement (approximately by September 30, 2016), or within 60 days after a teacher physically returns from LWOP.
If you meet the above requirements and believe you may be eligible for a lump sum payment, contact the HSTA Negotiations Department at 808-833-2711.
Chapter RAs, executive board meeting dates set for new school year
HSTA chapter presidents throughout the state have set initial dates for RA and executive board meetings. Contact your chapter president to confirm the dates, times and locations. August 2016August 9: Hamakua RA August 9: Kauai EB August 9: Leeward EB August 11: Maui RA August 16: Honolulu RA August 16: Kauai RA August 16: Windward EB August 18: Central EB August 18: Kona EB August 22: Lanai EB August 23: Hilo RA August 23: Lanai RA August 23: Leeward RA August 24: Molokai EB August 25: Central RA August 25: Kona RA August 30: Molokai RA August 30: Windward RA September 2016September 6: Honolulu EB September 6: Kohala RA September 6: Leeward EB September 13: Hamakua RA September 13: Honolulu RA September 13: Kauai EB September 13: Windward EB September 20: Leeward RA September 20: Molokai RA September 22: Central EB September 22: Kona EB September 27: Hilo EB September 27: Kauai RA September 27: Windward RA September 29: Central RA September 29: Kona RA See RA/EB meeting dates for the rest of the school year here
NEA joins HSTA in backing Hanabusa for Congress
The National Education Association this week joined HSTA in recommending Colleen Hanabusa for election to the seat representing Hawaii’s 1stCongressional district in the U.S. House.
HSTA had originally recommended the late Mark Takai for re-election to the seat, but he pulled out of the race for health reasons on May 19.
After reviewing candidates’ records and interviewing several candidates, HSTA’s Board of Directors made the recommendation for Hanabusa, who has previously represented Hawaii in Congress.
The NEA announced it is also supporting her election this week.
“Colleen has been an effective advocate for public school teachers and students,” said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee. “She has a strong record of representing Hawaii in Congress previously and we know she will fight hard for our state in Washington, D.C. again.”
As an attorney, Hanabusa has also represented public school teachers in court. In June, she won a case invalidating a controversial state Ethics Commission ruling that had previously prohibited teachers from taking free educational trips when they chaperoned their students on those trips.
Free 3-PD credit course targeting SpEd teachers
HSTA is partnering with BetterLesson’s PersonalizedPD to provide Hawaii teachers with a three-year opportunity to grow as teacher leaders. Participating teachers will be matched with a personalized PD virtual coach with similar grade, subject backgrounds and together, they will develop a plan of action for the year. Coaches will meet with teachers every other week to support them with planning, instructional design and strategy implementation. Upon completion, teachers have the potential to become a HSTA PD Trainer.
Application Deadline: 9/16/16
Opportunity is open to:
● All special education teachers
● Tenured teachers who have taught for at least three years
● Teachers on all islands
● HSTA members
Virtual information session on Thursday, Aug. 11 at 3:30 p.m. HST.
Click here to RSVP for virtual info session on free PD course
Apply for the free PD course here
For more information, please contact Okello Carter at okello.carter@betterlesson.com.
Why you should speak out about ESSA at governor's task force meetings
After passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act in December 2015, Gov. David Ige created a task force to develop a “blueprint for educational transformation” in Hawaii. The task force is composed of nineteen members, only two of whom are teachers. There is one elementary school teacher and one secondary school teacher.
The Governor’s Task Force is hosting nine town halls between July 27 and Sept. 14 to get input from teachers, students, parents and community members.
For a list of the ESSA town halls and to register, click here.
Join us to share HSTA member ideas to improve public education such as:
TEACHER EMPOWERMENT
- Increase teacher autonomy – control over curriculum, instruction and assessment.
- Strengthen School-Community Based Management – more teacher voice in decision-making.
PROFESSIONAL, CERTIFIED AND LICENSED TEACHERS IN EVERY CLASSROOM
- This year, there will be more than 1,600 vacancies, and tens of thousands of students in Hawaii schools will not have a licensed and certified teacher.
- The task force is working on a long-term, visionary response to chronic, recurring teacher shortage crisis – MORE PAY, MORE RESPECT.
USEFUL AND SUPPORTIVE TEACHER EVALUATION
- Federal law NO LONGER requires that teacher evaluation be linked to student performance in any way, but every state will decide, which is why we need your input.
- Our teacher evaluation is STILL 50% student performance (SLOs) – seen by many as punitive and non-supportive.
LESS TESTING, MORE LEARNING
- Move away from a system that encourages teaching to the test and start teaching to the whole child.
- Allow teachers to be creative, innovative and work across disciplinary boundaries.
- Bring back the arts, social studies, Hawaiian Studies and physical education.
SCHOOLS OUR KEIKI DESERVE
- Let’s continue the collaborative discussion to create great public schools in Hawaii.
- We can help choose the school quality indicators that best measure equity of opportunity.
WHY ATTEND THE TOWN HALLS?
- Now is our chance to step up and say something. Do we want other people to make educational decisions for us or do we want teachers to have a say in the educational future of our state?
- Let's reclaim this conversation!
- Be sure to wear your red HSTA shirt to the town halls.
- Please also speak out in this survey
Please make time to show up and be heard at the upcoming ESSA meetings nearest you.
- Aug. 10, 6 to 8 p.m., Kalani High School, Oahu
- Aug. 17, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Kealakehe High School, Hawaii Island
- Aug. 24, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Waiakea High School, Hawaii Island
- Aug. 24., 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, Kauai
- Aug. 27, 1 to 3 p.m., Molokai High School, Molokai
- Sept. 7, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Maui High School, Maui
- Sept. 7, 6 to 8 p.m. Castle High School, Oahu
- Sept. 14., 6 to 8 p.m., Moanalua High School, Oahu
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