Member Matters: Legislative priorities survey; HTSB update; Know your rights about licensing fees; 21 hours and PD credit info; Free coffee Tuesday, 9-2-2016, posted 9-6-2016

Let us know your BOE, Legislature priorities  The HSTA Government Relations Committee wants your input for its 2017 legislative priorities.  The committee will use this feedback to craft its recommendations to the HSTA Board of Directors about HSTA priorities for the 2016-2017 Board of Education and 2017 legislative session. Take HSTA’s legislative priorities survey  The survey will close Sept.15, so please take a few minutes to answer questions as soon as you are able.   McDonald’s of Hawaii celebrates teacher appreciation by giving teachers free coffee in September When: Every Tuesday in September  What: McDonald's Restaurants of Hawaii honors teachers with "Teacher Appreciation Month" in September Where: All participating McDonald's Restaurants in Hawaii    Details: McDonald's Restaurants of Hawaii wants to thank teachers for all they do for our keiki. During the month of September, teachers will get a free medium cup of hot or iced McCafe® Royal Kona Blend every Tuesday at participating McDonald's locations in Hawaii. No purchase necessary Teachers must present their valid 2016 school ID upon ordering Limit one free cup of coffee per person, per visit Offer dates:  Tuesdays: Sept. 6, 13, 20 and 27 Offer times:  Entire day   Teacher licensing -- Hawaii Teacher Standards Board Know your rights The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board (HTSB) is trying to get the word out that large numbers of teachers are delinquent in either paying their licensing fees and/or have expired licenses. An HTSB license or permit is required by law for all public school teachers, school counselors and school librarians in Hawaii. The law also applies to teachers who are hired in an emergency capacity when there are no licensed teachers available.  Emergency hires must apply for an emergency hire permit each year and may be rehired for a year at a time up to three years while they work toward obtaining a license. It is each person’s responsibility to make sure their license or permit is current, and payment of the annual fee is part of maintaining an active license or permit. Hawaii law provides for a $500 penalty for any person teaching (including counselors and librarians) in a DOE or public charter school without the proper license or permit. Public school principals and administrators who knowingly employ them may be fined $500 per employee without an active license or permit. Fines will be assessed by HTSB on these deadlines.  The deadline this year to have the appropriate license or permit is Sept. 30, 2016 for those hired by the first school day of the fall semester and March 31, 2017 for those hired as of the first school day of the spring semester. Details on HTSB requirements can be found here If you have questions or concerns about licensing and permit issues, please contact Christina Simpson at HTSB via her emailChristina.Simpson@hawaii.gov.   Know Your Rights -- Licensing Fees The current HSTA contract language in Appendix XVI states that “the Employer shall pay to the Hawaii Teacher Standards Board license renewal fees for all tenured teachers, provided the teacher received a “satisfactory,” “effective,” or “highly effective” rating pursuant to Article VII, in the year preceding the year of renewal. (Page 126 contract) More info on licensing fees can be found on the HTSB website.     21 hours and PD credit info  At the end of last school year, HSTA clarified several questions from members about the 21 hours and professional development credits.  We are reposting this information at the request of our members. 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   Speak out for better schools at final 4 ESSA town halls Talk about commitment!  Hookele Elementary preschool special education teacher Natalie Hepting spent her birthday night at an Every Student Succeeds Act Town Hall meeting last month at Kalani High. And she brought her son Jordan-Deshawn, a 9th grader at Campbell High, to join her in speaking out for improvements in Hawaii public schools. Why would she spend part of her birthday at an ESSA meeting -- driving way across the island from her home in Ewa Beach to be there? "It is an opportunity to participate in the development of future education policy for our keiki," Natalie said. "Every stakeholder gives input, every side gets heard." It's important that the task force hears compelling stories from teachers like Natalie who are in the best position to know what needs to change at the Department of Education. Please make time to show up and be heard at the final upcoming ESSA Town Halls nearest you. Wednesday, Sept. 7, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Maui High School, Maui Wednesday, Sept. 7, 6 to 8 p.m. Castle High School, Oahu Thursday, Sept. 8, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Lanai High and Elementary School, Lanai Wednesday, Sept. 14, 6 to 8 p.m., Moanalua High School, Oahu For an updated town hall list and to register, click here. These ESSA talking points can be used by teachers to prepare to speak at the task force meetings throughout the state that end Sept. 14.   Contract advisory: Educator Effectiveness System   While the HSTA acknowledges that Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi has the final say on the design and implementation of the Educator Effectiveness System, we have serious concerns and do not agree with all the superintendent’s EES changes for this school year. Specifically, the HSTA does not support the change that requires an unsatisfactory rating on a teacher’s observation/working portfolio or core professionalism component to result in an overall unsatisfactory rating on the entire teacher practice rating. We believe that each section of teacher practice should be rated individually and calculated accordingly. Click here for an important EES update with FAQs Read the EES Manual for 2016-2017 here. Watch the DOE's EES video here    Celebrate Peace Day with events on Hawaii Island and Oahu Sept. 24 HSTA's Youth, Human and Civil Rights Committee encourages teachers to celebrate the 2016 International Day of Peace by promoting peace education within their classrooms and conducting a peace education activity with their students. This year's theme for Peace Day, celebrated worldwide on Sept. 21, is The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace. More information on the UN's Peace Day events • Peace Poster Contest Students and teachers from around the globe will be urged to express their own interpretation of this year’s Peace Poster Contest theme: “Peace = Future.” For more on the Peace Poster Contest, click here. Hawaii Peace Day Events • Island of Oahu, Pearl City Sat., Sept. 24, 2016 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. This year, Peace Day Hawaii will be held on the grounds of the Urban Garden Center, 955 Kamehameha Hwy., Pearl City, Oahu. For more info on the Oahu Peace Day event, click here. • Island of Hawaii, Honokaa Peace Day Parade Sat., Sept. 24, 2016 4 p.m. Mamane Street; entertainment to include marching bands, taiko drummers, hula, bon dancers, cirque performers and multicultural music and entertainment. Peace Day Festival, Honokaa Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 5 - 7 p.m. For more info on Big Island Peace Day events, click here.   Benefits of Belonging  New educators, come find out how HSTA supports you!   Get connected to:  Our HSTA community and member benefits HSTA VEBA Trust insurance plans and protection  Our HYPE (Hawaii Young Professional Educators) program for new educators Professional development courses.  Benefits of Belonging meetings will be held: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 3:30 p.m. Location: Hookele Elementary School, 511 Kunehi St., Kapolei, Oahu Sign Up for Kapolei Benefits of Belonging Tuesday, Sept. 20, 4 p.m. Location: HSTA Headquarters, 1200 Ala Kapuna St., Honolulu, Oahu Sign Up for HSTA/Red Hill Benefits of Belonging Friday, Sept. 23, 5:30 p.m. Location: Sodexo, UH Hilo Dining Hall, Hilo, Hawaii Island Sign Up: Email Debra Borges atdeblani29@yahoo.com Monday, Sept. 26, 4 p.m. Location: Mililani High School HQuad, 95-1200 Meheula Parkway, Mililani, Oahu Sign Up for the Mililani Benefits of Belonging Tuesday, Sept. 27, 4 p.m. Location: McKinley High School Library, 1039 South King St., Honolulu, Oahu Sign Up for the McKinley Benefits of Belonging    2016 fall retirement filing schedule  Thinking of retiring?  Schedule your ERS counseling appointment now. ERS recommends you attend a pre-retirement informational session at least one year prior to your anticipated retirement date. Contact ERS approximately six to seven months before your retirement date to schedule a counseling appointment at the ERS office.  For more information contact (808) 586-1735. Visit the ERS website for retirement planning information. To retire Oct. 1, you must file by Sept. 1 To retire Nov. 1, you must file by Sept. 30 To retire Dec. 1, you must file by Nov. 1 To retire Dec. 31, you must file by Dec. 1