Senate overwhelmingly advances HSTA’s ConAm; Various school projects in House budget draft
The HSTA’s Constitutional Amendment, which would allow voters to decide on a dedicated funding source for public education, passed the State Senate in a third and final reading overwhelmingly Tuesday, 24 to 1.
“The schools need our support to create 21st century learning environments,” said Senate Education Chair Michelle Kidani (D—Mililani Town, Waikele, Village Park, Royal Kunia) in a speech supporting the measure on the Senate floor. “There can be no better investment in Hawaii’s future than a fully funded public education system that supports the talent and aspirations of our keiki. Let the voters decide if they have the will to commit to this important education initiative.”
Mahalo to the more than 3,330 teachers who have submitted testimony in favor of the Constitutional Amendment proposal! And thanks to our community partners, including many parents, who have also voiced their support for our ConAm effort. Your voice is being heard!
HSTA's first Social Justice Summit a success
The Youth, Human and Civil Rights Committee sponsored its first-ever Social Justice Summit at HSTA's Oahu headquarters March 3, with breakout sessions on interesting and controversial topics, two of which were broadcast live on our Facebook page.
Radford High teacher Bo Frank presented breakout sessions on how teachers can create inclusive classrooms for LGBT students. He spoke about his own family's journey with daughter Sakoda, who made the transition from living as a boy to being a girl halfway through kindergarten. Frank's breakout racked up more than 3,500 views on Facebook and more than 500 people watched the video replay.
Rebecca Leibowitz, an immigration attorney from the New Mexico Law Center (left) spoke about undocumented youth, while Katherine Xian (right) from the Pacific Alliance to Stop Slavery, discussed human trafficking.
Entertainer Augie T (left) and his daughter Mahealani (center) were the keynote speakers featured in a Facebook live, talking about anti-bullying efforts with their nonprofit B.R.A.V.E. Hawaii, which stands for Be Respectful and Value Everyone. Mara Pike (right), from Mental Health America Hawaii, discussed anti-bullying strategies during breakout sessions.
Mahalo to members of HSTA's YHCR Committee for putting on a fascinating summit. L to R: Diane Abraham, a teacher at Molokai Middle who is YHCR chair, and committee members Emilio Macalalad from Molokai High/Molokai Chapter (center) and Roy Hannu from Mililani High/Central Chapter (right).
Teaching license expiring? Renew now so the state pays for your renewal if you qualify
If this is the year your teacher license expires, you must renew by June 30 to assure that the state pays your $54 renewal fee. Otherwise, you have to cover the cost. The Hawaii Teacher Standards Board needs an up-to-date email address from you to remind you about upcoming deadlines and other important developments. Read HTSB reminders here. Just need to pay your license/permit fee? If you don’t qualify yet for the DOE fee payment, go online and pay your fee before June 30 to avoid a late fee.
EUTF's 2018 rates; New webinars added; HSTA hosts FB live
The Hawaii Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (more commonly known as EUTF) provides medical, chiropractic, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to all eligible State of Hawaii, City and County employees and retirees. Each year, the EUTF holds an open enrollment period allowing for employees to modify their plan enrollments. Please see this chart for the EUTF and HSTA VB Health Benefit Premium Rates effective July 1, 2018. It is in every member’s best interest to analyze the health plans available and decide which plan(s) best meet member's and their family’s health care needs, taking cost and coverage into consideration. To help you with your decision, EUTF holds open enrollment informational sessions. HSTA understands how difficult it is for our members to attend these sessions as most of them happen during the work day. So at our request, the EUTF added three webinar briefings after school from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on April 4, 5, 18 and 25. See the link below for the full schedule and webinar access instructions. See 2018 EUTF Open Enrollment seminar times and locations here. HSTA has also invited EUTF to participate in a Facebook live presentation on HSTA's Facebook account March 27 at 5 p.m. See 2018 EUTF Open Enrollment seminar times and locations here.
DOE spotlights prominent public school grads in appreciation video
Restaurant owner Alan Wong, Hawaii Chamber of Commerce CEO Sherry Menor-McNamara and Hawaiian Electric President Alan Oshima are featured in a short video produced by the Department of Education in which they talk about the excellent teachers they learned from and the quality education they received in Hawaii's public school system.
From Hawaii News Now: Hee: Allow schools to decide on arming security officersFrom Education Week: Teacher unions see momentum build with West Virginia strikeFrom Washington Monthly: Why are Parkland students so articulate? Because they
were taught civics in middle school
From The Atlantic.com: Why DeVos's Parkland visit was a failureFrom The Washington Post: Betsy DeVos used Shutterstock picture to attack U.S. schools. Teachers aren't having it.From The HIll: Abstinence-only education making a comeback under Trump
Next school year's Institute dates set
The HSTA has set the Teacher Institute dates for next February. They are: Monday, Feb. 11 -- Oahu Tuesday, Feb. 12 -- Hawaii Island Wednesday, Feb. 13 -- Kauai Thursday, Feb. 14 -- Molokai Friday, Feb. 15 -- Maui/Lanai
HSTA contract advisory: Education administration credits can now be used towards reclassification
The Hawaii State Teachers Association is pleased to announce we recently came to agreement with the Hawaii Department of Education regarding a pilot program allowing for bargaining unit 05 employees to use education administration credits towards reclassification.
The agreement reached modifies the following section of the HSTA collective bargaining agreement (contract) for school years 2017-2018, 2018-2019, and 2019-2020. The modification deletes the words “excluding education administration” for the period of July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2020. The change means teachers may use education administration credits towards reclassification, within the guidelines provided.
The DOE memo about this pilot program can be found here.
The guidelines related to utilizing education administration courses for reclassification can be found here.
The guidelines provide details on the types of courses that qualify for this pilot program as well as the procedures to process the courses for approval and submit for reclassification. It is very important that teachers follow all of the procedures for administration approval, submission of forms and final submission of credits to the reclassification office. Failure to follow the procedures and/or late submission of credits will result in denial of credits being available for reclassification.
Read the complete contract advisory on educational administration credits here
HawaiiUSA credit union stipend available: Apply now
The 2018 Stipend Application Form is now available on HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union's website for any interested DOE Professional or Para-Professionals. www.hawaiiusafcu.com/stipendAny member you know who has taken/completed any classes that helped further their career development may apply. Postmarked deadline to apply is March 16, 2018. Proceeds are derived from the Annual HawaiiUSA FCU Golf Tournament. For more details, they may also contact Hawaii DOE PDE3: (Kevin Okazaki (808) 441-8327)
 Maui Financial Education WorkshopGetting Started (Designed for Millennials) Thursday, March 294 p.m. (Early Dinner) Wailuku Elementary School Library 355 South High StreetWailuku, HI 96793 Please RSVP by March 19 to https://goo.gl/g6pucZ Kauai Financial Education Workshops Getting Started (Designed for Millennials) Tuesday, March 274:00 pm (meal provided) Wilcox Elementary School Library 4319 Hardy Street Lihue, HI 96766 Please RSVP by March 19 https://goo.gl/DKyQ2VAre You on Track to Retire? Tuesday, April 174 p.m. (early dinner) Ho`okipa Café at Puakea Golf Course 4150 Nuhou StreetLihue, HI 96766 Please RSVP by April 6 https://goo.gl/A1wJZK Oahu: Are You on Track to Retire Workshops Tuesday, March 20 11 a.m. (Lunch) Prince Waikiki 100 Holomoana StreetHonolulu, HI 96815 Please RSVP by March 9 to https://goo.gl/U6AUKxTuesday, April 10 6 p.m. (Dinner) Waikele Country Club 94-200 Paioa PlaceWaipahu,HI 96797 Please RSVP by March 30 to https://goo.gl/PDduRr
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