Welcome to the new Member Matters!
We hope you will enjoy the new look of the HSTA's e-newsletter which is published weekly during the school year and less frequently in June and July, while most of our members enjoy summer break.
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Phone bank, sign waving volunteers needed!
Gov. David Ige's re-election campaign has surged ahead of his opponent, according to the latest poll, but we need your help to spread the word and assure his victory in the primary election, which is less than a month away. Some voters have already begun receiving their mail-in ballots, so it's crucial we contact as many potential voters as possible to keep the momentum going.WHAT: HSTA phone bank for Gov. David IgeWHEN: Friday, July 20 and July 27, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.WHERE: Gov. Ige Re-election Headquarters1803 N King St., Honolulu, HI 96819Parking available at Farrington High School Free dinner for volunteers! Phones, call lists, scripts and instructions will also be provided. If you're not able to join us in the evening, how about Friday afternoon? Ige Sign waving volunteers are also needed this Friday, July 20 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Nimitz Highway and Alakawa Street in Iwilei. Free parking in the Nimitz Center complex which is home to Eagle Cafe. Wear your red HSTA shirt and bring family and friends.Ige Canvassing:
Saturday, July 21 [Contact: (Jade) jbutay@hotmail.com]
- (7:30-11 a.m.) (end time varies)—Manoa. Meet at Manoa Valley District Park (2721 Kaaipu Ave.) by the tennis courts to canvass for Gov. Ige. Use the entrance on Manoa Road.
Sunday, July 22 [Contact: (Jade) jbutay@hotmail.com]
- (7:30-11 a.m.) (end time varies)—Mililani. Meet at Maka’unulau Community Park (95-800 Makaunulau St.). The park entrance is on Kuahelani Ave. off Meheula Parkway.
Check here for a schedule of Ige events and opportunities to volunteer.
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West Hawaii sign waver alert: Senate candidate Dru Kanuha
Every Wednesday until Primary Election Day August 11, find us from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Kona on Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway at the merge just south of Henry Street. We'll have t-shirts to wear and signs to wave and take home. If you would like to join us, just come down! Shoot his campaign an email at info@drukanuha.com if you have any questions.
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Maui Chapter: Sign wave for HSTA-backed candidates leading up to Aug. 11 election
HSTA's Maui Chapter sign waves for all recommended candidates, from governor, LG to various State Senate and House candidates, Tuesdayafternoons from 4 to 5:45 p.m. at Kaahumanu Shopping Center, fronting Sears. See below for other sign waving dates for specific candidates.
Above: Members of the HSTA's Maui Chapter waved to motorists in support of State Sen. Josh Green, who has earned our recommendation in the lieutenant governor's race.
Maui Dr. Josh Green sign waving schedule
Friday, July 27, 4 to 6 p.m. in Waikapu – in front of the Tropical Plantation
Friday, Aug. 10, 4 to 6 p.m. at Haleakala Hwy. and Hana Hwy.
Maui: Tiare Lawrence sign waving schedule
Sign wave for Tiare Lawrence, who's running for Maui's State House District 12, every Friday until the primary election on August 11. Meet Friday mornings from 6:30 to 8 a.m. at the bottom of Haleakala Highway (airport side). Please wear aloha print clothes if possible, coffee and breakfast provided.
Maui: Terez Amato sign waving schedule
Sign wave for Terez Amato, who's running for Maui's State Senate District 6, the next few Thursday afternoons (July 27, Aug. 3 and 10) from 4 to 6 p.m. in front of the Lahaina Cannery Mall, by Safeway.
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Be sure to vote for these HSTA-recommended candidates; Register to vote and vote early in person or by mail!
This year more than ever, we need to assure that candidates who support public education and teachers get in office and stay there. Please be sure to register to vote and vote in the primary, Saturday, Aug. 11 and the general election, Tuesday, Nov. 6.
If you requested a mail-in ballot for the Aug. 11 primary, it should have arrived in your mailbox in the last couple of days or will be there soon.
HSTA's mailer listing the candidates we support in the primary arrived this week in members' home mailboxes. If you live on Maui, the HSTA mailer should have arrived Wednesday and Oahu residents should have received the mailer Thursday, with other islands getting them by the weekend.
Here's a list of HSTA-recommended candidates in all Hawaii primary races (You can scroll down to click on video links to the news conferences HSTA held to back Ige, Green and Campagna and hear HSTA's reasons for supporting each candidate.)
Read Civil Beat's Hawaii Election Guide 2018, with candidate information, Q and As, and more.
Need to register to vote? Click here.
For the first time ever, you will be able to register to vote at polling places this year, both at early voting sites or on Election Day.
You do not have to wait until Election Day to vote. You can vote at early walk-in voting sites managed by county clerks offices in each county or request a mail-in ballot.
Vote in person early from July 30 through Aug. 9
Click here to request a mail-in ballot by Aug. 4.
Find your polling place by entering your island and your address.
View what your ballot will look like by entering your precinct and your polling place here.
Election Day officials are recruited to assist voters, provide operational support, and ensure the integrity of the voting process. Hours and duties vary. They are paid a stipend for their work. Read more or sign up to work on elections here. |
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DOE sets up Kilauea eruption landing page
The Department of Education has created a landing page for updates and resources about the lava eruption on Hawaii Island. There you can find the latest developments about the lava flows and how they are affecting schools, students and staff. Find links and contact information for a variety of resources, from stress treatment and emergency preparedness to other health and safety issues.
Click here for the DOE's Kilauea eruption landing page.
Click here for a story about HSTA's efforts to publicize the plight of teachers made homeless by the lava. The story also has links to each teacher's GoFundMe appeal.
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Have college loans deferred or canceled!
The feds have designated the following subjects as teacher shortage areas, meaning Hawaii public school educators who teach these subjects could qualify to have their student loans deferred or canceled:
Career and Technical Education
Language Arts -- English
Mathematics
Science
Special Education
World Languages
World Languages -- Hawaiian
World Languages -- Hawaiian Immersion
Degrees not Debt is a student loan forgiveness workshop presented by NEA Member Benefits that focuses on how teachers who teach in "high impact schools" can get a portion of their Federal Loans forgiven. This workshop also covers the basics of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which applies to all full-time HSTA members who have federal Loans.
Save these dates for the next Degrees Not Debt workshops:
November 15 on Maui -- location, time, other details to be announced
November 16 on Oahu (Virtual) at HSTA HQ -- time, other details to be announced. The Oahu workshop will be available by via video conference to members statewide who register in advance.
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DOE announces new state and complex area leaders
The Department of education this week appointed new complex area superintendents for Pearl City-Waipahu, Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani and Campbell-Kapolei complexes, as well as an interim assistant superintendent in the Office of Student Support Services. Read more information here.
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When Hawaii voters approve the Constitutional Amendment in November to create a new funding stream for public schools, maybe teachers won't have to spend so much of their personal money on classroom supplies. Read/watch this TV news story in which two HSTA members talk about how much of their own money they spend to get their classrooms ready for students.
From KHON2: Teachers spend hundreds on supplies for their classrooms they are never reimbursed for.
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Target 15% off for teachers through Sunday
For the first time ever, Target is having a special event for Teachers! The Teacher Prep Event is from July 15 - July 21 the store is giving teachers 15% off on select classroom supplies in-store and online!
So what's part of the deal?
- Writing Supplies
- Notebooks, folders and binders
- Arts and Crafts
- Storage and Organization
- Disinfecting Wipes
- Facial Tissue
- Hand Sanitizer
- Food Storage Bags
Teachers looking to cash in on these savings need to verify their teaching status by visiting Target.com/teacherprep. It takes less than 30 seconds! All they need is their name, email, school and school's zip code. From there, they will get a one time promo code to use online (including Order Pick-Up) and a coupon for in-store purchases. If teachers weren't able to validate online but have a School ID on hand, they can use this backup scan sheet to help them get classroom ready!
Don't Forget!
Teachers can also save an extra 5% on this purchase by using their REDcard, score more deal with Cartwheel and get it all in one scan by using Wallet in the Target App!
Summer good time for retirement check up
Our NEA Retirement Specialists have had the pleasure to serve you, our valued teachers of HSTA, throughout the school year. We realize it can often be difficult to think about planning for retirement with a teacher’s schedule. Now that summer is here, we have compiled a list of Top 4 Reasons to Meet with an NEA Retirement Specialist:
1. You’ve had a challenging year, and now you’re wondering what your retirement options look like. Let us help you with your ERS retirement projections, Social Security, and investments.
2. The stock market has been on a roller coaster this year and you want someone to review your portfolio and risk tolerance.
3. You’re missing adult interaction.
4. Now that you’ve had a chance to decompress from the school year, you’re finally ready to set up an appointment.
If you relate to any of these reasons, please contact us at (808) 951-7185 and we would be happy to help you. Hope you are having a terrific summer! |
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