Posted 11-9-2018 (Dated 11-9-2018) Negotiations survey results released; Know-your-rights fact sheets on leaves, parent classroom visits and more; HSTA joins Marriott boycott for strike

Negotiation team heads to the table Dec. 4    HSTA has begun negotiations for the mid-term re-opener of the contract, which is limited to only these two areas: Employer-Union Health Benefits Trust Fund (EUTF) – That involves increases in the employer health premium contributions. 21 hours of job-embedded professional development – September member survey showed strong support to continue, but many would like modifications to the current system.  If no extension is negotiated, the 21 hours will not continue in school years 2019-2021.  The Employer and HSTA have agreed to hold their first at-the-table negotiations session Dec. 4. The primary topic of discussion at that session will be the 21 hours of job-embedded professional development. The HSTA team will share results from our recent member survey as well as feedback from members gathered from our Negotiations Committee.  Read Survey Results Here The survey results are available on HSTA's member-only pages on its website, HSTA.org. You must be an active HSTA member and have a registered web account to view those files. Use your member number on the membership card you received in the mail this fall and Register for our website here. We must verify your HSTA membership before giving you web access, so you will not receive instant member access. The Employer and HSTA have agreed to exchange formal proposals in January; this provides HSTA more time to gather feedback from members and both sides to wait on EUTF premium rates (which won’t be available until January) to assure more accurate discussions. The parties need to settle by mid-April to assure Legislative funding for any increases in the cost of the collective bargaining agreement.  Any changes will go into effect after July 1, 2019. In November and December, we are asking our Negotiations Committee to gather additional information and feedback about the 21 hours through their monthly representative assembly meetings and respective faculty representatives at the school level. Please check with your head faculty and/or Negotiations Committee member for more information.  Negotiations Committee members and their chapters are listed here:  Paul Daugherty – Chair (Team) Diane Mokuau - Vice-Chair, Molokai (Team) Leilani Ngumezi - Central Pauahi Kazunaga - Central Jayne Heinze - Hamakua Aaron Kubo - Hilo Jenne Olayon - Hilo Shannon Kaaa – Honolulu (Team) Thomas Schemel - Honolulu Stephanie Blakemore - Kauai Elizabeth Bauer - Kohala Jennifer Murphioka - Kona Douglas Weidman - Lanai Angela Ricketts - Leeward Tammy Shaw - Leeward Lisa Morrison – Maui (Team) Freddie Perez - Maui Bea DeRego - Windward Kana Naipo - Windward If you have feedback or would like to send a message of support to the Negotiations team, email them at negotiations@hsta.org.

Learn about DOE sick, personal leave policy, parent classroom visits and more HSTA has produced new, easy-to-read one- and two-page fact sheets explaining your rights about several important issues: Sick leave Personal leave Leave sharing Death or critical illness leaves Parent classroom visits Teacher discipline Personnel files Baby and adoption tips The links above are to PDFs in HSTA's member-only pages on its website, HSTA.org. You must be an active HSTA member and have a registered web account to view those files. Use your member number on the membership card you received in the mail this fall and Register for our website here.  While these Know Your Rights fact sheets are not meant to replace consultation with an HSTA UniServ Director or one of your faculty representatives, they will give you a quick overview of each issue, along with contract citations so you can read material in more detail. If you can think of other Know Your Rights topics that you'd like to know more about in similar fact sheet form, let us know at info@hsta.org. Mahalo!

HSTA joins Marriott boycott as hotel strike drags on    Teachers union will not use Marriott facilities until strike is settled Hawaii State Teachers Association President Corey Rosenlee has written a letter to Kyo-ya Hotels and Resorts management in Hawaii, expressing HSTA members’ concern about the current state of negotiations between Marriott Hotels and the thousands of UNITE HERE Local 5 members who work at Marriott Hotels across the country.   “Because of our concern, we have joined the ‘One Job Should Be Enough’ campaign.  By signing on to this campaign, we are committed to not using any Marriott Hotel  because of the strike and we are encouraging our members to do the same,” Rosenlee wrote. “Our organization cares deeply for workers across all industries and stands with them to improve their wages, health benefits, workplace discrimination protections, retirement security, and job site health and safety,” Rosenlee added. Read more from this HSTA.org story.                                 Degrees Not Debt - student loan forgiveness seminars on Maui, online (Oahu) Maui November 15 4-6 p.m. Baldwin High Multipurpose Room Oahu and Virtually November 16 4 – 5:30 p.m. (in-person check in starts at 3:30 p.m.) HSTA Office and virtually The latest NEA Member Benefit research shows that recent graduates are leaving schools with greater debt. This presentation focuses on how teachers who teach in "high impact schools" can get a portion of their federal loans forgiven. In addition, we will cover the basics of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which applies to all full-time HSTA members who have federal loans. Basic financial planning tips on how to live with debt, save for retirement despite paying off debt and the importance of having a financial plan will also be covered. Please RSVP by November 10: Maui (November 15, 2018):  https://mauidegreesnotdebt.eventbrite.com Oahu and Virtually (November 16, 2018): https://dndnov16.eventbrite.com HSTA looks for members negatively impacted by DOE’s recent PD changes Take this survey so we can detail how our members have been harmed   The Hawaii State Teachers Association continues to pursue the issues and problems that have arisen since the transition of the responsibility for the DOE’s professional development (PDE3) course program from the DOE’s Office of Talent Management (previously the Office of Human Resources) to the Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Services (OCISS).  On Friday, Oct. 19, HSTA Executive Director Wilbert Holck and Deputy Executive Director Andrea Eshelman met with Interim Assistant Superintendent for OCISS Donna Lum Kagawa. They discussed our concerns about the program and addressed the letter we sent to Superintendent Christina Kishimoto on Sept. 12.   Link to earlier HSTA web story about PD delays, problems   At the Oct. 19 meeting, the department acknowledged the need to review the PDE3 course program and invited HSTA to participate in the newly established DOE Professional Development PDE3 workgroup. HSTA has been told this workgroup will review the current program and procedures for all courses offered (credit and non-credit) on PDE3.  HSTA was told that the workgroup is to have a recommendation for changes presented no later than March 2019.  While HSTA continues to try to address this issue from a variety of different ways, including working with the department on the workgroup, we are not ruling out other  options. So we need more information from our membership, including but not limited to gathering specific details from those who have experienced trouble with course availability, portfolio approvals and receiving credit for completed courses.   We are looking for instructors or course participants who have had problems with the DOE PDE3 program and have been negatively impacted during the 2017-2018 or 2018-2019 school years. If you have been affected, please take some time to fill out our survey. Please complete the survey by Monday, Nov. 26.  Hawaii Island teachers: Save the date   Call for Presenters/Presentations   (Deadline: Nov. 28)     HAMLE 2019 Middle Level Educator of the Year Award (Deadline: Dec. 31) For more information: Email:  HAMLEBoard808@gmail.com Website: http://hamle808.weebly.com/ Communications specialist position open The HSTA is looking for a communications specialist to join its team that communicates with members and the public. The person hired for the post will be responsible for gathering and writing web stories, oversight of HSTA's social media channels and its weekly Member Matters e-newsletter as well as media relations. Experience working in daily news media and/or familiarity with Hawaii news organizations and reporters is strongly preferred. The communications specialist will report to HSTA Director of Communications Keoki Kerr and work in the Communications Department, along with HSTA Media Specialist Chris Schubert. Read the position description and apply by Nov. 12.   Popular HSTA Links: Look for raises in your Nov. 5 paycheck DOE's 2018-2019 official school calendar DOE's 2019-2020 official school calendar DOE's 2020-2021 official school calendar Classroom visit memo Please see this UPDATED MARCH 2018 chart for the EUTF and HSTA VB Health Benefit Premium Rates effective July 1, 2018. Hawaii Teacher Standards Board Read HTSB reminders here. Read the full story about pay hikes, supplemental pay and stipends available for teachers. Click here to look at the salary schedules. HSTA members can find a PDF searchable copy of the new 2017-2021 HSTA Collective Bargaining Agreement (contract) at this link. More information about the 21 hours of job-embedded professional development can be found in these DOE FAQs. Guidelines for Reclassification of Teachers

Posted 11-3-2018 (Dated 11-2-2018) Tuesday is Election Day :Where to vote, who to support, how to help in the final days; Problems with DOE PD? Let us know how you've been harmed

Find out where your sign waving support is needed across the state (HILO) Friday, November 2 (4-6 p.m.) Lt. Gov. Candidate Dr. Josh Green Signwaving. Honolulu. Punchbowl St. and Vineyard Blvd.  (4–6 p.m.) State Senator Matt LoPresti Signwaving. Ewa. In front of Queens Medical Center West on Ft. Weaver Rd. (4:30-6 p.m.) Gov. David Ige Signwaving. Aiea.  Sign-waving in front of Pearl Ridge Elementary School, 98-940 Moanalua Rd. (before Stew and Rice).  Please enjoy “Stew.Rice.Ige.Green” after sign-waving!   (4:00-6 p.m.) Gov. David Ige Signwaving. Kaneohe.  Likelike Hwy./ Kamehameha Hwy. intersection (Four Corners).   (4:30-6 p.m.) Gov. David Ige Signwaving. East Honolulu. Ainakoa Ave./Kalanianaole Hwy. intersection; Alternative A is Waieli St. /Kalanianaole Hwy. intersection (next signal intersection); Alternative B is Waiholo St./Kalanianaole Hwy. intersection (after Kalani H.S. intersection).   Saturday, November 3: early walk-in voting ends (10 a.m.-1 p.m.) and/or (2-5 p.m.) State Senator Matt LoPresti canvassing options. Ewa. He needs people for any and all shifts. If volunteers can only come for an hour, that’s fine. Meet at Sen. LoPresti's home, 91-1411 Keoneula Blvd., #2106, Ewa Beach. Bring sunscreen and a hat - Ewa is hot! Sunday, November 4 (11 a.m.- 5 p.m.) State Senator Matt LoPresti canvassing options. Ewa. He needs people for any and all shifts. If volunteers can only come for an hour, that’s fine. Meet at Sen. Lopresti's home, 91-1411 Keoneula Blvd., #2106, Ewa Beach. Bring sunscreen and a hat - Ewa is hot! Monday, November 5 (4-7:30 p.m.) Democratic Grand Rally at Mooheau Band stand at Hilo Bayfront. Sign waving before the event and help at the Democratic tent as well as at the tents for Ige/Green and Mazie Hirono. (4-6 p.m.) Lt. Gov. Candidate Dr. Josh Green Signwaving. Honolulu. Punchbowl St. and Vineyard Blvd.  (3:30-5:30 p.m.) State Senator Maile Shimabukuro Signwaving. Honokai Hale. (4–6 p.m.) State Senator Matt LoPresti Signwaving. Ewa. In front of Queens Medical Center West on Ft. Weaver Rd. (6:45-8 p.m.) Gov. David Ige Signwaving. East Honolulu.  Waialae Iki Park. (West bound).   (4:30-6 p.m.) Gov. David Ige Signwaving. East Honolulu.  Ainakoa Ave./Kalanianaole Hwy. intersection.  (4:30-5:45 p.m.) Gov. David Ige and Lt. Gov. Candidate Dr. Josh Green Signwaving. Kahului/Maui. By the Sears store. Tuesday, November 6, GENERAL ELECTION DAY Sign-waving wherever you choose (please remember that you cannot be closer than 200 feet from a polling site and its appurtenances, e.g., parking lots) (6:45- ?? a.m.) Gov. David Ige Signwaving. East Honolulu. Waialae Iki Park. (West bound).  (7a.m.–4 p.m.) State Senator Maile Shimabukuro Signwaving. Nanakuli. Across from Haleakala Avenue on Farrington Hwy. (7a.m.–12 p.m.) State Senator Maile Shimabukuro Signwaving. Mahaka. At Makaha Elementary, with State Rep. Cedric Gates. (All Day) State Senator Matt LoPresti Signwaving. Ewa. In front of Queens Medical Center West on Ft. Weaver Rd.  (6-10 p.m.) General Election results night. Hilo/Hawaii Island. ILWU Hall on Lanikaula St., downtown Hilo. Wednesday, November 7, MAHALO Signwaving Mahalo sign-waving wherever you choose (4:30-5:30 p.m.) Mahalo sign waving for all HSTA-recommended candidates. Hilo/Hawaii Island. Kamehameha Ave. by the King Kamehameha statue at the Hilo Bayfront. (4:30-6 p.m.) Gov. David Ige Signwaving. East Honolulu. Ainakoa Ave./Kalanianaole Hwy. intersection (East bound & West bound); Alternative Ais Waieli St. /Kalanianaole Hwy. intersection (next signal intersection); Alternative B is Waiholo St./Kalanianaole Hwy. intersection (after Kalani High intersection).  (3:30-6 p.m.) Gov. David Ige Signwaving. Nanakuli.  Zablan Beach Park fronting Farrington Hwy.   Thursday, November 8, MAHALO Signwaving Mahalo sign-waving wherever you choose (4:30-6 p.m.) Gov. David Ige Signwaving.  East Honolulu.  Ainakoa Ave./Kalanianaole Hwy. intersection (East bound); Alternative A is Waieli St./Kalanianaole Hwy. intersection (next signal intersection); Alternative B is Waiholo St./Kalanianaole Hwy. intersection (after Kalani H.S. intersection).   Want to sign wave and support HSTA-recommended candidates? Check out this political action schedule! Everyone knows that voting is important, but sometimes we have a hard time figuring out who to vote for. Not to worry! When you click the link below, you'll be asked to enter your address or city and within seconds you'll see HSTA-recommended candidates who support public education in your area. Be sure to vote in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 6! Click here! (Then share the link with family and friends who might need help deciding who to vote for.) Want to sign wave and support HSTA-recommended candidates? Check out this political action schedule!                  Vote NO on the Con Con.                                        NEA Webinar: Top 5 English Language Learners’ Strategies in the Classroom Nov. 8, 8-9 p.m. EST  Learn research-based ELL strategies to support ELL learning and achievement on explicit skill instruction, student-directed activities, instructional strategies that enhance understanding and opportunities for students to practice. Register at http://neatoday.org/schoolme-webinar/fall-2018-webinar-schedule/ Also check out resources and recordings of past NEA Webinars: September:  Working together: Building an effective teacher-paraeducator team October:  Preparing for my parent-teacher conferences Kona Chapter members, sign up today! Learn about free, discounted benefits plus get a free meal               Degrees Not Debt - student loan forgiveness seminars on Maui, online (Oahu) Maui November 15 4-6 p.m. Baldwin High Multipurpose Room Oahu and Virtually November 16 4 – 5:30 p.m. (in-person check in starts at 3:30 p.m.) HSTA Office and virtually The latest NEA Member Benefit research shows that recent graduates are leaving schools with greater debt. This presentation focuses on how teachers who teach in "high impact schools" can get a portion of their federal loans forgiven. In addition, we will cover the basics of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which applies to all full-time HSTA members who have federal loans. Basic financial planning tips on how to live with debt, save for retirement despite paying off debt and the importance of having a financial plan will also be covered. Please RSVP by November 10: Maui (November 15, 2018):  https://mauidegreesnotdebt.eventbrite.com Oahu and Virtually (November 16, 2018): https://dndnov16.eventbrite.com HSTA looks for members negatively impacted by DOE’s recent PD changes Take this survey so we can detail how our members have been harmed The Hawaii State Teachers Association continues to pursue the issues and problems that have arisen since the transition of the responsibility for the DOE’s professional development (PDE3) course program from the DOE’s Office of Talent Management (previously the Office of Human Resources) to the Office of Curriculum, Instruction, and Student Services (OCISS).  On Friday, Oct. 19, HSTA Executive Director Wilbert Holck and Deputy Executive Director Andrea Eshelman met with Interim Assistant Superintendent for OCISS Donna Lum Kagawa. They discussed our concerns about the program and addressed the letter we sent to Superintendent Christina Kishimoto on Sept. 12.   Link to earlier HSTA web story about PD delays, problems   At the Oct. 19 meeting, the department acknowledged the need to review the PDE3 course program and invited HSTA to participate in the newly established DOE Professional Development PDE3 workgroup. HSTA has been told this workgroup will review the current program and procedures for all courses offered (credit and non-credit) on PDE3.  HSTA was told that the workgroup is to have a recommendation for changes presented no later than March 2019.  While HSTA continues to try to address this issue from a variety of different ways, including working with the department on the workgroup, we are not ruling out other  options. So we need more information from our membership, including but not limited to gathering specific details from those who have experienced trouble with course availability, portfolio approvals and receiving credit for completed courses.   We are looking for instructors or course participants who have had problems with the DOE PDE3 program and have been negatively impacted during the 2017-2018 or 2018-2019 school years. If you have been affected, please take some time to fill out our survey. Please complete the survey by Monday, Nov. 26.  Con Am spotlighted school funding crisis HSTA saved hundreds of thousands when high court blocked Con Am vote You may have seen news coverage this week reporting that HSTA spent $521,126 campaigning for the constitutional amendment, but since the state Supreme Court blocked a Con Am vote last month, we will end up spending roughly half that amount, or only about $250,000. After the Supreme Court ruling on Oct. 19, the HSTA was able to quickly stop digital and TV advertising in favor of the Con Am, saving a significant amount of money for other efforts in the future. The $521,126 figure in state Campaign Spending Commission reports includes funds earmarked for future TV and online advertising that was canceled, so about half that money will be unspent by or refunded to the HSTA. “Every dime of that was worth it,” said HSTA Executive Director Wilbert Holck. “We created a lot of awareness about the need to fund our schools better and pay our teachers more.” “The constitutional amendment started a great conversation about how do we improve public schools in Hawaii,” said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee at a news conference Monday. “While HSTA is disappointed in the Supreme Court decision, we must continue this conversation, and the conversation must lead to results. The stakes are too high.” The opposition, bankrolled by luxury developers, real estate interests and well-heeled business people, had already outspent the HSTA by a wide margin, reporting $725,780 in spending through Oct. 22. Unfortunately, HSTA could not compete with that kind of money, and because of the high cost of advertising, we could not start our television commercials until the final three weeks of the campaign, when absentee ballots were mailed out. Since voters typically make up their minds about ballot proposals at the last minute, we decided to spend the bulk of our funds on television in the final three weeks leading up to Election Day. When the state’s high court invalidated the Con Am on Oct. 19, HSTA’s television commercials had only been running for two days. Over the coming weeks, the HSTA will collect tens of thousands of dollars in refunds from television stations for the canceled commercials that were going to run through Election Day, Nov. 6. Opponents of the Con Am, including a political action committee funded mainly by realtors and the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, reported raising $1.2 million to try to defeat the amendment. Because the proposal was invalidated by the high court after ballots were printed and absentee ballots went out in the mail, the results will not be counted or released. Read our previous story with the HSTA president, governor, superintendent, BOE chair and others talking about what's next after Con Am Kahuku High advocates for better funding Mahalo to our activist teachers at Kahuku High (above) on Oahu who re-purposed their constitutional amendment signs (below) and rallied before school Friday morning to call for increased public school funding. Teachers: Apply now for $1.4M in computer and school design grants The Hawaii Department of Education is offering $425,000 in computer science grants and another $1million in innovative school design grants, with an application deadline of Nov. 9. Computer Science grants will provide awards between $15,000 and $75,000 to K-8 consortia. To further support innovation in public schools, HIDOE has dedicated $1 million in state general funds to support the second cycle of School Design Innovation Grants. School Design Innovation Grants will provide HIDOE schools with awards between $10,000 and $250,000 to pilot highly innovative programs. Read more details about the grant program in this HSTA.org web story. Access Innovation Grant Overview, Packet, and Timeline here: goo.gl/j9v7gj Submit your completed application online that includes answers to the application questionnaire, scope of work chart, and budget spreadsheet. Deadline extended to 4 p.m. HST, Friday, Nov. 9. Questions should be directed to innovation@notes.K12.hi.us. Look for raises in your Nov. 5 paycheck Educators received a 3.5% pay hike in the second quarter Because of the HSTA's collective work to push for a strong contract, public school teachers will see significant increases in pay this school year. Effective the first day of the second quarter, educators will receive a three-and-a-half percent (3.5%) across-the-board pay raise. Monthly earnings will increase by at least $138 for 10-month, full-time licensed teachers. Click here for charts to help teachers find out how much more money they will see each month. That pay increase will show up starting with your Nov. 5 paychecks. HSTA membership ID cards look like this Your new membership cards should have arrived in your home mailbox recently. The cards include your name, your HSTA and NEA membership number and the year you originally became a member. Use these cards for discounts and specials that require an HSTA membership card. And use the membership number to register for our new website.

Communications specialist position open The HSTA is looking for a communications specialist to join its team that communicates with members and the public. The person hired for the post will be responsible for gathering and writing web stories, oversight of HSTA's social media channels and its weekly Member Matters e-newsletter as well as media relations. Experience working in daily news media and/or familiarity with Hawaii news organizations and reporters is strongly preferred. The communications specialist will report to HSTA Director of Communications Keoki Kerr and work in the Communications Department, along with HSTA Media Specialist Chris Schubert. Read the position description and apply by Nov. 12. Mark your calendar for Teacher Institute Day  Teacher Institute Day began in the 1960s as a day for teachers to meet and work on school-related issues. In 1972, HSTA negotiated this important time into the contract to guard against it being taken away.  In the early years, the Association used Teacher Institute Day to inform teachers about negotiations, lobbying, political action and grievance processing.  As time progressed, HSTA introduced workshops to help teachers with their jobs and personal concerns such as retirement and health care. Teacher Institute Day is the single largest professional development day on the school calendar, covering a variety of topics – for professional and personal growth – and featuring noteworthy keynote speakers.  In 2017, the focus of Institute Day was to inform teachers about negotiations and their contract.  Thousands of teachers united and rallied and made their voices heard at the State Capitol. As a result of strong collective action across the state that spring, the HSTA negotiated a nearly 14 percent pay hike over four years. As a professional day, it is a workday and teacher attendance is expected. Here are the dates by island:                Monday, Feb. 11, 2019, Oahu                            Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019, Hawaii Island                    Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, Kauai                            Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019, Molokai                     Friday, Feb. 15, 2019, Maui and Lanai         Popular HSTA Links: Look for raises in your Nov. 5 paycheck DOE's 2018-2019 official school calendar DOE's 2019-2020 official school calendar DOE's 2020-2021 official school calendar Classroom visit memo Please see this UPDATED MARCH 2018 chart for the EUTF and HSTA VB Health Benefit Premium Rates effective July 1, 2018. Hawaii Teacher Standards Board Read HTSB reminders here. Read the full story about pay hikes, supplemental pay and stipends available for teachers. Click here to look at the salary schedules. HSTA members can find a PDF searchable copy of the new 2017-2021 HSTA Collective Bargaining Agreement (contract) at this link. More information about the 21 hours of job-embedded professional development can be found in these DOE FAQs. Guidelines for Reclassification of Teachers