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