April 4, 2001: A Date We All Remember

A Look Back... Hawaii Teachers Go On Strike; Schools Close for 19 Days Fifteen years ago today, 13,000 teachers took the bravest step. With steely resolve and fire in their bellies, they left their classrooms, picked up their signs, and walked the picket line. It wasn’t something they wanted to do. It was something they had to do. The main issue was pay, but there were other teaching conditions that caused teachers concern. It was also a matter of respecting teachers — and the state had not indicated they had any respect for their employees. Public opinion polls showed that 90% of Hawaii’s residents supported teachers in their fight. And picket lines were visited daily by parents, students, area residents and businesses to show their support. Restaurants offered special discounts (and sometimes free meals) to any teacher wearing a strike t-shirt. In all, teachers walked the picket line for 19 days. Almost three weeks without pay and benefits proved to be a hardship for everyone, but it stopped no one. Every teacher held strong and united, which showed the state that we meant business and would not settle for anything less than their best offer. Thank you to the teachers who walked the line 15 years ago. Your solidarity was beauty to behold and paved the way for all that we can do today. Copyright © 2016 Hawaii State Teachers Association, All rights reserved. Mahalo for your engagement. Our mailing address is: Hawaii State Teachers Association 1200 Ala Kapuna Street Honolulu, HI 96819

Clarification of 4-1-2016 post re: April 4 1:25 p.m. Testimony due on Special Ed to the BOE, posted 4-1-2016

To: WIS Colleagues
From: Debbie Anderson

Aloha, All,

        Wanted to clarify that in a great hurry to catch interested parties before 2 p.m. Friday, I'd forwarded messages received only about half an hour earlier from a couple of other colleagues. To differentiate better, I've identified below more details.

        As a courtesy, here's what I explained to our SpEd Dept. over the weekend: 

        A call from the BOE for open public testimony provides an opportunity for DOE teachers to communicate with the BOE who are non-educators about current issues, and can be considered a professional responsibility. We have made progress recently by getting the Committee On Weights (COW) to be more inclusive of Special Education voice. Our BOE representative Brian De Lima is open especially to information we can provide to him about Special Education, as his public experiences involve acting to protect the interests of his daughter with a disability at Hilo High.

        The BOE Student Achievement Committee is interested in interventions which help improve outcomes for all students. For our ELs, a more inclusive model shows greater gains over a model of too much "pull-out."

        As you can see from my forwarding the message below (see previous post April 4 1:25 p.m. Testimony due on Special Ed to the BOE, posted 4-1-2016, http://hstajgrabar.blogspot.com/), other schools may have issues different from our school's experiences. Individualized education plans determine student placement on a continuum which should begin with the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE).

        Teachers need to understand that they are not protected from personal liability if they act in violation of student Civil Rights. Perhaps sharing your concerns could help us make progress in improving our equality of education for all. 

         Given that the U.S. Department of Education Friday released draft regulations on the two areas of the ESSA law http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/essa/index.html, I'd like us to be able to access more training on UDL for differentiation based on the following:

 "Be developed, to the extent practicable, using the principles of universal design for learning. Under this section, the term “universal design for learning”means a scientifically valid framework for guiding educational practice that--

(A) Provides flexibility in the ways information is presented, in the ways students respond or demonstrate knowledge 31 and skills, and in the ways students are engaged; and

(B) Reduces barriers in instruction, provides appropriate accommodations, supports, and challenges, and maintains high achievement expectations for all students, including students with disabilities and students who are English learners." 

As every teacher can be included as a teacher of students with disabilities or EL, my testimony addresses a request for greater access to UDL.

        Please consider writing up your experiences. If you need assistance with sending testimony in on Monday morning, I'll be available to help at X239.

Thanks for sharing,

Debbie 

Q4: HSTA Hot news; prep to negotiate new contract, email 3-29-2016, posted 4-1-2016

Aloha, WIS Faculty,

         The HSTA “working conditions” survey deadline has been extended to MONDAY, APRIL 4!
 In preparation for bargaining a new contract, your Negotiations Committee is conducting a very important HSTA Membership survey focusing on “working conditions.” Future surveys will ask about teacher evaluation, and compensation/benefits. Take the survey
            Does y/our voice matter? Some excellent news on the Union front to start your Quarter Four:

            On Monday, March 28, 2016, the state Senate Education Committee approved Resolution 155  calling on the Board of Education to abolish the current EES system and create something new, after 85 pages of teacher testimony was submitted compared to Superintendent Matayoshi's 1 page. http://www.civilbeat.com/2016/03/will-hawaiis-teacher-evaluation-system-get-scrapped/

            On the Nationwide front, the Freidrichs case is dead officially, meaning that all teachers continue to pay dues for benefits received and non-members may opt out of the political portion:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/30/us/politics/friedrichs-v-california-teachers-association-union-fees-supreme-court-ruling.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=1

             Debbie Anderson

Last Call to Take Part in Working/Teaching Conditions Survey, deadline extended to Monday, April 4! posted 4-01-2016

Deadline Extended Negotiations Survey on Teaching and Working Conditions To provide teachers every opportunity to participate in the current negotiations survey, the deadline has been extended to Monday, April 4. Don't delay, click the link and give your input today.  The results of the survey will be used to shape the upcoming bargaining package. A new survey will be posted next week.  Take the Survey Current HSTA contract (requires login to HSTA Members Only Website)

Copyright © 2016 Hawaii State Teachers Association, All rights reserved. Mahalo for your engagement. Our mailing address is: Hawaii State Teachers Association 1200 Ala Kapuna Street Honolulu, HI 96819

April 4 1:25 p.m. Testimony due on Special Ed to the BOE, posted 4-1-2016

Date: Fri, Apr 1, 2016 at 1:26 PM
Subject: Special Ed, BOE

To: WIS Colleagues

Forwarded by: Debbie Anderson
Written by: Justin Hughey, HSTA Vice President

Aloha,
Here is your chance to let the powers that be know what is really going on in your schools regarding SPED.
In particular, the BOE wants to hear about inclusion programs!
I know that at our school there seems to be frequent misuse of the program which results in students ending up in an inclusion setting while their IEP does not prescribe it.
Please pass this on to "anyone" who you feel has appropriate experiences with the shortcomings in this arena and encourage them to help improve things.

Note that your writing becomes public, to which you agree after submitting testimony.

Here is the notice: The topic is inclusion. Patricia called me today and said they blocked off 9:00 - 11:30 am just for sped issues but put it under the umbrella of inclusion to try and come away with something tangible. She said you don't have to link your testimony to inclusion. It can be on anything sped related. 

Here is the notice of meeting and how to submit your testimony

April 5, 2016 Student Achievement Committee

    C.        Presentation on understanding the Comprehensive Student Support System from a special education perspective

    D.        Presentation by the University of Hawaii College of Education, Special Education Department on special education inclusion nationwide and statewide

     E.        Presentation on special education inclusion in the Department of Education  

Have a Merrie weekend,

Debbie 

A Message from HSTA President Corey Rosenlee on Employee Rights, posted 3-30-2016

Teachers are deeply committed to the success of every student. View this email in your browser Dear Colleagues, It was a good day for unions and workers across the United States.  In Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association the Supreme Court rendered a tied, 4-4, decision. When the Supreme Court is evenly split on a case, the ruling in the lower case stands. In this instance the appeals court had earlier ruled in favor of the California Teachers Association and against the appellants.  The core of this case lies in the fact that ten California teachers wanted the union to represent them in negotiations, but did not feel they should have to pay union dues for those services. In the Washington Post NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia stated, “The U.S. Supreme Court today rejected a political ploy to silence public employees like teachers, school-bus drivers, cafeteria workers, higher-education faculty and other educators to work together to shape their profession. In Friedrichs, the court saw through the political attacks on the workplace rights of teachers, educators and other public employees. This decision recognizes that stripping public employees of their voices in the workplace is not what our country needs.” It was a victory, but it does not end here. There are other cases in the federal court system that are trying to erode union and workers’ rights. In recent years several states have been attacked by foes and lost collective bargaining. In those states both salaries and workers’ rights have diminished. We must keep our guard up.  Together we are a formidable force. Together, we, the Hawaii State Teachers Association, can do great work for Hawaii’s public schools.  Aloha, Corey Rosenlee HSTA President   HSTA:  United in the pursuit of excellence for Hawaii’s public schools. Copyright © 2016 Hawaii State Teachers Association, All rights reserved. Mahalo for your engagement. Our mailing address is: Hawaii State Teachers Association 1200 Ala Kapuna Street Honolulu, HI 96819

HSTA Welcomes Keoki Kerr to Staff as Communications Specialist, posted 3-24-2016

We are proud to announce that veteran reporter Keoki Kerr will join the HSTA staff as communications specialist. He will oversee media relations and communications with HSTA’s 13,500 members. His appointment is effective April 15. A lifelong journalist who began working in radio while a junior in high school, his career spans 30 years in the news business. Since 2012, Kerr has been an investigative reporter at Hawaii News Now where he concentrates on government and politics. Prior to that, he served as a government reporter and fill-in anchor at KITV for 21 years. Kerr has been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, earning 21 first-place awards in government, business, investigative and breaking news reporting in recent years. He also received a national award from the Associated Press TV and Radio Association for ongoing coverage. Kerr is an accomplished vocalist and has performed in operas, musicals and revues at Hawaii Opera Theatre, Manoa Valley Theatre and the Army Community Theatre. For more than 15 years, he has served as a co-artistic director and performer in the Society of Professional Journalists’ political satire fundraiser, the Gridiron Show. Kerr also volunteers his time as a vocal coach at Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center. He writes and emcees programs for various educational, nonprofit and professional association fundraisers, awards ceremonies and other events.  Born and raised in Hawaii, Kerr received his bachelor of arts in government with a concentration in U.S. politics from Hamilton College in New York. Please help us to welcome him on board.   Keiki Kerr is HSTA's new Communications Specialist.

Copyright © 2016 Hawaii State Teachers Association, All rights reserved. Mahalo for your engagement. Our mailing address is: Hawaii State Teachers Association 1200 Ala Kapuna Street Honolulu, HI 96819

Direct Contract Negotiations: Take the Committee Survey, posted 3-24-2016

Please Take the Survey to Make Your Voice Heard

Aloha HSTA Members,

Your HSTA teacher contract expires on June 30, 2017. In preparation for bargaining a new contract, your Negotiations Committee is conducting a very important HSTA Membership survey focusing on “working conditions.”  Future surveys will ask about teacher evaluation, and compensation/benefits. The “working conditions” survey ends on March 31^st.

Take the survey

Also, a new pdf fillable bargaining proposal form was created. It allows you to submit contract proposals directly to your Chapter Negotiations Committee Member. Their email address can be found on the form.

Download the bargaining proposal form

Should you have questions about the form, please email your Chapter Negotiations Committee Member.

Mahalo!
HSTA Negotiations Committee

HSTA and NEA Recommend Hillary Clinton for US President, posted 3-23-2016

Hillary Clinton is the best choice for US public schools After a lengthy process that included nationwide member surveys, candidate interviews, and a thorough review of the candidates’ positions on issues of importance to educators, the NEA and HSTA confidently recommend Hillary Clinton to be the next United States President. “Clinton is a strong leader who will do what is best for America’s students. For more than four decades, Clinton has fought to make sure all children have a fair opportunity to succeed regardless of their ZIP code,” Said NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia. “Clinton will continue to advocate on behalf of students, educators and working families because she understands the road to a stronger U.S. economy starts in America’s public schools.” Teachers are strongly encouraged to attend the caucus in their area on Saturday, March 24 at 1:00pm, to show their support for Hillary Clinton. Clinton on the issues that matter to educators On Testing:  Hillary Clinton supports reducing the role of standarized tests in public education and supports NEA’s push to create an opportunity dashboard understanding the multiple measures that we must address and monitor to truly close the achievement gap.  On Equity: Clinton is committed to providing equal opportunity to have access to arts education, school nurses, librarians, counselors, and funding so all students can succeed.  Early Childhood Education: Hillary Clinton would put a heavy emphasis on pre-K/early education. She recently offered a proposal on early childhood education that endorses universal pre-K and would double the funding for Head Start and the Early Head Start Partnership grant program while cutting taxes to ease the burden of child care costs on families.  Frequently asked questions What is NEA’s process for selecting a recommended candidate?  To be considered for a recommendation, a candidate had to complete a questionnaire and sit for an in-person, videotaped interview with NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia (NEA members can view the interviews here) The questionnaires were sent to all viable presidential candidates and included Republicans, Democrats and third-party candidates. The only presidential candidates to complete this process were former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, former Governor Martin O’Malley (D-Maryland), and US Senator Bernard “Bernie” Sanders (I-Vermont) Why did NEA/HSTA not recommend a Republican candidate? No Republicans asked for NEA’s recommendation Why not wait until the General Election to recommend a candidate? Candidates need early support from groups like the NEA to make it over and through the myriad obstacles and challenges they face on the campaign trail. When elected, candidates remain loyal to those who showed early support. In 2008 NEA did not endorse a primary candidate and was ignored when it came to selecting Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. If you remember, Sec. Duncan’s reign created Race to the Top and teacher evaluations tied to test scores. We need a President who will listen and involve teachers in the decision-making process. Says Secretary Clinton, “You can see where I have been and where I will be, and I’ve already said that I will not make any policies or important decisions about education without literally having teachers in the room and listening to the advice and the ideas that you have to help me be a better President for education.”  How do I vote in the upcoming caucus? Voting is on Saturday, March 26, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. Caucus officials recommend arriving early as latecomers may not be able to vote. You can register as a Democrat on the day of voting or you can register ahead of time using the link below. Find your precinct here Register as a Democrat Copyright © 2016 Hawaii State Teachers Association, All rights reserved. Mahalo for your engagement. Our mailing address is: Hawaii State Teachers Association 1200 Ala Kapuna Street Honolulu, HI 96819

Member Matters, posted 3-14-2016

Negotiations Survey Now Underway PLEASE TAKE SURVEY – MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! Your HSTA teacher contract expires on June 30, 2017.  In preparation for bargaining a new contract, your Negotiations Committee is conducting a very important HSTA Membership survey focusing on “working conditions.”  Future surveys will ask about teacher evaluation, and compensation/benefits.  The “working conditions” survey begins today, and ends on March 31st. Take the survey   State Delegates to NEA RA Revealed HSTA members voted to send 15 members to the NEA Representative Assembly as state delegates. Another 15 were named alternates. View the election results Learn about the NEA RA   Start Planning for Next Year Teacher Institute Days Set for 2017 Oahu:  Monday, February 13, 2017 Molokai: Tuedsay, February 14, 2017 Maui/Lanai: Wednesday, February 15, 2017 Big Island: Thursday, February 16, 2017 Kauai: Friday, February 17, 2017