WIS's Teacher of the Year, posted 3-8-2017

Congratulations to WIS's Teacher of the Year for SY 2016-2017

DANE  INOUYE

Let's celebrate this great educator at the 

Teacher of the Year Luncheon

Nani Mau Gardens

Sunday, May 21st

11 am - 3 pm

Tickets can be purchased from Joy Grabar
r.s.v.p. asap!
 $25.00 adults and $17.00 children (5-11 years old)
HSTA covers the cost for TOY honoree and retirees.

#HawaiiTeachersUnited: next steps, posted 3-8-2017

To: WIS Colleagues
Re: Updates from #HawaiiTeachersUnited
From: Joy Grabar
==>post removed by J. Grabar on 3-11-2017<==

On Tue, Mar 7, 2017 at 6:53 PM, Debbie Anderson <debbievida@gmail.com> wrote:

Joy, please share a celebration of today' successes:

Our "ConAm" passed the Senate today. Now headed to the House. This evening the Hawaii State BOE just voted to support HSTA's Constitutional Amendment (ConAm) heading to voters to support education better by increasing non-resident property taxes. Typically property taxes go to the counties which do NOT fund their schools; school funding from only the State general fund has been getting too far a short stick for much too long a time. EVERYONE BENEFITS from stronger graduates, a better workforce cycling into our community growth. Mahalo for sign-waving - we'll need our community to vote in support of the future our keiki deserve!

Thank you to the 34 teachers who were present at WIS's Tuesday, 3-7-2017 WALK-IN, posted 3-7-2017

To: WIS Colleagues

Re: Today's (Tuesday) Sign-waving event

Date: 3-7-2017

From: Joy Grabar

Thank you for everyone's participation in Tuesday's WALK-IN event! 34 teachers were present, and we look forward to more red bodies next tuesday! 

FYI: There were also many students who were ready to stand with us teachers, but admin prevented their efforts, citing safety concerns. According to R. Yamanaka, however, students should be allowed to stand with the teachers regarding this issue, so I will investigate this matter and update you asap.

__________

Updates from R. Yamanaka 
Re: Tuesday Sign-waving
Date: 3-7-2017

Yea!  Hilo chapter comes through again!  Amazing pictures of sign wavings at various schools.  Wonderful turnout of teachers, students, parents, retirees, school staff and admin! 

1. Keep the signs for optional sign wavings the rest of this month on Tuesdays.  
2. Stay tuned for a mass sign waving at specified sites in the afternoon during the first week in April.
3. Keep wearing the RED HSTA shirts every Tuesday
4. No new HSTA shirts left on Oahu, I have a few that I am filling the existing orders (not all sizes are available).  Will let you know if more new shirts are ordered.  I do have the regular RED HSTA shirts if you want those.
5. Please thank all your teachers, admin., staff, students, parents and community members for their support.

 

Good work everyone!  Please be sure that all your teachers are receiving the Members Matters and other HSTA communications.  If they are not, please have them send me their personal email address so I can be sure that we have the correct one on file.

 

I was able to drive by the following schools this morning and saw their enthusiastic sign wavings:  Waiakeawaena, Waiakea Elem, Waiakea Inter, Waiakea High, Hilo Inter, Hilo High, Hawaii District Office Hilo/Waiakea, Hilo Union, and Connections. 

 

Mahalo to all who participated!!!

 

#HawaiiTeachersUnited!!!!

TUESDAY AM, WEAR RED AND MEET IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL OFFICE

Hello--
For Tuesday, March 7:
Please wear RED.
Meet in front of the office to sign wave along Puainako.
We have signs.
The purpose is to promote public awareness about education--specifically our teacher contract.
See you there.
Aloha,
Joy Grabar

Details about Tuesday, March 7 AM Walk-In, posted 3-2-2017

To: WIS Colleagues

From: Joy Grabar

Date: 3-2-12017

Re: HSTA events for Tuesday, March 7 and until our contract is renewed!

This is a summary of the School Leader Lowdown, a special email bulletin for HSTA's school level leaders, chapter presidents, and board members. This document contains updates and information for union events statewide.

Tuesday, March 7 Day of Action

Goals:

• wear red
• morning sign waving at each school for 15-30 minutes before school starts
• gather all teachers in a common area in front of the school for a group photo, and participation check-in
• walk in to school as a group just before the start of the work day. Feel free to chant as you enter
• Testimony, oral and written, for presentation at the BOE meeting that evening

Why are we doing this? 

1. The state (BOE, governor, and superintendent) needs to prioritize retaining quality, experienced teachers. But the state is not taking the negotiations process seriously by:

• Not bringing all team members to the table including their chief negotiator and governor's representative
• Not engaging in any significant way in discussions of our proposals, even non-cost items
• Not being available to bargain on a timely basis--30 days between sessions is not timely

2. There is a teacher shortage crisis -- and the problem is getting worse.

3. The state's current offer, made Jan. 19, 2017 of a 1% lump sum payment (bonus) in October of 2017 and 2018 is not adequate nor fair. It amounts to an average of about $550 per teacher per year, which is not enough to offset anticipated increasing health care costs and not enough to help attract and retain teachers.

Who should participate:

• Faculty members
• Interested parents, students, and community members

Highest participation wins kudos and calories!

• The top ten schools with the highest participation by percentage of members will receive special treats for their faculty and be highlighted on HSTA.org and Facebook page.

Sign waving advice

• Be sure to remain on public sidewalks; do not block roadways or driveways.
• Don't bunch up; space out volunteers for a better visual effect.
• Always smile, even if drivers frown or make obscene gestures.
• If you are close enough to drivers and their windows are open, say, "Mahalo!"

What should we chant?

Leaders in regular type; group in bold:

1) WHO'S GOT THE POWER?  WE GOT THE POWER.

WHAT KIND OF POWER?     UNION POWER!!!

2)  HO HO, HEY HEY

H-S-T-A IS HERE TO STAY!

3)  NO, NO, NO WAY

A TINY BONUS IS NOT O-K!

4) WE'RE TIRED, WE'RE SPENT

AND ONE PERCENT WON'T PAY THE RENT!

5) 1, 2, 3, 4

STUDENTS ARE WHO WE STAND FOR

5, 6, 7, 8

FAIR CONTRACT FROM THE STATE

6) WE'VE GOT GUTS AND WE'VE GOT NERVE

TO STAND FOR WHAT OUR KEIKI DESERVE

BOE testimony the night of March 7

• All islands: Write and submit testimony to the BOE asking for a fair contract at its March 7 night meeting.

T-SHIRTS

If you did not receive a hsta t-shirt, there are still some available. 

Let Joy Grabar know and a shirt will be delivered to you.

This Blog:

Please subscribe to this blog in order to receive updates and information regarding hsta. As you may know, teachers are not allowed to utilize lotus notes for hsta-related communication; therefore, your subscription to this blog helps your School Level Leaders (Joy, Debbie, Kim, Randall, Chad, and Wendy) with dissemination of information and details about what's happening. We appreciate your efforts to stay informed, and be involved. ALOHA!

TUESDAY, MARCH 7 WALK IN at WIS, message from Hilo Chapter President, 3-2-2017

To: WIS FACULTY
From: J. Grabar
Posted 3-2-2017

Hello, Colleagues!

HSTA t-shirts will be delivered as soon as I have them.
Please wear your shirt on Tuesdays, starting on Tuesday, March 7 for the HSTA WALK IN event.

We will gather in front of our school to demonstrate our unity in support of teachers and a fair contract.

Aloha,
Joy Grabar

Message from Hilo Chapter President, Dawn Raymond:

Hilo Chapter  President's Message Aloha Colleagues, Many thanks to all of you who attended Hilo Chapter Institute Day and voted on February 16. Some members from the Hamakua and Kona Chapters joined the Hilo Chapter members at Kea’au High School. There were over 900 Unit 5 members present on that day. There will be a statewide HSTA activity on March 7. Please wear red on that day and sign wave in the morning in front of your school, take a group photo and walk in together before the start of the work day. Text landscape/horizontal photos(s) at original or large size to: 365-6979. And be sure to tell us what school the photos are from. HSTA is also encouraging all teachers to write testimony to the Board of Education (BOE). Notices and talking points will be sent via Member Matters emails when testimonies are needed for various issues. Our next Representative Assembly will be held April 18 at Kea’au High School library at 5 p.m. Here's a quick video from some of your Hilo Chapter leaders. You make them feel sky high! I wish all of you a great and restful spring break. Dawn Kiyoko Kainoa Raymond HSTA Hilo Chapter President

March 7 Walk In

TO: WIS Faculty
From R. Yamanaka
Posted by J. Grabar
Re: March 7 "Walk In"

THIS MESSAGE IS GOING OUT BCC TO ALL EXBD, CORE ORGANIZERS AND SLLS.

(Please note the attachments and due dates for reports)

Hi all,

Thanks to all who attended last night’s RA and picked up your t-shirt orders and signs.  Many thanks to those of you who volunteered to deliver shirts and signs to those schools who were not able to make it.

I need you to do the following:

1. Inform all your teachers about the March 7^th sign wavings, picture taking and walk in (refer to the 2/28/17 #HawaiiTeachersUnited – Call to Action handout from the RA last night.
2. Send me the projected numbers for sign waving participants and BOE written testimonies by March 3^rd.  Email: ryamanaka@hsta.org; Fax:  969-7492; cell:  365-6979
3. Check in rosters will be emailed to each head rep. this week.  Please use the roster to check in your participants and send the roster back to me ASAP on March 7^th.
4. Send the pictures and videos to me ASAP on March 7^th.
5. Send any BOE testimonies to me by noon on March 7^th.

After the March 7^th sign wavings, please continue to sign wave before and after school every Tuesday if possible.  We need to keep our visibility ongoing throughout the negotiations period and to continue to keep the pressure on the Employer.

• Wear RED every Tuesday and wear the HSTA shirts when you are out in the community. 
• Use the talking points in the weekly Members Matters and the School Leader Lowdowns when writing testimonies and speaking with the public. 
• Take pictures of your staff wearing RED and keep sending them in to me.

Shirts and signs:

If you need more shirts and signs, please let me know. 

Thanks,

Rae

Rae A.Yamanaka

HSTA Hilo UniServ Director

Hilo Lagoon Centre

101 Aupuni St., ste.219

Hilo, HI  96720

Phone:  (808)935-9301 office; (808)365-6979 cell

Fax:  (808) 969-7492

Email:  ryamanaka@hsta.org

An Injury to One is an Injury to ALL!

Constitutional Amendment update, 3-1-2017

To: WIS Faculty
Re: Constitutional Amendment update
From: Debbie Anderson
Posted by: Joy Grabar

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT to create additional funding for our public schools, PASSED in the Ways and Means Committee today, along with its enabling legislation. (SB 683 and SB 686). GREAT JOB EVERYONE!!!! Teachers, you submitted 3,880 pieces of testimony in SUPPORT! 

SO NEXT they cross over to the House.

FW: #HawaiiTeachersUnited - CALL TO ACTION!!!, poste 2-28-2017

From: R. Yamanaka

Date: 2-27-2017

Posted by: Joy Grabar, 2-28-2017

THIS MESSAGE IS GOING OUT BCC TO ALL EXBD MEMBERS, CHAPTER CORE ORGANIZERS AND SLLS FOR HILO CHAPTER.  We will be discussing this at the RA tomorrow, Keaau High Library at 5pm

 

#HawaiiTeachersUnited – Call to Action!

 

Contract negotiations are progressing at a very slow pace if at all.  We need to continue to keep the pressure on our Governor, the DOE and the BOE.  We need to activate all our teachers and their supporters in the community.  We need YOU to work with your teachers to show that HSTA is united in our actions for a fair and equitable contract.

 

These are the plans for the next few weeks:

 

Organizing your schools

• Head Faculty Rep. or School Organizer will be the point person for your schools
• Contact all your teachers about the March 7^th Day of Action
• Pick up your t-shirts and signs at the Feb. RA on 2/28 at Keaau High Library
• Additional instructions on these and other events at the Feb. 28^th RA.
• By March 3^rd , send Rae a tentative count of the number of teachers who will be participating in the March 7^thactivity and who will be sending written testimony for the BOE meeting
• Keep checking the Friday Members Matters and other emails and flyers from HSTA on a daily basis
• Keep in weekly contact with your chapter Core Organizer (Aaron Kubo, Val DeCorte, Evette Tampos, Cheney Kaku, Chris Ho, Roxane Stewart or Michelle Nahale-a) and your UD

 

March 7, 2017:  Day of Action

• All teachers and supporters to wear RED
• Sign waving at each school before the beginning of the school day for at least 15-30minutes.  Invite parents, students and community groups to participate in the sign wavings.  If the media is there, appoint a spokesperson to address the issues as explained in the Feb. 26, 2017 School Leader Lowdown (attached)
• Gather teachers for a group picture taking and participation sign in:  send group pictures and short 30 second videos with the participation sign in sheets to Rae ASAP that morning.  Text to:  365-6979.  Be sure to include name of school and person sending the pictures and sign-ins.
• Group walk in just before the start of the work day.  Chanting is encouraged (see attachment for types of chants)
• Submittal of written testimony for BOE meeting:  send to Rae by 12noon or earlier on March 7^th.  Talking points will be sent via email once the BOE publishes their agenda items.
• Photo/Video tips:  take photos and videos in landscape/horizontal mode with smart phone, send photos to UD in large or original size, videos should be less than 30 seconds.
• Feel free to post pictures about the event and use our campaign hashtag,  #HawaiiTeachersUnited.
• The top 10 schools with the highest percentage of participation of members will receive special treats for their faculty and be highlighted on HSTA.org and our Facebook page.

 

Every Tuesday in March, April and May:

• Wear RED
• Optional sign waving before or after school 
• Send pictures to Rae ASAP

 

Mass sign wavings planned for the week of April 3^rd.  More details to come soon.

 

NOTE:  signs and the new t-shirts will be distributed at the Feb. RA on the 28^th at Keaau High Library from 5-6:30pm.  Please be sure to have a representative from your school at the RA to pick up these items.

 

 

Rae A.Yamanaka

HSTA Hilo UniServ Director

Hilo Lagoon Centre

101 Aupuni St., ste.219

Hilo, HI  96720

Phone:  (808)935-9301 office; (808)365-6979 cell

Fax:  (808) 969-7492

Email:  ryamanaka@hsta.org

 

An Injury to One is an Injury to ALL!

 

Election endorsements, posted 2-28-2017

To: WIS Faculty
From: Debbie Anderson
Posted by: Joy Grabar, 2-28-2017

In administrative decentralization, local, internal elections matter such as our HSTA Institute Week voting procedures. We can ask and evaluate candidates for offices including delegates to the NEA Representative Assembly according to criteria. My personal endorsement follows, based on my experience with many of the State candidates over the last quarter century. I am voting and endorsing the following:
myself (#23) & 14 other State delegates to NEA, listed according to my absentee ballot order:
Corey Rosenlee,
Jamie Stidger (Windward),
Mitzie Higa,
Osa Tui,
Amy Perruso,
Dr. Angie Miyashiro (Hilo),
Jodi Maeda Kunimitsu (Kauai/Maui),
Kellee Kelly (Hilo),
Mireille Christianne Ellsworth (Hilo),
Lisa Morrison (Maui),
Laverne Moore (Honolulu),
Justin Hughey (Maui),
Paul Daugherty (Kona) and
Alan Isbell (Maui).
Thank you all for the differences you make for our union across our islands and our learners, and for me as a continually developing teacher leader. I wish all candidates the best in their respective chapter elections, and appreciate your willingness to serve.

Criteria: First, we need to know What is our purpose? We're "a focused dynamic organization of involved members collaboratively creating quality public education." 

Vision Statement: United in the pursuit of excellence for Hawaii’s public schools. 

Mission Statement of HSTA, to:
Support and enhance the professional roles of teachers;
Advocate teachers’ interests;
Collaborate with all segments of the community to assure quality public education for Hawaii’s youth; and
Promote human and civil rights to support and nurture diversity in our multifaceted community.

As an organization, the Hawaii State Teachers Association core values Professionalism, Integrity, Proactivity, Advocacy, Collaboration, and Democracy:
Professionalism: Enhance and support the art and science of teaching by licensed teachers;
Integrity: Uphold high standards of truth and ethics;
Proactivity: Promote innovative ideas and initiate solutions to shape the future;
Advocacy: Promote quality public education for all students and teachers;
Collaboration: Work inclusively with stakeholders toward quality public education by seeking and considering diverse points of view;
Democracy: Ensure a society that fosters free and equitable quality public education which sustains democracy.