HSTA helps members, students affected by volcano
As the Puna area reeled from new lava flows and strong earthquakes Friday, the HSTA offered help and coordination to teachers and students whose lives are being disrupted on Hawaii Island.
Three charter schools -- Kua O Ka La Charter School, Ka Umeke Kaeo School, Hawaii Academy of Arts and Sciences – along with Keonepoko Elementary, Pahoa High/Intermediate and Pahoa Elementary schools were all closed Friday. Other charter schools are expected to close Monday.
If teachers need or want to help, let HSTA know
HSTA is already coordinating efforts to offer kokua to our members and their students affected by the volcano eruption. If you are a teacher who needs help or would like to offer help to others, please contact us and we will help get you in touch with each other, via social media or one-on-one. Call Rae Yamanaka, the UniServ Director in HSTA's Hilo office, at ryamanaka@hsta.org, on her mobile (808) 365-6979 or her office phone (808) 935-9301 for more information.
Charter school looks for alternative sites; Any ideas?
Kapoula Thompson, director of Kua O Ka La, is appealing for help finding an alternative site or sites to keep classes going through the end of the school year. He’s looking for one or more locations to temporarily accommodate 207 K-12 students who attend school at Kua O Ka La’s Pualaa and Opihikao sites. Contact him at (808) 217-4257 or kapoula@kuaokala.org, if you have some suggestions.
Teacher takes in animals of evacuees at family farm
As Puna lava evacuations expanded Friday morning, one HSTA teacher offered her family farm outside Hilo as a safe place to temporarily house animals of teachers who have to evacuate.
She and her ohana will house some animals (especially small livestock like goats) at their farm, helping teachers who have stay at an evacuation site with nowhere to leave their animals. Contact Rae Yamanaka in HSTA's Hilo office (see her contact info. above) to coordinate assistance.
HSTA monitoring lava threat; will help teachers, students as needed
“We are deeply concerned about our teachers and keiki who are affected by the lava flows in Puna. The HSTA will continue monitoring the situation and offer any help we can,” said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee.
Maui teacher wins iPad in Institute Contest
Congrats to Wailuku Elementary teacher Debra Lynn Ho, who won an iPad from the Hawaii State Teachers Association in our Institute Day contest. Watch this video with her reaction as HSTA Maui Chapter President Alan Isbell reveals the surprise while Wailuku Elementary Head Representative Denise Gima looks on.
Mahalo to Debra and the 1,140 other teachers who entered the contest by answering trivia questions about the many benefits of being an HSTA member, uploading selfies and following our social media platforms. Look for the other iPad winners to be announced in the coming weeks.
HSTA victories: New funding source for schools, pesticide buffer zones near schools
Getting a constitutional amendment on the ballot this fall to better fund schools is the HSTA’s biggest and most important legislative achievement this year. Here’s a list of the school-related bills that passed the Legislature:
Constitutional amendment. If approved by voters, it would give the state the power to create a investment real property surcharge, bringing hundreds of millions of dollars into the public school system. PASSED. It will be on the November Ballot!! [more details] (SB2922)
Paid family leave. PASSED, awaiting signature from the governor. [more details] (SB2990)
Conversion therapy ban. PASSED, awaiting signature from the governor [more details](SB270)
Pesticide ban, school buffer zone, study. PASSED, awaiting signature from the governor. [more details] (SB3095)
Title IX. PASSED, awaiting signature from the governor. [more details] (HB1489)
Charter schools-teacher initiative, bonus not taken out of Weighted Student Formula or facilities. This bill died. HOWEVER, lawmakers put money into the budget for this. We are finding out how much they appropriated through the budget, but for one year. Public charter schools will be given these funds, above the amount they receive for WSF. (HB2162)
Mahalo to members of HSTA's Government Relations Committee, HSTA's Board of Directors, HTSA Teacher Lobbyist Shannon Garan and HSTA Government Relations Specialist Mitzie Higa for all their hard work advocating for teachers and students before lawmakers this year. Your efforts have really paid off!
Here are some arguments, statistics and sources to help you make the case for the constitutional amendment to create a new funding stream for public schools. Click below for details and links:
Read a detailed summary of this year's legislative session.
Are you one of 1,400 teachers whose license expires this year?
The Hawaii Teachers Standards Board (HTSB) has asked the HSTA to remind members that teachers need to renew their licenses in a timely manner. As of mid-April, there are approximately 1,400 teachers whose licenses will expire this year, so they need to take action before June 30, 2018. Failure to hold a valid license may result in a fine of up to $500.
If your license expires on June 30, 2018, you must login to your HTSB account between January 2 and June 29, 2018, and complete your renewal process. Here is the link to the HTSB.
You are strongly encouraged to renew early in the renewal period, as you must allow for processing time. Renewals submitted after June 29, 2018, may not be processed in the event of unexpected issues.
HSTA hosts SPED Task Force Facebook live
HSTA appointees to Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's Special Education Program Review Task Force have been working with other stakeholders including representatives from DOE, HGEA, parents and the community to present the superintendent with a series of special education recommendations. The recommendation process is nearly complete and the HSTA representatives briefed our members on the work during a Facebook Live last week.
Watch the 23-minute HSTA SPED Task Force Facebook Live.
Members wrote us a number of questions on Facebook after the live presentation and Q and A. See the comments section on our HSTA Facebook page under the recording of the briefing.
When the schools superintendent releases her SPED plan of action next month based on the recommendations of the task force, the HSTA will release those details to our members.
HSTA, NEA offer free justice circle training; Today's the deadline to sign up!
To address the need for professional development in restorative justice for its members, the National Education Association (NEA) has partnered with Advancement Project, HSTA and the Department of Education to offer a FREE restorative justice circle training Monday, June 4 - Thursday, June 7 on Oahu. This experiential training will provide attendees with an understanding of the circle process and its potential for building relationships within the school community; promoting healthy communication; preventing and resolving conflicts; developing social emotional learning and youth competencies; and creating safe spaces to address difficult issues, trauma and healing.
Learn more and apply to attend restorative justice circle training by May 4.
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