Member Matters: Salaries increasing; Health insurance rates rising; Participate in ESSA survey; Sign up for grant training, 7-2-1016

Teachers will see pay raises of more than three percent  Effective the first working day of the 2016-2017 school year, teachers will receive a 3.2 percent across-the-board salary increase.  While 12-month teachers will see the hike in their first paycheck of the school year July 20, 10-month teachers will see raises in their first paycheck of the school year, August 20. The specific date for raises to kick in for multi-track teachers will vary depending on when their track begins. The 2016-2017 salary schedules can be found on pages 15 and 18 of the 2015-2017 HSTA Supplemental Agreement. Exhibit EE of the agreement reflects pay rates for 10-month teachers and Exhibit QQ shows rates for 12-month teachers. Teachers face increased health insurance costs Rising prescription drug costs have contributed to health insurance premiums for more than 5,500 HSTA VEBA policy holders increasing by double digits starting this month. The approximately 3,500 teachers enrolled in the HSTA VB 80/20 plan saw the sharpest increase, with their employee contributions rising about 33 percent as of July 1. Another 2,000 or so teachers in the HSTA VB 90/10 plan saw their employee contributions go up by nearly 22 percent. In the HSTA VB Kaiser plan, which has about 1,200 teachers, each teacher's monthly share went up between 5 and 6.5 percent.   The new higher employee contributions will be deducted from teachers' next paychecks starting July 20. Even with the premium increases, teachers with HSTA VEBA health coverage still are paying less for health insurance than those in the EUTF system. EUTF controls the health insurance rates and negotiations with health coverage providers. But HSTA will be working on this issue in bargaining our next contract when negotiations begin later this year because we know health premiums are a concern for all members. Please take this ESSA online survey With the passage of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, HSTA teachers have a major opportunity to reclaim the discussion on public education in Hawaii. Gov. David Ige and his ESSA Task Force are seeking teacher input about the blueprint that will shape the direction of change and lay the foundation for the educational system we seek to create. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts about the current state of public education in Hawaii and the ways in which you think it should be transformed. We will also be asking you to join us and speak out at Town Hall meetings across the state about ESSA. Take the brief survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/govessateachersurvey HSTA hosts grant writing workshop July 12 and 13  HSTA will host a "Grant Writing That Gets Funded" workshop July 12 and 13 at its Red Hill union headquarters. This is the second time our union is hosting this national grant training event by Grant Central USA, a grant training company. We decided to house this conference at HSTA to help our region in garnering more federal, state and foundation grant money after receiving positive reviews from several other agencies about the value of this event. The training, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days, was especially designed to help people to write better grant proposals quickly and easily by using many of today’s best practices and tips. The organizations that have already signed up for the training include: Paia Elementary School, Maui Fire Department, Senior Daycare, U.S. Navy, Maui Food Bank, Ka Waihona o Ka Na'auao Charter School, Arcadia Family of Companies, Maui Police Department, One Lucky Local, and the Community Action Program Inc. Registration is limited to 40 people and there were only a dozen openings remaining as of early July. The cost of the two-day workshop is $650. Register today by going to GrantWritingClasses.org/hawaii.html or call 1-888-293-0284 for more information. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/govessateachersurvey GrantWritingClasses.org/hawaii.html

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

FW: HSTA Summer events, 6-23-2016; posted 7-1-2016

To: WIS Faculty

From: Rae Yamanaka

Re: FW: HSTA Summer events

THIS MESSAGE IS GOING OUT TO ALL SLLS AND EXBD MEMBERS.  PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR TEACHERS.

Hi all,

Update on HSTA Hilo chapter summer events:

• Sign waving:  Every Tuesday from 4:30-5:30pm on Kam Ave. by the King Kamehameha statue.  Wear your red HSTA shirt.
• July 9-10, 2016:  Hilo Triathlon.  HSTA will be doing body marking on July 9^th from 10-5pm at the Hilo Hawaiian Moku Ola room and from 5-7am at James Kealoha beach park.  Wear your HSTA shirts.  Send me your t-shirt size for a t-shirt from the Triathlon organizers.  Let me know when you will be able to come and help.
• July 14, 2016:  Senator Kai Kahele’s fund raiser at Aunty Sally’s.  HSTA is needed to help with the serving of the food.  Wear your HSTA shirts and let me know if you will be coming to help.
• Campaign activities:  please let me know if you are interested in helping with any of the recommended candidates’ campaigns.  I will forward your contact information to our chapter liaisons with the candidates.
• Amber Jackson anniversary of murder:  please post or send to your friends and colleagues, the investigation is still live and hopes are high that we will be able to see it solved soon.  Amber was the secretary for the Kauai HSTA office when she died.

Hope you are enjoying your summer break.  Please pass this message on to your teachers via their personal emails.

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

HSTA negotiated the first personal leave provision for public employees in1972.

___

HSTA recommends Hanabusa for Congress, posted 6-27-2016

HSTA recommends Colleen Hanabusa in U.S. House race  The Hawaii State Teachers Association Board of Directors has voted unanimously to recommend Colleen Hanabusa in the race for Hawaii’s 1st congressional district, representing a large part of Oahu in the U.S. House. “Colleen has a long record of public service and has always been a strong advocate for public schools,” said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee. “Most recently, Colleen successfully represented the public school children of Hawaii in the courtroom, successfully arguing to restore the ability of teachers to escort their students on educational trips.” The primary election will be held Saturday, Aug. 13, 2016. Polling places across the state will open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Election Day. To register to vote, find your polling place and other election information, go tohttp://elections.hawaii.gov/.

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 Add us to your address book

HSTA wins in court: Teacher travel reinstated, 6-17-2016; posted 6-20-2016

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE To my fellow educators, Today I want to share the good news that a Circuit Court judge ruled in favor of HSTA late this morning, throwing out the state Ethics Commission's opinion that prohibited teacher travel on educational trips. This means teachers can resume the worthwhile practice of taking our students on educational travel. I know this year was difficult on many of you because of how passionately you care about our students and want to give them many learning experiences outside the classroom. This year many community members, parents and legislators publicly voiced their support and appreciation for how teachers dedicate their time to our students by taking them on these trips. This is a victory for teachers, but most important, for Hawaii’s public school students. I want to especially thank HSTA attorney Colleen Hanabusa, who was the force in winning this court decision. Hanabusa argued that the Ethics Commission erred in not going through a rule-making process before issuing both an advisory opinion and guidance memo saying that teachers violated the ethics code by accepting “free trips” to accompany classes on educational travel. Judge Rhonda Nishimura ruled both the opinion and the memo are null and void. The judge also found the commission’s decision was subject to rule making, because it affected a broad group of teachers, students and others. More than 31 class trips were canceled because of the ethics opinion and many others were not planned out for fear of violating the ethics code. Today’s decision does not change the $400,000 that the Legislature appropriated for teacher travel. These funds will still be available for chaperones to take trips. Once the DOE has decided the process of applying for this money, we will share those details with you. Aloha, Corey Rosenlee HSTA President Read the entire Schools Our Keiki Deserve here.

Member Matters: 21 hours, PD credit info explained; NBCT update; HSTA commends DOE transgender guidelines; Members attend state Democratic Convention, posted 6-9-2016

21 hours and PD credit info, deadlines explained HSTA recently clarified several questions from members about the 21 hours and professional development credits. Generally, the form that outlines the use of the 21 hours is due to complex area superintendents at the start of the school year. Questions about how the PD credits work, when the credits will be posted and how the DOE handles awarding credits to charter school teachers will be answered here: 21 hours and PD credits FAQS   National Board Certified Teachers update, FAQs  HSTA has received some inquiries about National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) and the state law that governs the bonuses they receive, so we wanted to provide you with an update. Many of you may have been tracking the changes in the state law last year which changed some of the categories for which the additional $5,000 is paid to teachers. This payment is on top of the regular $5,000 NBCT teachers receive for holding NBCT status. We have compiled an update on what the law says about NBCT, who qualifies for an additional $5,000 for schools in focus, priority or superintendent zones, and how those various bonuses are paid.The information is available at this link:National Board Certified teachers FAQs   HSTA commends DOE for transgender student guidelines HSTA Tuesday applauded the Department of Education for coming up with guidelines that take effect next school year to protect the rights and address the needs of transgender students. The DOE’s draft guidance makes clear that schools should recognize and respect students’ gender identities and grant them access to whichever restroom or locker room they feel most comfortable using. The draft guidelines also said students should be able to dress according to their gender identity and schools should address transgender students by their preferred name and pronoun, regardless of their legal name and gender. “We commend the DOE and the BOE for setting forth, in state policy, an agenda that recognizes gender diversity throughout Hawaii’s public school system,” said HSTA President Corey Rosenlee in testimony before the Board of Education Tuesday. “Our schools must be welcoming for all keiki, regardless of their race, socio-economic status, sexual orientation or gender identity.” Read more here: HSTA commends DOE for transgender student guidelines   Emergency hire teachers rules explained  HSTA has received a few inquiries from emergency hire teachers regarding rules affecting their ability to be reemployed next year, so we have investigated their questions with the DOE to provide the following answers.   The ability for emergency hires to continue to teach in the state without a State Approved Teacher Education Program (SATEP) and passing the Praxis is dependent on the licensing board issuing them an ongoing emergency license.   As of SY 2015-2016, the DOE is no longer accepting a Praxis admission ticket or examinee score report for Code 5 teachers within their first year of employment as a form of demonstrating active pursuit towards licensure. Now, Code 5 teachers must submit documentation from a SATEP "confirming [their] application has been submitted or indicating that [they] are currently enrolled in, have been accepted into, or have provisional/conditional acceptance into a SATEP." Fore more information click on this link: Emergency hire teacher rules explained    HSTA members attend state Democratic Convention We would like to give our wholehearted thanks to HSTA members from across the state who were delegates at the Hawaii Democratic Convention over the Memorial Day weekend. Raina Whiting from Hawaii Island was elected as a delegate to the national Democratic Convention, Juli Patten was elected as an alternate for the Presidential Electorate, and HSTA Vice President Justin Hughey of Maui, who attended as a super delegate, was re-elected to the Education Caucus as the male representative on the Democrats’ State Central Committee while also serving on the Resolutions Committee. Other teacher delegates included Mireille Ellsworth and Shannon Kaaa from the Big Island, Rebecca Wimmer from Maui and from Oahu, Laverne Moore, Marcus Nakama and Lisa Rodrigues. Meeting at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, the Democratic convention approved a resolution written by HSTA to urge state lawmakers to increase public school funding. To read more about HSTA participants in the convention, click here: HSTA members attend state Democratic Convention   21 hours and PD credits FAQS National Board Certified Teachers FAQs HSTA commends DOE for transgender student guidelines Emergency hire teacher rules explained  HSTA members attend state Democratic Convention

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 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list

Summer Activities, posted 6-9-2016 Sign-waving; Mark Nakashima Community Mtgs; Hilo Triathlon; Kai Kahele Activities

Email post from: Edwin Kagawa

Date: 6-9-2016

Re: Summer Activities, Hilo Chapter

Hilo Chapter Executive Board, 2015-2016 Head Faculty Reps and Staff:

Hello All!  

Hope you are all enjoying your summer vacation.  Currently,  we have the following activities planned for the summer:

Hilo Chapter sign-waving

We will be sign-waving to support our recommended  candidates on Tuesdays this summer along Kamehameha Avenue in front of the Kamehameha Statue, Hilo Bayfront from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. (6/14, 6/21, 6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19).  Please wear red HSTA t-shirts.  

Mark Nakashima:  Legislative Post-Session Community Meetings

Representative Mark Nakashima our endorsed candidate for House District #1 will be holding community meetings  – Wednesday, 6/15 at 6:00 p.m. at Kulaimano Center in Pepeekeo.  Monday, 6/20 at 6:00 p.m. at Laupahoehoe Public Library, Humanities Room.  Wednesday, 6/22 at 6:00 p.m. at De Silva Elem. School Cafeteria.  Thursday, 6/23 at 6:00 p.m. at North Hawaii Education and Research Center (NHERC) in Honokaa.  Saturday, 7/30 at 11:00 a.m. at Paauilo Mauka Kalopa Community Assn. General Meeting in Kalopa State Park.  If you can attend, please come to support and wear any HSTA shirt.

Hilo Triathlon

Volunteers are needed for body marking:  Saturday, 7/9 from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel, Moku O’la Room. Sunday, 7/10 from 5:00 – 7:00 a.m. at James Kealoha Beach Park.  Wear red HSTA shirt.  Please contact Rae Yamanaka if you are able to help. 

 ryamanaka@hsta.org

Kai Kahele Activities

Phone Banking

Senator Kai Kahele is our endorsed candidate for Senate District #1 and he is asking for help on 7/5, 7/6, 7/7, 7/11, 7/12 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at his campaign HQ in Keaukaha (next to Verna's)

Mass-Sign-waving

Senator Kahele will be having a mass sign-wav ing on July 13^th at 4:30 p.m. in front of the Kamehameha Statue, Hilo Bayfront.

Fundraiser

Senator Kahele is having a fundraiser on July 14^th at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale.  If you can help at the registration/Sign-in table from 5:00 – 7:30 p.m. please let us know.

Please check emails regularly.  Our endorsed candidates are planning their campaigns and activities may be forthcoming.

Have a safe and fun Summer!

Thank You

Edwin Kagawa, President

HSTA Hilo Chapter  

FW: Hilo Triathlon: July 9-10, 2016: REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS!!!!!

To: WIS Faculty

From: R. Yamanaka

Re: FW: Hilo Triathlon: July 9-10, 2016: REQUEST FOR VOLUNTEERS!!!!!

Date: posted 6-2-2016, email

THIS MESSAGE IS GOING OUT BCC TO ALL SLLS.  PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR TEACHERS.

Hi all,

We are looking for volunteers to help with body marking for the Hilo Triathlon on July 9^th and 10^th.

July 9^th from 10-5pm at the Moku O’la room at Hilo Hawaiian

July 10^th from 5-7am at James Kealoha Beach Park

Please let me know if you are available on any of these dates and what times you are able to be there.  Wear your red HSTA shirt.

I also need your t-shirt size so that you can receive a volunteer race shirt.

Hope to hear back from you by June 17^th.  Please pass this message onto your faculty members.  If you have friends who wish to volunteer I can get them an HSTA shirt to wear.

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

HSTA negotiated the first personal leave provision for public employees in1972.

Member Matters: HSTA president's end-of-school message, posted 5-26-2016

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE To my fellow educators, As the school year comes to a close, I want to wish you all a great summer. I also would like to share the many ways we have worked effectively as a union for you over the past year. When school began late last summer, unions across the country faced a great challenge in the U.S. Supreme Court case Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. Anti-union billionaires bankrolled the case. If they were successful, a victory for anti-union forces would have significantly impacted our ability to advocate for teachers and public education. However, the vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia and the subsequent 4-4 decision by the court upheld the lower court’s decision in CTA’s favor, protecting unions for the time being. Regardless, the HSTA needs to show we are relevant and benefiting all our members. So here are some of our victories this year and goals for next year: The HSTA successfully lobbied and secured $100 million for air conditioning and heat abatement for hot classrooms. This funding will impact more than 1,000 classrooms, hundreds of teachers and tens of thousands of students across the state. Nationally, NEA along with other unions, lobbied for passage and approval of the federal Every Students Succeeds Act (ESSA), which allows states greater flexibility on testing and evaluations. Because of ESSA, HSTA was able to lobby the BOE to change its policy of using test scores on teacher evaluations. Student standardized test results are now no longer required to be used to evaluate teachers. We worked with the Legislature to allocate $500,000 for a pilot program in which some teachers will receive a debit card to purchase school supplies. HSTA successfully lobbied to expand the use of school impact fees, which developers have to pay when they build new housing developments. For the first time, those fees are no longer restricted to construction of new schools and can be used for improvements and repairs to existing schools. We began the Schools Our Keiki Deserve campaign and organized hundreds of teachers across the state to rally and testify for better schools for our keiki. Read the entire Schools Our Keiki Deserve here. HSTA also expanded our innovative professional development program, offering 27 course subjects taught by teachers to 950 other teachers across the state. Next school year, we will expand further with new courses about Next Generation Science Standards, assessment literacy, video as a professional tool, Habits of Mind as well as a new math offering. We have increased our member recognition and improved our relationships with businesses that want to recognize teachers. These community supporters have donated prizes such as Apple watches and Mokulele Airlines gift certificates during Teacher Appreciation Month. Still there is work to be done. Our efforts to address the state Ethics Commission concerns about educational travel and lift the restriction on teachers’ ability to travel with students at no cost died during the final days of the Legislature. However, lawmakers approved $400,000 for educational travel that the DOE can use for teacher travel costs. Our attempt to increase funding for our public schools with an excise tax increase also died in the Legislature this year. We knew this would be a long-term fight and we plan on continuing to pursue avenues to adequately fund public schools. The negotiations team has been meeting to continue work preparing for bargaining that begins this fall. The team has surveyed members and conducted focus groups to assess contract priorities. Be on the lookout for another final negotiations survey focusing on economic issues at the beginning of next school year. We have accomplished great things together as a union and working together, let's make further improvements next year. Have a wonderful summer. Aloha, Corey Rosenlee HSTA President Read the entire Schools Our Keiki Deserve here.

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