Posted 1-12-2019 HSTA Elections Nominations for Hilo Chapter Office, Convention Delegate, and/or NEA RA Delegate

Aloha HSTA Hilo Chapter Head Faculty Reps, HSTA Exec Board, etc.

The HSTA Elections Link is now open and you (or any other HSTA member) can now use the link to nominate yourself if you want to run for Hilo Chapter Office, Convention Delegate, and/or NEA RA delegate.  This link is for CHAPTER elections.  For State Elections, contact Gwen Kurashima and/or go on the HSTA website.  Attached is also a file with Elections documents and more info.  Please spread the word and elections info to all your HSTA members at you respective schools.  Nominations can be done on a smartphone, but if you want to enter a bio (optional) for yourself, then using a normal computer is probably better and easier to type on.  

Nominations due at the next RA (Tues, Jan. 29 and will end exactly at 6:00pm at Kapiolani Elementary School Library).  Nominations can only be done using the link below.  Absolutely no extensions.  

Please do not procrastinate.

http://goo.gl/u1ZVvq 

Offices open for this election period:

-Chapter President/BOD (3-year term)

-Chapter Vice-President (3-year term)

-Chapter Secretary (3-year term)

-Chapter Treasurer (3-year term)

-2019 State Convention Delegate (1-year term) - Sat, April 13, 2019 at Hawaii Convention Center, Oahu (one-day convention only)

-2019 NEA RA Chapter Delegate (1-year term) - July 3 to 7, 2019 at Houston, Texas

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Hilo Chapter Elections Committee Chairpersons

Adrel Vicente, Lynn Kashinoki and Kerinne Smith

______________________________________________________

LINK TO PDF:  ELECTIONS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B4rP9S3LK2q7SXpYdjNVT1otQUxuZEY1bnIyNHFYSkk4SHU0

Posted 1-12-2019 (Dated 1-11-2019) Union dues and taxes; Two new HSTA faces: teacher lobbyist and communications specialist; Wear red Tues. to support LA teachers Inbox x

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Run for chapter leadership positions Help chart the course of your chapter's future by running for office. 2019 voting procedures, with information about where and when to vote in each chapter. Click here for a link to each chapter's nomination packet and other election information.  (You must be a registered user of HSTA's website to access this information) Represent your fellow members at NEA RA; Jan. 18 deadline Looking for a way to get involved in the leadership of our association? Run for election as a state delegate to the National Education Association’s Representative Assembly. It’s the largest democratic legislative body in the world, where thousands of educators from across the country come together to decide on policies and priorities of our union. This year’s NEA RA will be held in early July in Houston. Nominations for NEA RA state delegates close Jan. 18. Notice of State Election 2019   Election information and state nomination form Union dues not deductible on fed taxes Check with tax preparers for advice about state deductions The union dues paid in 2018 are no longer deductible on Miscellaneous Deductions for federal taxes. But it’s still unclear whether the state of Hawaii will continue allowing union dues to be deducted from taxes. Because of numerous tax changes, the best advice the HSTA can give our members is to seek professional advice when completing their tax returns. Since we are not tax experts, we need to defer to the tax professionals on these kinds of questions. The dues amounts for HSTA/NEA bargaining unit 5 members (teachers) who had continuous payroll deductions for the entire year in 2018 are: Full-time: $806.32 Part-time: $722.84 If you became an HSTA member part way through 2018, please contact the HSTA at (808) 833-2711 and ask for the Membership Department. Tell them you need them to calculate the specific amount of dues you paid last year. Now some good news. The IRS did not touch the deduction of teachers’ educational expenses. So those kinds of expenses continue to be an “above the line” deduction meaning that you can deduct this amount before computing your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). That means teachers can still deduct up to $250 from their federal taxes for classroom expenses, provided they have original receipts from those expenses. HSTA welcomes Teacher Lobbyist Christine Russo How a school lockdown led a physical science teacher on a path toward change As HSTA’s new teacher lobbyist, Christine Russo is excited by the unique opportunity to advocate for teachers and students. She is on temporary leave from her position as a certified physical science teacher at James Campbell High School in Ewa Beach, and will be working full time with HSTA’s Lobbying Team for the duration of the 30th legislative session. Her first day was Monday, Jan. 7. Nearly nine years ago, Russo was substitute teaching when police activity was reported near campus and her school went on lockdown. That’s when she began to realize things needed to change. Read more about HSTA's 2019 teacher lobbyist. Wear red Tuesday to support California teachers Teachers in Los Angeles may go on strike Monday and the HSTA wants them to know we send our support and aloha from across the ocean. On Tuesday, Jan. 15, please wear red for ed, and if you're able, snap a photo of yourself and some coworkers and post a message of solidarity with our friends in California. Use the hashtag #WeAreLA Learn more about the LA fight here. Follow these accounts on social media to stay updated with the latest. Like/share/retweet to help give their posts a boost! Twitter @UTLANow   Facebook Instagram @UTLANow Meet HSTA’s new Communications Specialist Terri Inefuku HSTA welcomed its new communications specialist this week. Terri Inefuku steps into the role formerly held by Keoki Kerr, who now serves as HSTA’s director of communications. Media Specialist Chris Schubert rounds out the newly expanded communications department. “I’m excited to bring Terri on to solidify an impressive team that will be working to promote HSTA not only in the community but among our nearly 14,000 members,” said HSTA Executive Director Wilbert Holck. “Our ultimate goal is to not only share the activities of our union and staff, but also spotlight the incredible accomplishments of our teachers.” Inefuku brings more than a decade of journalism and storytelling experience to HSTA. She was most recently KHON2’s digital executive director, where she helped shape the station’s digital news strategy, developing content for a variety of platforms, including KHON2’s website, mobile app and social media channels. She also serves as a mentor for PBS Hawaii’s HIKI NO, a weekly student news show that features video stories by students from dozens of public, private and charter schools across the state. She works closely with teachers to oversee the production process, offering guidance on everything from story development to interviews, writing and editing. Read more about HSTA's new communications specialist. March with us on Martin Luther King Jr. Day On Monday, Jan. 21, HSTA will be marching in parades on Oahu and Maui for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It's a time to reflect on the principles of interracial cooperation, equality, and social change through nonviolent resolution of conflict, dedication to global peace, social justice, economic security and the eradication of poverty. Please wear your red HSTA shirt and join us! Mahalo to our Human and Civil Rights Committee for organizing our involvement. Click here for details on the Maui and Oahu MLK parade events. Nominate a Hawaii teacher for the prestigious STACY award Each year, each NEA affiliate nominates one outstanding educator for the NEA Foundation Awards for Teaching Excellence. These prestigious awards recognize, reward and promote excellence in both teaching and advocacy for the profession. They also honor public education and the dedicated members of the National Education Association. HSTA gives our state-level winner the STACY Award, named in memory of the beloved late HSTA Deputy Executive Director Stacy Nishina, a former public school teacher from Kauai. Nominate a Hawaii teacher for an NEA Foundation Award by Feb. 1. Cindy Tong rocks! Read about this year's STACY Award winner who will be honored in Washington, D.C. in February. Institute schedule released Read the updated Institute 2019 island-by-island summary here Information about Institute will be updated via the linked page above. Please save this eNewsletter or favorite the page to your web browser.   Oahu teachers: Click this link to sign up for free bus service from Kapolei, Kaneohe, Kahuku and Red Hill (HSTA) to the Blaisdell https://2019hstaoahuinstitutebus.eventbrite.com Bus scheduled arrival at Blaisdell Center: 9 a.m.; drop off at Ward Avenue (Galleria Driveway) Scheduled departure from Blaisdell Center to return to origin site at 1 p.m.; pick up on Ward Avenue (Galleria Driveway) Oahu bus schedule 4th grade teachers: Register for free environmental ed workshop Moanalua Gardens Foundation and the state's Division of Forestry and Wildlife are pleased to offer their second FREE workshop of the school year for fourth grade teachers for their Huaka`i o Kamananui, Aloha Aina Moanalua place-based environmental education curriculum on Saturday, Feb. 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Moanalua Middle School Library and Kamananui (Moanalua) Valley. The workshop includes a teacher’s guide, lesson plans, student activity sheets, rubrics, CDs, a DVD and other resources. Moanalua Gardens Foundation will provide all materials plus meals and refreshments. The foundation will open the workshop to interested teachers from other grades upon request.  To register, please contact Pauline Worsham at pworsham@moanaluagardensfoundation.org . Space is limited to 20 persons so please register early.  Read more about this environmental education opportunity. Leeward Oahu teachers: RSVP for free Jan. 17 event now! Leeward teachers: RSVP for this event here or go to bit.ly/januarybob Are You On Track To Retire seminar in Hilo; Sign up now Click here to RSVP for the Hilo retirement seminar by Jan. 21.   Register for our "Planning Your Financial Journey" webinars   These webinars are designed for teachers who are in the beginning to middle of their careers and want to learn the foundations of their financial journey.   Our next webinar will be held Thursday, Jan. 24, at 3:30 p.m. and should last about 30-45 minutes.   This webinar is live via Zoom conference call with NEA Retirement Advisors and will also be held on the following dates: Feb. 7, Thursday, 3:30 p.m. March 28, Thursday, 3:30 p.m.   Sign-up at:  http://bit.ly/nea1819 NEW benefit for HSTA members: Accident insurance HSTA VEBA Trust is offering Accident Insurance in February 2019. Your benefits enrollment begins during Open Enrollment (that means it's guaranteed issue with no medical screening and lengthy forms to fill out).  Learn more about Accident Insurance: text #HSTAVEBA to 87487   Spring 2019 HSTA PD courses  Sign up now to improve your skills and reclassify for a raise Beyond the Exit Pass (Online) Section #294310/294311 Dates: March 18, 2019 - July 19, 2019 This 3-PD credit online course is designed for teachers of all content areas in grade levels 3-12. Teachers will learn a variety of strategies to formatively assess student learning and respond to student needs quickly and effectively. The following three approaches to formative assessment are: academic discussion, checks for understanding, and targeted analysis of student work.  Disclaimer: This course was previously listed as course number PD181769 and cannot be repeated for credit. This asynchronous online course will begin on March 18. Participants will receive instructions from the instructors on how to access course content prior to the start date of the course. The deadline to pay for this course is March 10.  Only HSTA Members are eligible to take this course.  MA184043 Numbers Make Sense (Hilo Hybrid Course) PDE3 Section #293850:  HSTA Spring 2019 Dates:  February 23, 2019 - May 31, 2019 Click here to read more information about each course. Signing up for HSTA PD courses is as easy as 1, 2, 3: Go pde3.k12.hi.us (PDE3) and add yourself to the wait-list for a specific section of a course Next, go to www.pd.hsta.org and make payment for that specific course section Lastly, once payment is received, HSTA will move you from the  “Wait-List” to “Registered” on PDE3 and your enrollment will be confirmed via email.

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

Posted 12-21-2018 (Dated 12-21-2018) Enjoy winter break; run for NEA RA; Teacher Institute details released; Help a Hawaii Island teacher (Paauilo School) in need

The HSTA wishes all 10-month teachers a relaxing, safe and enjoyable winter break. And for you 12-month teachers, we hope you enjoy your holidays too! Our Member Matters email newsletter will take two weeks off along with many of our members and will resume on Friday, Jan. 11. If there are any major developments, we will be sure to email all of you with an update and get out the word on our social media channels. HSTA offices throughout the state will be closed from 5 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21 and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 7.   Represent your fellow members at NEA RA Looking for a way to get involved in the leadership of our association? Run for election as a state delegate to the National Education Association’s Representative Assembly. It’s the largest democratic legislative body in the world, where thousands of educators from across the country come together to decide on policies and priorities of our union. This year’s NEA RA will be held in early July in Houston. Nominations for NEA RA state delegates open Jan. 7 and close Jan. 18. Notice of State Election 2019   Election information and state nomination form   Institute schedule released Read the updated Institute 2019 island-by-island summary here Information about Institute will be updated via the linked page above. Please save this eNewsletter or favorite the page to your web browser.   Looking for winter break reading? Check out the Governance Manual! The HSTA’s Governance Manual has been updated to include two adopted policy updates from the Dec. 8 Board of Directors meeting. 421 State Election Rules for HSTA Officers, NEA Director & Alternate Director 604 Teacher Emergency Loan Program Read the entire HSTA governance manual here. (website registration required)   HSTA increases Teacher Emergency Loan Program max amount, payback time The Hawaii State Teachers Association Board of Directors approved revisions to its Teacher Emergency Loan Program that increased by 50 percent the amount of money members can borrow from the union and give them twice as much time to pay it back. On Sept. 15, the board approved increasing the maximum loan amount to $1,500. With a change approved by the board Dec. 8, members can pay back the loan in four payments deducted from one paycheck a month for up to four months. Previously, they had to pay back the entire amount within two months. Read the entire story at HSTA.org. Help a Hawaii Island teacher in need Shannon De Luz, a science teacher at Paauilo School on Hawaii Island, is out of work, out of pay and trying to hold on to her medical coverage while adjusting to a sudden, rare and extremely aggressive neurological condition that has left her in a wheelchair. She's asking for leave share donations from fellow educators. Read more about leave sharing for Shannon De Luz. Please get in your leave share requests by Friday, Dec. 21.   We have just created a digital document library on the password-protected side of HSTA.org. That's where you can quickly find an alphabetized list of documents ranging from advice about sick and personal leave, parent classroom visits and due process rights. There are also key documents such as NBI forms, HSTA's governance manual and bylaws as well as nominations forms for each chapter's elections. Click here for the digital document library. The document library is 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. HMSA members: Get healthy and win Hawaiian Air miles Looking for a spring break getaway?  Blue Zones Project and Sharecare want to help give you the break you deserve!  Through December 27, we’re giving away 30,000 HawaiianMiles each day to one lucky winner in Hawaii.  That’s right, 30,000 HawaiianMiles EACH DAY! Simply register for Sharecare and learn your RealAge® and you’re entered to win.  And as a bonus, the Sharecare app helps you lower your RealAge so you can live a healthier, happier life.  Click here to get started!   Are You On Track To Retire seminars on Hawaii Island in January; Sign up now   Click here to RSVP for the Kona retirement seminar by Jan. 7. Click here to RSVP for the Hilo retirement seminar by Jan. 21.   Register for our "Planning Your Financial Journey" webinars   These webinars are designed for teachers who are in the beginning to middle of their careers and want to learn the foundations of their financial journey.   Our next webinar will be held Thursday, Jan. 24, at 3:30 p.m. and should last about 30-45 minutes.   This webinar is live via Zoom conference call with NEA Retirement Advisors and will also be held on the following dates: Feb. 7, Thursday, 3:30 p.m. March 28, Thursday, 3:30 p.m.   Sign-up at:  http://bit.ly/nea1819 NEW benefit for HSTA members: Accident insurance HSTA VEBA Trust is offering Accident Insurance in February 2019. Your benefits enrollment begins during Open Enrollment (that means it's guaranteed issue with no medical screening and lengthy forms to fill out).  Learn more about Accident Insurance: text #HSTAVEBA to 87487   New spring 2019 HSTA PD courses  Sign up now to improve your skills and reclassify for a raise   MA184043 Numbers Make Sense (Hilo Hybrid Course) PDE3 Section #293850:  HSTA Spring 2019 Dates:  February 23, 2019 - May 31, 2019 Building Processes in Mathematics PDE3 Section #293445 Dates:  January 8, 2019 – June 6, 2019 K-6 Foundations of Number Sense- Hybrid PDE3 Section #MA184074  Dates: January 10 - June 6, 2019 The 21st Century Classroom (Online) PDE3 Section #293151 Dates: January 14, 2019 – May 31, 2019 The 21st Century Classroom Level 2 (Online) PDE3 Section #293152 Dates: January 14, 2019 – May 31, 2019 Click here to read more information about each course. Signing up for HSTA PD courses is as easy as 1, 2, 3: Go pde3.k12.hi.us (PDE3) and add yourself to the wait-list for a specific section of a course Next, go to www.pd.hsta.org and make payment for that specific course section Lastly, once payment is received, HSTA will move you from the  “Wait-List” to “Registered” on PDE3 and your enrollment will be confirmed via email.  Teacher sabbatical leave info for next school year Teacher sabbatical leave applications are now being accepted for next school year, 2019-2020. Teachers may apply for one semester or for an entire school year. Initial application due Jan. 10. The following deadlines must be followed:  By January 10, 2019, teacher submits DOE OTM 100-001, Sabbatical/Professional Improvement Leave for Certificated Employees, and supporting documents to principal/supervisor and Complex Area Superintendent (CAS) for review and signatures. For more information and a complete list of sabbatical application deadlines, click here. Should there be any questions, please contact Maile Horikawa, Personnel Specialist, at (808) 441-8348 or via Lotus Notes at maile_horikawa@notes.k12.hi.us.   Nominations Jan. 14 soon for these awards! Read the web story about the Friend of Youth and Pono award nominations. Forms: Friend of Youth Award nomination form Pono Award nomination form

MLK, Jr. Day parades Please save the date for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. day parades on Oahu and Maui January 21.   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