Despite our calls to the contrary, many schools across the state welcomed thousands of students on campuses Monday, and additional face-to-face interactions are planned through the week. This cannot continue if we truly want to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in our communities.
Monday afternoon, Gov. David Ige and Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell agreed that additional targeted restrictions are needed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 on Oahu, and further details will be announced in the coming days. While we don’t know what those restrictions will be, we believe key health and safety changes at our schools need to be among them, and they need to be statewide.
We need clear metrics or written guidance from the Hawaii State Department of Health and Department of Education on closing schools due to high case counts and fully reopening school buildings when it is safe to do so. In order to minimize the number of individuals on campus during the pandemic, no students should be physically coming to school and teachers should be allowed to work from home if they choose.
The Hawaii State Board of Education meets this Thursday, Aug. 20, at 1:30 p.m. to discuss school reopening, with oral testimony beginning by no later than 2:15 p.m. We ask that you email testimony.BOE@boe.hawaii.gov by noon on Wednesday, Aug. 19, to ensure our schools are safe for our keiki and our educators.
Please ask the board to take action on the following items:
- Ensure 100-percent distance learning for all students across the state, including those in special education, until at least the end of the first quarter.
- Require the DOH and HIDOE to provide clear metrics on when school campuses are safe for students’ return. Many states and cities have specific triggers already in place for when schools should be open or closed based on COVID-10 cases, but Hawaii does not.
- Guarantee that the HIDOE honors HSTA’s contract by allowing teachers to work from home (telework) for as long as distance learning remains in effect.
Be sure to share your personal perspective on why fully reopening schools for face-to-face instruction without clear guidance is reckless and dangerous. If you are a classroom teacher who wishes to work remotely, please explain why and how you are able to fully teach from home. If you are a special education teacher who is apprehensive of face-to-face instruction, explain your circumstances and why you feel this way.
Please note that submitted BOE testimony is posted online for the public to see, so please be cognizant of what you include in your submission.
Include the word “Testimony” in the subject line and, at the top of the email, explain that you are testifying on item V. A. Update on implementation of Board Resolution adopted on June 18, 2020, directing the Department of Education to prepare for the reopening of public schools for the 2020-2021 school year amid the COVID-19 global pandemic, focusing on concerns regarding: health and safety, distance learning, personnel, food service, student transportation, reconciling multiple guidance documents and collective bargaining agreements, and communication.
Thanks to you, we’ve already proven that our collective voice can fuel change. When HSTA asked for public testimony, the BOE was flooded with more than 7,000 pages, mostly from our own members. Our calls led to adherence to proper social distancing measures, and a change to the school calendar to allow schools and staff to better prepare for our students.
Together, we can once again push for much-needed changes to ensure our students and staff remain safe during this difficult time.
Mahalo for all your hard work and dedication. We appreciate your passion and perseverance, and we stand behind you for a safe and successful school year.