While the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted our normal activities, HSTA’s Human and Civil Rights Committee compiled the following digital social and racial justice resources in his honor.

We want to inform board members not only about the impacts budget reductions and proposed position cuts will have on our teachers and students, but that federal funds should not be used to hire private tutors while the state may fire more than 1,000 qualified teachers and other public school staff.

For the first time Friday, the Hawaii State Department of Education released school-by-school effects of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of budget reductions the governor has directed public schools to endure next school year, resulting in a range of 1,000 to 1,500 job losses, at least half which would affect teachers. 

Those teachers who have EL responsibilities, such as classroom instruction, EL coordination, and/or support for EL services are strongly encouraged to respond.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association is appalled that the principal of Waialua High and Intermediate School is holding assemblies with large numbers of students in the school gym this week, including one scheduled for Friday morning.

Teachers across Hawaii began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine over the last week. Members reported an easy process and minor side effects, if any.

Educators will begin to get access to COVID-19 vaccines on a regular basis toward the end of January and early February, state officials said, while Kauai public school employees will get vaccinated starting Monday.

If you have not already done so, please create an account on NEA edCommunities and ensure your information, especially your mailing address, is up to date. Important information will be sent to the addresses on file, e.g., voter information our HSTA elections in February, and contract negotiations and ratification.

With the recent spike of COVID-19 cases in Hawaii, the Hawaii State Teachers Association demands that the Hawaii Department of Health and the Hawaii Department of Education revise the standard used to determine school learning models.

"To protect our democracy and ensure the safety of our nation, the National Education Association is calling for the immediate removal of Donald Trump from the office of the president," said NEA President Becky Pringle.