As a result of the ongoing stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic, typical challenges that face teachers, especially new educators, seem more daunting now.

More than 450 people — many of them teachers — sent in testimony urging lawmakers to stop any effort to cut state workers’ salaries, which would worsen the teacher shortage crisis as well as the state economy.

When the 2020 Legislative session reconvenes Monday, the Hawaii State Capitol will be secured and closed to the general public, but hearings and floor sessions will be broadcast and live-streamed.

Hawaii's general revenue has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic and lawmakers have worked out a plan to cover a projected $1 billion gap without cutting your pay. The Senate Committee on Ways & Means will be hearing House Bill 2200, HD1, relating to the state budget, this Monday, May 11, at 10:30 a.m. at the Hawaii State Capitol.

Participate in free half-hour or one-hour virtual sessions to improve your teaching practice or just hang out to ask questions and receive support Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays after school.

The HSTA worked to ensure that teachers will not be penalized if they are unable to complete all of the components of the Educator Effectiveness System (EES) as school buildings are now closed because of the pandemic.

The chairs of the state Senate Ways and Means and state House Finance committees say they believe they can balance the state budget that’s been hit hard by a lack of tourism during the coronavirus, without having to reduce public employees’ pay in the months ahead.

DOE Superintendent Christina Kishimoto said Thursday she opposes pay cuts and hopes to use federal coronavirus relief funds to continue shortage differentials for special education, Hawaiian language immersion, and hard-to-staff teachers next school year.

State House Speaker Scott Saiki said Thursday the “main purpose” of reconvening the Legislature will be working with Gov. David Ige to find other options or alternatives to what Saiki called “drastic budget cuts and furloughs” to stabilize state finances during the coronavirus pandemic.

HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union presents the HSTA Welcome Home Mortgage Program to provide educators stronger financial security through affordable and simple mortgage financing.