Angie Choi, a school counselor at Dole Middle School, submitted testimony to the Board of Education Wednesday asking them on behalf of her late sister to assure that educators can telework during the pandemic.

In written testimony ahead of the BOE’s general meeting Thursday afternoon, members cited flawed Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) policies and procedures in response to COVID-19.

We want to inform board members about the real conditions occurring in our schools during the coronavirus pandemic, especially with regards to schools where all teachers are being unilaterally denied telework when requested, and conditions in classrooms with in-person instruction, particularly those involving special education and fully self-contained educators.

Dole Middle School’s principal notified employees about the death via email shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday. The Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) has refused to approve telework for any Dole teachers, despite the fact that many of them have no students in their classes.

Hawaii public school teachers are scheduled to receive negotiated pay increases this fall. Effective the first day of the second quarter, educators will receive a 3.5 percent across-the-board pay raise, which will show up in their paychecks starting Nov. 5.

The Hawaii State Teachers Association is pleased to report a positive development in our prohibited practice complaint regarding the state’s refusal to bargain over rapidly changing coronavirus threats to our members.

Join NEA Teacher Quality in a series of webinars designed to help you master the ins and outs of distance learning.

HSTA’s officers want to hear about front-line teachers’ school reopening concerns in a virtual listening session on Thursday, Sept. 10.

If your individual situation or school has specific circumstances in which there is an unsafe, or unhealthful condition, you have the right as an employee to file a confidential complaint with HIOSH and ask for an inspection.

The Hawaii Labor Relations Board (HLRB) this week denied the state’s motion to dismiss the HSTA's prohibited practice complaint about the state refusing to bargain with HSTA over rapidly changing coronavirus threats to its members.