Honolulu mayor signs bill aimed at banning flavored tobacco products
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi Friday signed a bill into law aimed at banning flavored tobacco products in a bid to reduce the number of youth who vape.
HIDOE delays English learner TESOL credit deadline by one year
In response to advocacy from HSTA teacher leaders, the HIDOE last week committed to extending the deadline an additional year for English learner teachers to complete TESOL sheltered instruction credits.
HSTA informational picketing FAQs
For our purposes, informational picketing is meant to raise awareness for families and the community about issues taking place on many of our campuses where safety protocols are not being followed.
Kauai educators concerned about uneven pandemic policies raise new concerns
More than 150 teachers from schools on Kauai took part in informational sign-waving before and after classes Tuesday, raising health concerns about a lack of consistent COVID-19 protocols, pressure to not report positive cases, and persistent staffing shortages that have forced the highest-ranking public school official on the Garden Island to fill in as a substitute
East Hawaii educators picket for school safety
Teachers from all around East Hawaii conducted informational picketing late Friday afternoon outside the State Office Building in Hilo, raising concerns about a lack of uniform health protocols in public schools.
Maui educators speak out asking for consistent COVID-19 protocols, widespread testing
Dozens of educators conducted informational picketing outside of Maui Waena Intermediate School, Maui High School and Kahului Elementary before school started Tuesday morning, chastising the Hawaii State Department of Education for failing to negotiate important safety protocols with the Hawaii State Teachers Association while slowly beginning school COVID-19 testing weeks into the school year.
HIDOE, DOH haven’t discussed student vaccine mandate yet
Interim Superintendent Keith Hayashi of the Hawaii State Department of Education came under fire Thursday for haphazard COVID-19 testing in public schools and said he had not held discussions yet with state health officials about a possible vaccination mandate for public school students age 12 and older.
HIDOE offers few specifics on when school-based testing will begin
The Hawaii State Department of Education’s plans for free COVID-19 testing at public schools statewide are eagerly awaited by students, staff, and parents, but at a legislative hearing this week, school officials did not answer key questions about when the program will be available at all schools.
HIDOE dodges lawmaker’s question: ‘When will the DOE sign an MOU with HSTA?’
“When will the DOE sign an MOU (memorandum of understanding) with HSTA regarding safety protocols to ensure that there is accountability for violations that occur on school campuses?" a state lawmaker asked top state education officials Wednesday.
Tell Ed Case to vote yes Monday on the Build Back Better budget package
Call Hawaii Congressman Ed Case toll-free because he is threatening to vote against a $3.5 trillion spending plan Monday that would combat climate change and build more affordable housing while extending the child tax credit and expanding family medical leave, largely by raising taxes on the rich and corporations.