Teachers not eligible for COVID-19 hazard pay

2024-01-25T22:31:40-10:00January 25, 2024|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: , , , , , , , |

While an arbitrator has ruled that as many as 7,800 public school employees, such as school nurses and educational assistants, are eligible for hazard pay for working during the pandemic, public school teachers do not have a hazard pay clause in their contract.

Frequently asked questions relating to coronavirus (COVID-19) and schools

2022-08-03T16:55:38-10:00August 3, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: , , , , , , , |

The Hawaii State Teachers Association is working hard to ensure that our members' health and safety remain a priority, our contract and employment rights are preserved, and information is being communicated in an accurate and timely manner.

HIDOE releases health and safety guidance for the 2022–23 school year

2022-07-29T15:05:11-10:00July 29, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

On July 26, 2022, the Hawaii State Department of Education updated its health and safety guidance for schools for the 2022–23 school year including some significant changes.

DOH: Masking optional in updated school guidance; quarantine, social distancing will also ease

2022-07-12T18:26:25-10:00July 12, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

HSTA recommends that all Bargaining Unit 05 members continue to practice mitigating strategies whenever possible, which includes staying up to date with vaccines and boosters, and masking indoors to minimize the chances of catching COVID, especially given the ongoing shortage of substitute teachers.

HIDOE announces changes to COVID-19 protocols

2022-03-24T16:26:07-10:00March 24, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: , , , , , , , |

On March 23, the Hawaii State Department of Education issued announcements related to changing COVID-19 protocols. Of note, masks will continue to be mandated in indoor settings such as classroom spaces.

Changes in HIDOE COVID-19 protocols likely; still under review for now

2022-03-04T13:33:05-10:00March 4, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Hawaii State Teachers Association has reached out to the HIDOE and confirmed that all COVID-19 mitigation and health and safety policies remain in place for now. The HIDOE is awaiting guidance from the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) before announcing any changes.

Quarantine, sick leave benefits explained

2022-07-29T10:45:32-10:00January 26, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: , , , , , , , , |

With COVID-19 cases in our community continuing to rise and notification letters about cases in a number of our schools already being sent to staff and families, questions about sick leave and quarantine leave have come up from Bargaining Unit 05 members as we start the 2021–22 school year.

Submit testimony to the BOE on pressing issues including retention, superintendent

2022-01-17T11:54:21-10:00January 16, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |

This Thursday, Jan. 20, the Hawaii Board of Education will hold a series of meetings. Agenda items include teacher retention and shortage differentials, the superintendent search, Red Hill water contamination, and COVID-19 update for the 2021–22 school year. If you are affected by any of these topics, please submit written and, if possible, oral testimony. Your voice is necessary to ensure that board members are fully aware of the realities within our schools.

Educators should not feel obligated to volunteer to substitute for absent teachers

2022-01-13T15:48:42-10:00January 13, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: , , , , , , , |

Despite the Hawaii State Department of Education’s repeated claims that there are plenty of substitute teachers in the pool (they say 3,200), we know otherwise. Many substitutes in that pool are not accepting jobs during COVID-19. Some of them tell us they’re getting a half dozen or more calls a day and turning them down.

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