Terri Inefuku2024-01-25T22:31:40-10:00January 25, 2024|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: covid, COVID-19, hazard pay, HGEA, memorandum of understanding, paid leave, pandemic, teacher protections|
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.
Evan Kumasaki2023-07-07T09:51:30-10:00October 19, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19, Hawaii State Department of Education, HIDOE, memo, ventilation|
This page contains updates issued by the Hawaii State Department of Education related to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Evan Kumasaki2022-08-03T16:55:38-10:00August 3, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19, FAQ, frequently asked questions, Hawaii public schools, Hawaii State Department of Education, HIDOE, HSTA|
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.
Jill Meinecke2022-07-29T15:05:11-10:00July 29, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: CDC, COVID-19, FAQs, guidance, health and safety guidance, HIDOE, leave benefits, masking, quarantine, SY 2022-23, wellness check|
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.
Terri Inefuku2022-07-12T18:26:25-10:00July 12, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: coronavirus, covid, COVID-19, Department of Education, Department of Health, distance learning, DOE, exposure, guidance, guidelines, health and safety, HIDOE, masking, mitigation, pandemic, recommendation, universal, ventilation|
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.
Jill Meinecke2022-03-24T16:26:07-10:00March 24, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: COVID-19, Hawaii Department of Health, health and safety guidance, HIDOE, Mask mandate, proof of vaccination, quarantine, vaccination|
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.
Terri Inefuku2022-03-04T13:33:05-10:00March 4, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19, Governor David Ige, Hawaii Department of Health, Hawaii State Department of Education, health and safety, mandate, masking, mitigation, pandemic, requirement, restrictions, vaccination|
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.
Terri Inefuku2022-07-29T10:45:32-10:00January 26, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: Bargaining Unit 05, coronavirus, COVID-19, Hawaii State Department of Education, HIDOE, quarantine, quarantine leave, school code, sick leave|
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.
Terri Inefuku2022-01-17T11:54:21-10:00January 16, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: Board of Education, coronavirus, COVID-19, general business meeting, Human Resources Committee, meeting, Red Hill, teacher retention, testimony, vaccination, Water contamination|
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.
Terri Inefuku2022-01-13T15:48:42-10:00January 13, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: absent, coronavirus, COVID-19, leave, lesson plans, personal leave, shortage, substitute|
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.
