Changes in HIDOE COVID-19 protocols likely; still under review for now
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.
House committee advances measure to establish First Amendment protections for student journalists
House Bill 1848, HD1 was unanimously approved by the state House Committee on Judicial and Hawaiian Affairs last week. If it becomes law, student journalists would be allowed to exercise freedom of speech and freedom of the press in school-sponsored media, and advisers would be protected from retaliation for refusing to infringe upon student press freedom.
House committee advances proposal for Hawaiian immersion expert on the BOE
The state House Committee on Judicial and Hawaiian Affairs advanced a bill last week that would require one of the at-large members of the Board of Education be an expert on Hawaiian language immersion.
HSTA helps Solomon Elementary teachers stop contract violation
When David Martin, a special education preschool teacher at Solomon Elementary on Schofield Barracks Army Base in Wahiawa, Oahu, heard his principal was violating the Hawaii State Teachers Association collective bargaining agreement, or contract, at the beginning of the school year, he knew he had to step in.
State House committee votes to prohibit underground fuel storage tanks near water sources
The state House Committee of Consumer Protection & Commerce voted to move forward with a bill Thursday that would prohibit the issuance or renewal of permits for large capacity underground fuel storage tanks near sources of underground drinking water in Hawaii.
Celebrate Hawaiian Language Month with an introduction to ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi
From common greetings to place names and street signs, we are surrounded by the Hawaiian language. Whether you were born or raised here or moved to the islands recently, having a foundational knowledge of the Hawaiian language connects us to our environment and culture.
Senate money panel greenlights paid teacher professional development
The Senate Ways and Means Committee Monday approved Senate Bill 3209 SD1 that would restore educators’ 21 hours of job-embedded professional development, which was removed from the contract last year due to budget cuts, resulting in a 1.5% pay reduction for teachers.
Bills to pay teachers for years of service, assure shortage differentials pass Senate money panel
The Senate Ways and Means Committee Friday approved two measures aimed at paying teachers for their years of service and continuing shortage differentials. The bills passed with no objections made by senators on the powerful money panel and they have already been unanimously approved by the Senate Education Committee.
Senate money panel approves menstrual equity in schools with overwhelming public support
Lawmakers tasked with overseeing the state’s finances received nearly 200 pages of written testimony in support of Senate Bill 2821 SD1 relating to menstrual equity.
BOE pauses permanent virtual school plan until it creates a new distance policy
BOE Chair Catherine Payne raised several concerns “that we’re trying to rush to get this going but we are not really fully prepared with the curriculum in place and the teachers trained and the real understanding of how we’ll have some hybrid opportunities in addition to the full-on digital learning for some students.”