Quarantine, sick leave benefits explained
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.
Maui teacher gets $105K in student loan debt forgiven under temporary federal waiver
Baldwin High School English teacher David Negaard, who had a total of $114,000 in student loan debt, recently had $105,000 of that debt forgiven, thanks to the U.S. Department of Education overhauling its long-dysfunctional Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).
Teachers say Red Hill water contamination contributes to learning loss, problems at home
Educators from seven Hawaii public schools affected by contaminated water from the U.S. Navy’s Red Hill fuel tanks spoke at an HSTA virtual forum Monday night to share their experiences. The event also included presentations from the Board of Water Supply and Sierra Club of Hawaii.
HSTA Executive Director Wilbert Holck will retire in the spring
Hawaii State Teachers Association Executive Director Wilbert Holck plans to retire next year after a distinguished career lasting 31 years at the union. HSTA has convened an Executive Director Search Committee composed of its state officers and appointed leaders tasked with finding a new executive director.
BOE directs HIDOE to share COVID-19 guidelines with school staff, communities
The Hawaii Board of Education (BOE) Thursday called for the Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) to share specific guidance and parameters with Hawaii public school staff and school communities as to when schools will need to move to distance learning because of high COVID-19 case counts on campus. The board said missing guidelines from the department has led to confusion, frustration and anger amongst educators, students and their families.
Board of Education hears arguments to empty, close Red Hill fuel storage facility
The Hawaii Board of Education (BOE) stated Thursday that it will consider taking a position to call for the U.S. Navy to immediately empty fuel and fully close its Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage facility after drinking water at multiple Hawaii public schools was contaminated.
Submit testimony to the BOE on pressing issues including retention, superintendent
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.
HSTA Board of Directors unanimously supports closure of Red Hill fuel storage facility
The Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) Board of Directors unanimously approved a proposal calling on the U.S. Navy to close its Red Hill fuel tanks which have contaminated drinking water. HSTA’s board approved the proposal Friday, which calls for an immediate emptying of fuel and a full closure of the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility.
Lawmakers will consider bills to fix salary compression, end salary class cap
With Hawaii expecting an improved economic outlook, leaders at the state Legislature plan on introducing proposals aimed at finally paying teachers for their years of experience, fixing salary compression.
HSTA contract updated with gender-neutral language
The 2021–23 Hawaii State Teachers Association Collective Bargaining Agreement, or contract, has been updated with gender-neutral language. Previous contracts utilized masculine pronouns in reference to gender types.