At HSTA’s request, teacher transfer process improvements being considered

Two items that the Hawaii State Teachers Association pushed for in its current contract to improve the teacher transfer process and take gender-specific language out of HSTA’s contract will be heard by the Hawaii Board of Education at its monthly meeting Thursday.

The BOE agenda for the Nov. 18 meeting includes an item in which board members will vote to approve a Pilot Transfer Program Workgroup, including HSTA members. HSTA had advocated for improvements in the teacher transfer process during negotiations on its current contract.

The workgroup will look at ways to increase the number of transfer periods (from two a year) and allow tenured and probationary teachers more flexibility to potentially transfer more often. That change will benefit teachers and administrators, allowing both the option to find the best fit, boosting teacher job satisfaction, and enhancing effectiveness.

In a memo to the board, interim Superintendent Keith Hayashi said the workgroup will consider “options to allow tenured and probationary teachers to apply to vacant positions throughout the school year rather than just once a school year. Providing qualified teachers the ability to apply to vacant teacher positions throughout the school year may enhance retention, increase overall job satisfaction, and positively impact student achievement.”

The workgroup will be specifically tasked with developing options and requirements to determine the feasibility of creating a pilot program for the upcoming 2022–23 school year, Hayashi said.

The BOE agenda also includes a measure asking board members to approve gender-neutral language in HSTA’s contract. At the request of HSTA, the state agreed to de-gender terms and language in the contract that did not substantively alter the contract language or cost more money.

For example, one portion of the contract that referred to an administrator as “he” and “him” was changed to “they.” Another part of the HSTA contract referring to the union president as “he” and “his” had references changed to “they” and “them.”

HSTA made the request in the interest of respecting and valuing all employees.

Click below to read the HSTA contract with the changed gender references highlighted in yellow and green.