Testifiers implored the board to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with HSTA

The Hawaii Board of Education met Thursday afternoon to hear testimony and a presentation from Hawaii State Department of Education officials about school safety issues during the coronavirus pandemic.

Hawaii State Teachers Association members and even a charter school principal from Hawaii Island implored the board to negotiate a memorandum of understanding with HSTA to ensure clear guidelines and contingency plans if classes or entire schools have to pivot to distance learning. The department has so far refused to bargain any kind of MOU, in spite of the union’s proactive attempts to discuss the issue months ago.

View all submitted written testimony here.

HSTA livestreamed Thursday’s board meeting, which began hearing testimony about one hour and 18 minutes in. Board discussion on pandemic school safety started about two hours into the meeting.

Below is a transcript of oral testimony provided by HSTA President Osa Tui, Jr:

When the pandemic began, restrictions on interisland travel contributed to these meetings being online. Without travel restrictions now, some ask why these meetings are not in person where all members have to report just like our students all have to report.

Perhaps it’s because the governor has declared no indoor social gatherings over 10 people.

Teachers hear from the governor and see by your example that it’s unsafe for large gatherings. We do not begrudge you that because it is unsafe. Yet, the governor, the superintendent, the Department of Health all say that classes in the upper 30s or those with students sitting shoulder to shoulder are perfectly safe.

Teachers are frustrated and overwhelmed.

We started last school year knowing there would be issues and worked with the department on an MOU. This year, the department would consider nothing other than going back to normal as if the pandemic was over and they were unwilling to collaborate with us. With no distance learning options planned, you as the Board rightfully had the department scramble to set something up right away.

With the start of this school year even worse in terms of transmission and children susceptible to the Delta variant, we ask you to order the department to sit with us to work collaboratively on issues.

The department’s health and safety guidelines, updated yesterday without letting us know, might work in a perfect world, but the reality is otherwise.

You’ve seen in testimony and our open letter a slew of examples showing that protocols are impossible to enforce and teachers feeling helpless in keeping their precious students safe.

Principals, especially at smaller schools, are feeling frustrated and unsupported and have submitted testimony that their days are filled with contact tracing and not much more.

Superintendent Hayashi. Keith. Please, please meet with us. If not, Board, although this is not an action item, please let the superintendent, our teachers, and the public know of your express desire to have the department meet with us for the safety our students deserve.

Mahalo.