The Hawaii State Teachers Association has been receiving questions from concerned members regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) and its potential arrival on school campuses.
HSTA is working closely with the Hawaii State Department of Education on this matter and will update members as needed.
The Hawaii Department of Health continues to monitor the situation closely and is actively working to detect cases of COVID-19 as early as possible.
The DOH will advise the DOE about whether partial or full school closures are necessary because of the coronavirus. Following past practice with previous health concerns, such as measles outbreaks, the DOE looks to the DOH for guidance.
There are protections in the contract that would apply to our members. Article X, Teacher Protection, Letter G states that “when students are sent home from school or are not required to attend due to emergencies which endanger health or safety, teachers will not be required to remain at, nor report to, said schools.”
If teachers are told not to report to work because of the coronavirus, HSTA expects the employer to place teachers on paid administrative leave.
The DOE has a comprehensive online section dedicated to COVID-19 with updates and resources, plus guidance on potential scenarios including if a student has been restricted from school or if an employee has been placed on administrative leave.