Teacher pay update, Q&A with House finance chair

Several changes are on the horizon that would boost pay for most Hawaii public school educators, improve working conditions, and more. On Monday, May 2, at 5 p.m., Rep. Sylvia Luke, who chairs the House Finance Committee, will sit down live with Hawaii State Teachers Association leaders to discuss these important updates and answer your questions.

Submit your questions in advance, then tune in Monday, May 2, at 5 p.m. on HSTA’s Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter to join the conversation live!

HSTA’s priority bills for the 2022 Legislative session

SB2819, SD2 Fixes salary compression

The proposal would guarantee that teachers in Hawaii, like their counterparts around the United States, have their salaries adjusted based on their years of experience. If the bill is signed into law, more than 8,000 HSTA members would see corrections of at least $7,000 in their annual salaries to help keep them in the profession longer. The bill would also remove the class VII salary cap, which would allow more classes to be negotiated during collective bargaining and incentivize veteran teachers to take professional development courses to reclassify.

Legislators have appropriated $130 million to fix salary compression and restore job-embedded professional development as a line item in the state budget which will be voted on by lawmakers in the House and Senate this week.

Learn more: Teacher pay bills pass final state House committee

SB2820, SD2 Funds shortage differentials

The bill appropriates funds for various teacher differentials to help address labor shortages in the areas of special education, hard-to-staff geographic locations, and Hawaiian language immersion programs. About 4,000 public school educators receive the shortage differentials, which range from $3,000 to $10,000 a year.

The differentials worked! According to the department’s data, the number of teachers transferring into special education positions for the 2020–21 school year actually increased by 29% over the previous school year, while the number of teachers who left SpEd positions decreased by 57%. Nearly twice as many educators transferred into hard-to-staff schools for next school year compared to last, while the differentials led to a 41% decrease in those leaving hard-to-staff locations.

The Legislature appropriated $34.5 million to cover shortage differentials at HIDOE and public charter schools as a line item in the state budget.

Learn more: Bills to pay teachers for years of service, assure shortage differentials pass Senate money panel

SB3209, SD2 Restores funding for job-embedded professional development for teachers

During last year’s contract negotiations, 21 hours of job-embedded professional development were removed due to budget cuts, resulting in a 1.5% pay reduction for teachers. The bill would restore those hours, providing teachers the chance to hone their skills while being compensated for conducting work activities outside of regular working hours.

Legislators have appropriated the funds to restore PD as a line item in the state budget.

Learn more: Senate money panel greenlights paid teacher professional development

Additional House bills

HB2510 Raises the minimum wage to $18 by 2028

Increases the state’s $10.10-an-hour minimum wage incrementally to $12 per hour beginning Oct. 1, $14 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2024; and $16 per hour beginning Jan. 1, 2026 and $18 per hour in 2028. Hawaii last increased its minimum wage in 2018. The bill also makes the state’s earned income tax credit, which was set to expire at the end of this year, refundable and permanent. House and Senate conferees approved the compromise Friday and both houses will vote on the measure this week.

HB2345 Creates Ewa Beach teacher housing project

Authorizes the acquisition of land. Appropriates funds to the School Facilities Authority to purchase the fee simple interest or acquire an interest in the land to develop affordable housing, with priority given to a community with schools experiencing a high shortage of teachers. Requires the Department of Education to publish a needs assessment before development may begin. Appropriates funds for the School Facilities Authority to obtain a fair market appraisal report. Appropriates funds for the School Facilities Authority to maintain landscaping and public safety on the property until a developer is selected.

Learn more: House education, housing committees green light Ewa affordable housing for teachers

HB2000 Constructs, renovates pre-kindergarten facilities

Appropriates $200 million to the School Facilities Authority to construct new preschool facilities across the state. The money will also pay for the renovation, improvement, and expansion of existing school facilities to increase pre-kindergarten student capacity. Awaits final House and Senate votes this week.

HB1848 Supports student journalism freedom of press

Establishes freedom of speech and freedom of the press protections for student journalists producing school-sponsored media or university-sponsored media unless subject to certain exceptions. Provides legal immunity for state agencies, officers, and employees for students’ exercise of these freedoms. Both houses approved this measure and it was transmitted to the governor on April 22.

Learn more: House committee advances measure to establish First Amendment protections for student journalists

HB1561 Establishes workforce readiness program

Establishes within the Department of Education a workforce readiness program to provide opportunities for students to earn associate degrees, workforce development diplomas, pre-apprenticeship certificates, and other industry-recognized certificates. Requires the department to designate schools, including adult community schools, to participate in the program. The conference committee approved the bill which will be voted on by the House and Senate this week.

Additional Senate bills

SB514 Provides a tax refund to all state taxpayers

Approves $300 rebates for taxpayers who earn less than $100,000 a year and $100 for those who earn more than that. Those rebates apply to dependents, so a family of four with each person earning less than $100,000 a year could receive a total of $1,200. The bill also sets aside $500 million in the state’s emergency fund and $300 million in the state’s pension fund. It was approved by conference committee members Friday and will be up for final votes in both houses this week.

SB2862 Installs air conditioning in remaining schools that have no AC

Appropriates $10 million to the Department of Education to install air conditioning units in public school classrooms that have not received air conditioning units. This proposal was approved by the conference committee and both houses will vote on it this week.

Learn more: Lawmakers give initial OK for more public school AC funding

SB2821 Provides free menstrual products to students

Requires the Department of Education to provide menstrual products free of charge to all students on all public school campuses. Requires the State Public Charter School Commission to provide free menstrual products to all students on all public charter school campuses. Appropriates $2 million. The conference committee has approved the proposal and it next goes to a vote of both houses. If this bill becomes law, Hawaii would become the sixth state in the country with such a requirement.

Learn more: Menstrual equity bill passes House Education Committee

SB2893 Establishes school supply subsidies for Title I schools

Establishes a one-year school supply subsidy pilot program at all schools composed entirely of students eligible for participation in Title I, Part A, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act. Appropriates $806,000. Passed conference committee and will be scheduled for final House and Senate votes this week.

SB3098 Funds lead abatement needed in schools

Makes an emergency appropriation of $1.8 million for lead abatement measures at Department of Education elementary schools. This bill has passed both houses and has been sent to the governor.