We need testimony from teachers, counselors, and school librarians at DOE and public charter schools in support of SB 2488, Proposed SD1. Please take a few minutes to write and submit testimony (see directions later in this story).
According to the language in this bill, it will "1) Make the necessary salary adjustments for approximately 6,300 experienced senior teachers by recognizing their professional service to the Department of Education through discretionary salary adjustments; (2) provide funding for additional teacher pay for the areas of special education, hard-to-staff geographic locations, and Hawaiian language immersion programs…" or a combination of both (1) and (2).
Currently, the bill only asks for $25 million and we really need $45 million more than that to carry out both of these badly needed improvements for a total of $70 million.
View the sample testimony below and feel free to copy and paste, but please revise the parts in red to share your own story.
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
RE: SB 2488 Proposed SD1, RELATING TO TEACHER COMPENSATION
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020
2:45 p.m.
Chair Kidani and members of the Education Committee:
My name is [INSERT NAME]. I am a teacher at [INSERT SCHOOL] in [INSERT DISTRICT] on [INSERT ISLAND]. I am submitting testimony in support of SB 2488, proposed SD1.
Please provide enough funds to fix the teacher salary compression issue, and provide funding for the pay differentials for teachers in special education, Hawaiian language immersion, and hard to staff positions to show that we as a state value our hardworking teachers. The Department of Education will need $45 million more than this bill provides to do so. Our teachers are worth it as they are important for the future of our keiki.
[In one or two short paragraphs, tell your personal story or specific anecdotes about how fixing the salary compression issue and/or differentials will help you, and/or others to remain public school teachers, librarians, or counselors, help your students, or how it will help other teachers from leaving the profession or our state.]
We need your help. Mahalo.
[INSERT NAME, DISTRICT, ISLAND]
You can submit your testimony on the Hawaii State Legislature website.
Create your own account on www.capitol.hawaii.gov by clicking on "Register" in the upper right corner, as that makes it easier to submit future testimony. You can also email your testimony directly to EDUtestimony@capitol.hawaii.gov.
Please submit testimony before 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4, if possible, but the committee will accept testimony until the committee meets Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 2:45 p.m.
During the legislative session, we usually receive just 48 hours notice about committee hearings, leading to our urgent, last-minute testimony requests. If we had more notice, we'd gladly give you more notice too.
Please share widely!