Superintendent says distance learning decisions up to complex area leaders

2020-08-21T16:46:00-10:00August 21, 2020|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Parents, teachers, and even a public school student pleaded with the Hawaii State Board of Education Thursday to continue distance learning at public schools through at least the end of the first quarter, a decision state Schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto said she’s leaving to the 15 complex area superintendents across the state.

Email the Board of Education, push for changes to keep our schools safe

2020-08-18T17:19:00-10:00August 18, 2020|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Despite our calls to the contrary, many schools across the state welcomed thousands of students on campuses today, and additional face-to-face interactions are planned through the week. This cannot continue if we truly want to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in our communities.

HSTA alarmed by lack of transparency about coronavirus cases at Hawaii’s public schools

2021-07-08T16:33:13-10:00August 12, 2020|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

Over the last few days, teachers across the state have contacted HSTA to report confirmed COVID-19 cases at four schools. In each of these cases, teachers were notified, but parents and the greater public were not. This is happening less than one week before students are supposed to return for face-to-face learning and testing on school campuses.

Unions submit joint testimony to BOE on school reopening options

2020-07-29T13:07:00-10:00July 29, 2020|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , |

On Thursday, July 30, at 1 p.m., the board will hold a special meeting to discuss school reopening options. The agenda includes three action items that link to background, recommendations, and implications as submitted by the Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE). On Tuesday, July 28, we submitted joint testimony with HGEA and UPW on all three action items, which we are sharing below.

BOE sets July 30 special meeting to consider school reopening calendar changes

2020-07-25T10:49:00-10:00July 25, 2020|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

The Hawaii State Board of Education (BOE) has scheduled a special meeting Thursday to take action on a number of scenarios that would give educators more time to prepare before students return to class during the pandemic.

BOE to consider school calendar changes because of outcry

2020-07-25T04:32:00-10:00July 25, 2020|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |

BOE Chair Catherine Payne said the board will “hold a special meeting to address the concerns in the testimony about training and health matters that came up. At that point, we could also consider a waiver (of the 180 required student instructional days) for some additional professional development days.”

Shortage differentials to continue following passionate testimony before the Board of Education

2020-07-24T17:56:00-10:00July 24, 2020|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

HSTA President Corey Rosenlee says the differentials “worked better than our dreams ever imagined,” and not just by filling the actual positions. Rosenlee says higher education programs that funnel educators into these positions also saw a significant increase.

Principals, EAs, and others join teachers calling for more time before students return to campus

2020-07-23T17:05:00-10:00July 23, 2020|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

James Sunday, Radford High School principal, submitted testimony to the BOE that said, “Although we are expected to be ‘good soldiers’ who follow directives, we can not in good conscience move forward without expressing the concerns we continue to have in regards to reopening our schools. The depth of these concerns keep us up at night as we hold the health and safety of our individual communities in our hands.”

HSTA, HGEA, UPW issue joint statement calling for delayed return of students to campus

2020-07-23T12:11:00-10:00July 23, 2020|Categories: News|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |

We have a critical obligation to our communities to take every step and precaution necessary to ensure the safety of our students and members as we reopen schools.

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