Jill Meinecke2022-01-14T10:58:54-10:00January 13, 2022|Categories: News|Tags: COVID-19, COVID-19 test, Department of Health, FDA, Hawaii Department of Education, interim superintendent, Keith Hayashi, NEA, President Joe Biden|
Beginning Jan. 15, group health plans (self-insured plans) and health insurance issuers (such as insurance companies) must cover the cost of at-home over-the-counter COVID-19 tests approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, regardless of whether tests are ordered by a healthcare provider. Coverage must be provided without cost-sharing, prior authorization, or other medical-management requirements.
Terri Inefuku2022-01-13T15:48:42-10:00January 13, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: absent, coronavirus, COVID-19, leave, lesson plans, personal leave, shortage, substitute|
Despite the Hawaii State Department of Education’s repeated claims that there are plenty of substitute teachers in the pool (they say 3,200), we know otherwise. Many substitutes in that pool are not accepting jobs during COVID-19. Some of them tell us they’re getting a half dozen or more calls a day and turning them down.
Terri Inefuku2022-01-12T18:09:17-10:00January 12, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: collective bargaining agreement, contract violations, coronavirus, COVID-19, demand for bargaining, grievance, impact bargaining, Keith Hayashi, school closures, superintendent, teacher reassignments|
This week, the Hawaii State Teachers Association submitted a new demand for impact bargaining to interim Schools Superintendent Keith Hayashi and Hawaii Board of Education Chair Catherine Payne over recent changes by the Hawaii State Department of Education to members’ working conditions without appropriate negotiation or a consult-and-confer process, which are violations of our contract, HIDOE policy, and state law.
Terri Inefuku2022-01-11T16:14:45-10:00January 11, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19, guidance, Hawaii State Department of Education, health and safety, isolation, Keith Hayashi, Omicron, quarantine, superintendent|
Unfortunately, with omicron cases soaring, the HIDOE still appears woefully unprepared to manage staffing and COVID-19 response with entire classes moved to cafeterias, gyms, or auditoriums given teacher absences and substitute shortage.
Terri Inefuku2022-01-11T16:26:23-10:00January 11, 2022|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: boosted, coronavirus, COVID-19, COVID-19 test, fully vaccinated, isolation, quarantine, return to school, return to work, vaccine|
The two major areas that have changed include definitions for being boosted or fully vaccinated recently, for purposes of quarantine requirements, and a reduction in the number of days someone would need to quarantine from 10 to five.
Jill Meinecke2022-01-08T12:36:39-10:00January 7, 2022|Categories: News|Tags: 2022 Legislative session, COVID-19, government relations, hawaii state legislature, legislative priorities, legislative reception, pandemic, salary compression, teacher shortage crisis|
The Hawaii State Legislature will convene on Jan. 19. Here are the priorities we will be advocating at the Legislature. HSTA members are encouraged to attend their chapter’s legislative reception to share these priorities with their area lawmakers.
Jill Meinecke2022-01-05T18:00:36-10:00January 5, 2022|Categories: News|Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19, education, HGEA, HIDOE, keiki, Keith Hayashi, Omicron, Osa Tui Jr, safety, sean bacon, staffing shortages, UPW|
With the recent surge in omicron-variant COVID-19 cases in the islands, Hawaii public schools saw 1,600 staff absences Wednesday, the Hawaii State Department of Education (HIDOE) revealed in a press conference.
Terri Inefuku2021-12-29T17:22:39-10:00December 29, 2021|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: contingency plans, coronavirus, COVID-19, data, Department of Education, Department of Health, DOE, DOH, Hawaii State Department of Education, HIDOE, Omicron, reopening, variant|
The Hawaii State Department of Education and the Hawaii Department of Health had time to make better plans for situations such as this and failed to act in a responsible way.
Terri Inefuku2021-12-16T18:12:55-10:00December 16, 2021|Categories: COVID-19, News|Tags: Board of Education, coronavirus, COVID-19, Delta, Hawaii Board of Education, Hawaii State Department of Education, health and safety, Keith Hayashi, Omicron, variant|
The Hawaii Board of Education placed the update on its Dec. 16 general meeting agenda at the request of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. HSTA firmly believes regular updates to the board and the public help to improve concerns about transparency and accountability.
Jill Meinecke2021-12-16T16:28:03-10:00December 16, 2021|Categories: News|Tags: 21 hours, Board of Education, COVID-19, education, ESSER, Governor Ige, Hawaii DOE, HSTA, Keith Hayashi, pandemic, pandemic funds, professional development, teachers|
At a Board of Education meeting Thursday called to hear the Hawaii Department of Education (HIDOE)’s plan to use federal funds in the second and third rounds of the Educational Stabilization Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds, education department officials said they do not plan to use federal funds to restore 21 hours of job-embedded professional development (PD) for Hawaii educators.
