HIDOE releases health and safety guidance for the 2022–23 school year
On July 26, 2022, the Hawaii State Department of Education updated its health and safety guidance for schools for the 2022–23 school year including some significant changes.
HIDOE announces changes to COVID-19 protocols
On March 23, the Hawaii State Department of Education issued announcements related to changing COVID-19 protocols. Of note, masks will continue to be mandated in indoor settings such as classroom spaces.
Quarantine, sick leave benefits explained
With COVID-19 cases in our community continuing to rise and notification letters about cases in a number of our schools already being sent to staff and families, questions about sick leave and quarantine leave have come up from Bargaining Unit 05 members as we start the 2021–22 school year.
Schools scrambling without direction from HIDOE as omicron cases surge
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.
HIDOE updates return to school/work criteria to reflect quarantine changes
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.
‘Enough is enough’: HSTA issues official demand for impact bargaining
In a news conference Wednesday, HSTA President Osa Tui, Jr. outlined the stark discrepancy between what officials are telling the public and what’s really happening in Hawaii’s public schools.
An open letter regarding ‘The Safety Our Students Deserve’
The first weeks of the 2021–22 school year have been incredibly alarming as COVID-19 case counts skyrocket to record levels.
State auditor slams HIDOE for lack of transparency on campus COVID-19 cases
“DOE had not been publicizing positive cases until pressed by HSTA. Then, citing privacy laws, DOE only provided information by large complex areas, prompting the teachers’ union to begin identifying specific schools,” the auditor’s report said.