HSTA recent news
Jill Meinecke2022-01-13T16:08:25-10:00January 13, 2022|Categories: News|Tags: City Council, compression, Council on Revenues, educators, Hawaii Department of Education, House Education Committee, HSTA legislative priorities, Jeanne Kapela, legislative session, Osa Tui Jr, salary compression, Step increase, step movement, Sylvia Luke, Veteran teachers|
With Hawaii expecting an improved economic outlook, leaders at the state Legislature plan on introducing proposals aimed at finally paying teachers for their years of experience, fixing salary compression.
Terri Inefuku2022-01-13T15:25:25-10:00January 13, 2022|Categories: News|Tags: Board of Education, collective bargaining agreement, contract, gender-neutral, Hawaii State Department of Education, HSTA, pronouns|
The 2021–23 Hawaii State Teachers Association Collective Bargaining Agreement, or contract, has been updated with gender-neutral language. Previous contracts utilized masculine pronouns in reference to gender types.
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.
Evan Kumasaki2022-01-10T15:20:16-10:00January 10, 2022|Categories: News|Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19, emergency loan, financial assistance, financial support|
The coronavirus pandemic has taken a heavy financial toll on many Hawaii families, our members included. With all that is going on, bills still need to be paid, groceries purchased, and basic needs met. Many individuals and families may also experience changes to employment that can affect household income.
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.
