Hawaii 24/7

MEDIA RELEASE Gov. Neil Abercrombie has announced the state has responded to the proposal by Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) with a settlement offer. The state’s offer is not in agreement with the latest HSTA proposal. Abercrombie issued the following statement: “The HSTA proposal is fiscally irresponsible and devoid of reasonable policy regarding standards and […]

Read the full story

MEDIA RELEASE The state Board and Department of Education and the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) have announced that teachers in the Zones of School Innovation (Nanakuli-Waianae and Ka‘u-Keaau-Pahoa complexes) and at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind (HSDB) voted to ratify an agreement for extended learning time and additional professional development […]

Read the full story

The following notice was posted Tuesday, Jan. 24 on the HSTA Facebook page: Aloha Head Faculty Reps: This is the information regarding the listening tour that is being conducted by the HSTA Board of Directors. HSTA leaders want to hear from teachers. This listening tour is just one of many opportunities being provided to teachers […]

Read the full story

In a letter dated Monday, Jan. 23 to members of the Hawaii State Teachers Association, president Wil Okabe said it was his fault teacher rejected the latest contract offer. Approximately 9,000 of the 12,500 teachers, counselors, and others voted Thursday on whether to accept the proposed contract. Those in favor accounted for 33 percent votes; […]

Read the full story

MEDIA RELEASE Gov. Neil Abercrombie sent a letter to the Hawaii State Teachers Association (HSTA) stating that the state is ready to work together to move forward and is requesting a proposal. “I believe the agreement was negotiated in good faith, and I am disappointed in the result,” Abercrombie said. “As always, I remain focused […]

Read the full story

The following statement was issued Thursday, Jan. 19 by Hawaii State Teachers Association president Wil Okabe: Mahalo to each of you who came out to vote on the proposed new contract. I talked to hundreds of you this week personally and at some of the polling locations. I could tell from the questions many teachers […]

Read the full story

Hawaii 24/7 Staff The Hawaii State Teachers Association members are set to vote Thursday, Jan. 19 to ratify a new 6-year contract that includes a back-loaded pay raise and 50 percent contribution to medical insurance coverage seen in other state contracts. In addition, the teachers union has scheduled an informational meeting 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. […]

Read the full story

MEDIA RELEASE The State of Hawaii has filed its response to the Hawaii State Teacher Association’s complaint to the Hawaii Labor Relations Board. Gov. Neil Abercrombie, Department of Education Schools Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi and Board of Education Chairman Don Horner issued the following joint statement: “The Attorney General has provided details of how the state […]

Read the full story

“I believe it is still possible to return children to their classrooms both this school year and next. “On Wednesday the Legislature will vote on a bill, SB 2124, that appropriates up to $67 million to restore instructional days for the 2010-2011 school year. I urge them to pass this measure. Without this bill we […]

Read the full story

Karin Stanton | Hawaii 24/7 Contributing Editor Teachers are on board with a deal between their union – State Teachers Association – and the Board of Education to end furlough Fridays. HSTA gave its members a chance to have their say on a proposal that would require approval from the Legislature and the governor to […]

Read the full story

MEDIA RELEASE (Editor’s Note: The Hawaii State Teachers Association has filed a complaint with the state’s labor board against Gov. Linda Lingle, claiming she “willfully and unlawfully” squashed the union’s tentative agreement with the Board of Education to end furlough days. Union and state education officials were willing to use $35 million in ‘rainy day’ […]

Read the full story

MEDIA RELEASE Gov. Linda Lingle has proposed a new plan to immediately return public school students to the classroom for 24 of the 27 days that will be lost between now and the end of the next school year if the current furlough schedule is allowed to continue. Under the governor’s latest plan, up to […]

Read the full story

MEDIA RELEASE The agreement between the Hawaii Teachers Association (HSTA) and the Department of Education and Board of Education is not a viable solution to restore 27 days of classroom time to Hawaii’s school children, the governor said. On Nov. 15 Gov. Linda Lingle proposed a comprehensive solution that would have assured that children would […]

Read the full story

“Governor Linda Lingle recently offered a plan to reopen Hawai‘i’s public schools on what has become known as ‘Furlough Fridays’. “It is unfortunate that the Hawai‘i State Teacher’s Association has not seized this opportunity by allowing a vote on the agreement that will bring children back to school.

Read the full story