H A W A I I E D U C A T I O N M A T T E R S
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HAWAII WINS Race to the Top Funding!
The Department of Education announced this morning that Hawaii is among 10 winning states in the 2nd round of the Federal Race to the Top competition! We will be getting $75 million which is the largest grant a State of our size could win. Reforms made possible by the funds will include longitudinal data systems to track student progress with more than a yearly test, more comprehensive teacher assessments and enactment of ambitious plans to turn around the most chronically failing schools in the State.
As Education Secretary Arne Duncan said today: "Despite the furlough days, Hawaii has a real chance to take student achievement to a different level. Hawaii absolutely put its best foot forward."
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/101384134.html
Download Our First Newsletter
What educational reforms will affect my child’s school this year? How many of us voted in the last BOE election? What Hawaii schools are succeeding and how? For current information on these topics and others download HEM’s first newsletter. Not on our mailing list yet? You can sign up today using the “HEM mailing list” box on the left sidebar. Let’s stay connected to exciting and important changes coming to public education!
CANDIDATE FORUMS ON EDUCATION
Community organizations focusing on education will be holding a series of three candidate forums at the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus:
• Board of Education At-Large candidates, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Mon, Aug. 23
• Lieutenant Governor candidates, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Mon. Sept. 6, Labor Day
• Governor candidates, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sun. Sept 12
This is the only candidate forum for BOE offices, and is a unique opportunity to learn about and have your questions answered by a panel of 10 confirmed candidates. The public (parents, students, concerned citizens) are invited to submit questions at www.sos808.org.
For details go to: http://www.sos808.org/index.php/Main_Page
Message from Interim Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi
re: Hawaii DOE Race to the Top
Hawaii picked as finalist in round 2 of Race to the Top!
Hawaii is eligible for up to $75 million in Federal grant money for public school reform if we are a winning State. Interim Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi goes to Washington the week of August 9th to present Hawaii’s case for improving low performing schools. The winners will be announced in September.
Article with good breakdown of how money would be spent:
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20100728_Hawaii_is_finalist_for_education_funds.html
KITV video and interview with HEM’s Jo Curran:
http://www.kitv.com/video/24418007/
The search for a Superintendent is ON!
Today the Hawaii State Board of Education began seeking applicants for the position of State Superintendent of Education.
The person selected for the job will have a profound effect on our public school system. The BOE is collecting public feedback through an online Superintendent Profile Survey. Please take the 15 minutes it requires to complete the survey! The survey will be available until July 31, 2010. You can access the survey here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T6TJ5C8
The Board will be accepting applications until August 9, 2010. You can visit the Board's new website, www.hawaiiboe.net, and click on the "Superintendent Search" link. This is a dedicated page with background information about the superintendent search, details on how to apply, job description, a search timeline and updates.
BOE chairman Garrett Toguchi states, "As the leader of Hawaii's public schools, the superintendent is responsible for an organization that touches the lives of thousands of children and families and has a direct impact on the state's social and economic health. We encourage everyone to fill out this simple survey and share with the Board the qualities they want in a new superintendent. The community's input will help ensure the Board selects the right superintendent for Hawaii."
Let’s make sure our input is heard!
Aloha HEM Friends
We hope this message finds you well and enjoying your summer!
Furloughs are behind us and HEM is looking forward. When HEM first
began last September we made a commitment to remain a strong voice
for parents and partner in public education.
We are happy to announce that we have officially filed our 501c3
application with the IRS, and are taking other necessary steps to
become a formal organization.
To make HEM a reputable organization that we can all be proud to be a
part of, we need your help! Please share your ideas and be an
important part of the development of HEM. Take 5 minutes to answer 9
short questions about what you would like to see HEM become. Your
energy, support and ideas are truly valued and will be incorporated as
HEM formalizes.
Please click on this link to answer the questions:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/K25ML3S
Thank you for all that you do!
Your team at Hawaii Education Matters
Live Aloha June 19th 2010
Kanu Hawaii’s annual day of showing aloha through volunteerism is this weekend! Help your community during this time of thin budgets and cutbacks and show how much difference a group of people showing compassion can make. Click here to learn more at the Kanu Hawaii homepage. From the Heeia stream restoration project to helping at the Manoa Shelter for Women and Children there is a project for you to make a difference.
Project highlight:
Waikiki Elementary School Farm - Growing Food 'by Kids 4 Kids'
Help with construction and gardening to improve the school farm for the keiki at Waikiki Elementary school. This Kokua Hawaii Foundation 'AINA In Schools teaching garden gives the kids healthy snacks and a hands on lesson in nutrition. Click here to learn about the project.
The End of Furlough Fridays!
5/25/10
Governor Linda Lingle announced today an agreement to end furlough Fridays. The plan has 4 components:
- 57.2 million from the hurricane fund for non-charter schools.
- 2.2 million from the American Recovery and Rebuilding Act (stimulus) for charter schools.
- 6 planning days from public school teachers changed to instructional days.
- Major Hawaii banks to offer additional $10 million line of credit at 0 interest to State IF it is needed to return all DOE staff to work.
We are so excited to see our community come together and end school furloughs. Thank you parents and students for being part of the solution by speaking out! It was a long road but proves that there is little we can’t accomplish for our keiki’s education together.
Breaking news from the Advertiser:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20100525/BREAKING01/100525049?source=rss_breaking
Details and video on the 6 o'clock news:
Meeting with Governor Lingle 5/21/10
This week Governor Lingle invited leaders from HEM, Save our Schools Hawaii, The Learning Coalition and about 15 teachers and principals from all over the island to meet with her. Her goal was to discuss the three education bills currently sitting on her desk waiting to be signed into law. Our communications director, Jo Curran, worked very hard over the past months to make this meeting a reality. We’re glad that as she went door to door at the Capitol with our leadership team of Ann Davis and Debbie Schatz that they never gave up communicating with Linda Smith and the Governor’s office.
The 3 hour meeting was very positive. The governor was eager to resolve the furloughs and sign off on the use of $57 million from the hurricane fund before the last day of school on May 26th. The DOE will likely need to provide the additional $10 million that they require to eliminate all furlough days. We are very optimistic that the furloughs will be eliminated for 2010-2011.
The Governor was also receptive to the minimum instructional hours bill, (HB2486). HEM parent Melanie Bailey came prepared with a handout of the exhaustive research she has done and presented in several committees in support of guaranteed instructional time for children. Her presentation was very well received and we were very encouraged by how supportive and enthusiastic the teachers were about this bill.
The Governor strongly believes that the BOE should be appointed directly by the Governor and so is likely to veto HB2377. This bill would define a process for choosing candidates for the BOE that the Governor would then have to choose from, similar to the UH board of regents. The referendum that the Legislature passed to ask voters if they want an appointed BOE will still be on the ballet in November.
This interaction between our State’s leader, parents and educators should make us all feel optimistic about the future of public education in Hawaii. No more furloughs and guaranteed instructional hours would be a great step forward for our kids! And a good beginning to building a better system.
KITV article on meeting: http://www.kitv.com/news/23629564/detail.html
Teach-in this Friday at the Capitol
A fun, free, educational event for our keiki!
Friday May 14th, 9:00 – 2:00pm State Capitol rotunda
Save Our Schools Hawaii is hosting a Teach-in this Friday at the capitol. Let’s join them on what we hope is the last day our kids will be on furlough. Enjoy educational stations, interactive classes, arts and crafts and entertainment from Makana, Kealoha and Intrepid.
Snacks will be provided and SOS will also be accepting food donations for homeless shelters.
Click here to download the event flier and here to visit the Save Our Schools Facebook event page. Hope to see you there!
Legislative Updates
Hurricane fund money to end furloughs. 180 days of instruction. An appointed school board. Three very important bills passed out of committee on Friday 4/23/10. Learn more about what's next on our legislative page .
Can one person make public education in Hawaii better? Yes! You can make a difference by choosing to be involved with your child and your local school. April 18th – 24th is National Volunteer in Public School Week. Make a pledge this week to be the change that Hawaii’s keiki need!
Join the campaign to get involved in education:
Visit http://www.kanuhawaii.org/ourkeiki and commit to one of the following actions:
R I will tutor, check homework or read aloud to a child (or my child) at least 1 hour/week
R I will attend the next meeting of my school’s SCC or PTSA
R I will volunteer to help a public school and checkwww.helphawaiischools.com for ways I can help.
R I will encourage an 8th or 9th grader to pledge for the BOE Step Up Diploma by May 31, 2010.
R I will volunteer to speak with middle school and high school students about the importance of college and career readiness (join the Step Up Speakers Bureau).
Participate in a school service project with Americorps on May 8th:
The DOE has 13 Americorps volunteers working to improve volunteerism in our public schools who will organize projects you can participate in across the state. Watch for project info at www.helphawaiischools.com.
Obviously we are disappointed in the Governor's response, but not entirely surprised. No party is blameless in this situation, but so far, no party has been prepared to step up and take the leading role in fixing it.
Leader’s responses to “The People’s Plan” in the media today:
Star Bulletin: "Lingle resists parents furlough Friday plan"
Advertiser: "Hawaii parents propose compromise on school furloughs"
KHON: "Parents plan restores 15 school furloughs"
The People’s Plan
This morning we stood up with a coalition of parents, students and community members to present “The People’s Plan” in response to recent events surrounding the ongoing furlough Friday crisis. The proposed solution addresses the concerns of every party involved.
How it works:
There are 21 furlough days remaining in this school year and next. The proposal calls for paying for the first 9 furlough days, beginning April 23rd, with funds offered by Governor Linda Lingle at a cost of $55 million.
We appreciate the teacher’s decision to give up 6 planning days. This eliminates a total of 15 furlough days. This plan will keep children in school until March 15, 2011, allowing political, educational and community leaders enough time to work out a solution to eliminate the last 6 furlough days.
Why it works:
- It will end the public school furlough Friday crisis and get children back to school immediately
- It demonstrates that all parties are willing and able to work out a solution that prioritizes education
- It is fiscally responsible and socially aware and leaves more money for other urgent community needs
- It demonstrates a rededication by parents, teachers, students and community to making public education a priority
In this polarized environment we urge all parties to focus on the advantages to children of resolving the crisis now. No one party will get everything they have asked for but Hawaii’s Keiki will be the winners.
Save Our Schools Hawaii sit-in protesters need our support
The parents and students who have made large sacrifices, including Friday's citations for trespassing (pic above), to sit-in at Governor Lingle's office since last Wednesday need our support. Their central demand is that Governor Lingle become personally involved in negotiating a settlement with the HSTA and BOE. While all these parties are at fault for failing to put our keiki first the Governor is the missing ingredient at the negotiating table. Don't Hawaii's children deserve for all these adults to persist until they can agree? Come join us tomorrow, (Sunday), at 5:30pm to the Capitol rotunda to show your support for the sit-in and public education. This is a gathering to celebrate and show support for getting our children back to school. There is more information on both this event and other ways you can help with the sit-in on the SOS website and Facebook page. Hope to see you there!
HEM Radio Hour 5:00pm Thursdays on AM 830 KHVH
April 1st's show will be about the furlough negotiations as well as House bills HB 2377 for an appointed BOE and HB 2486 for an 180 day school year. HEM parents have been working hard to attend hearings for these bills and stay up to date on the negotiations.
Have an opinion on these issues? Call in your questions to the show at 521-8383!
Governor Lingle and the HSTA/BOE at standoff again
The battle of the furlough plans in the news this week has been disappointing. We expect our leaders to stop using children as pawns and start putting them back in school. We attended and gave testimony in support of SB2124 to use Hurricane Fund monies to stop the furloughs at the House Finance Committee hearing yesterday:
http://www.starbulletin.com/news/20100326_Legislators_hear_appeals_on_furloughs.html
Kudos to student Katy Graham, 11, for giving her testimony to the board!
We also endorsed the HSTA/BOE proposal to eliminate the remaining furloughs this year and all of next year using $92 million from the Hurricane Fund. We urge Governor Lingle to consider our kids needs as higher than her differences with the union or her desire for a constitutional amendment.
Parents to demand answers at BOE meeting tonight 7:00pm
We will join forces with Save Our Schools tonight to put pressure on the BOE and urge them to bring an end to the furlough crisis.
BOE public meeting Thursday 3/18
Meeting notice and schedule
Public testimony will be accepted starting at 7:00pm
Come out to show support or to testify. How are the furloughs affecting your family? What do you think of the 2010 school calendar recently released that looks the same as this year? Several of us will be bringing our children so please bring you kids too as you stand up for their right to an education!
Renewable Energy Furlough Friday Workshop
Calling all high school students! Don’t miss this free workshop, especially if you are interested in science, technology, sustainability and entrepreneurship. Spend a dynamic Friday with professionals learning about the future of renewable energy in Hawaii.
Friday March 12th 8:30 – 2:30 at Sopogy Headquarters, 2660 Waiwai Loop near Ke’Ehi Lagoon Park.
Presented by the Hogan Entrepreneurial Program at Chaminade University in partnership with Sopogy and Energy Industries.
Get the Facts Forum in Support of Education and Essential Services
You are invited to a forum this Wednesday with economists and advocates of saving essential services for Hawaii’s people. Come out to hear alternatives to continued cuts to the programs that serve our island’s most vulnerable.
Time: Wednesday March 10th
10:00 – 11:00 am
Place: State Capitol
Auditorium chamber level
The event is sponsored by PHOCUSED – protecting Hawaii’s Ohana, Children, Underserved, Elderly and Disabled. Convenient parking is available in the basement of the capitol accessed from Punchbowl. For more information click here for the Event Flyer .
House Education Committee Hearing important bills Wednesday 3/10
This Wednesday, March 10th at 2:00 and 2:30pm the House Education Committee will hear a number of bills of interest to parents. Now is the time to testify. You can come to show support by sitting in the hearing or say a few words of testimony if you choose. Please wear your HEM T-shirt if you have one. It makes a difference for legislators to see and hear us. Testimony can be as simple as, “I support this bill, please pass it”, to a more detailed description of why you support it and what you recommend. More >>>
Representative Lyla Berg at Wilson Elementary Monday 3/8 at 8:15am
Parents at Wilson Elementary are meeting with Representative Berg, the Education Committee Vice-Chair, to discuss legislation pending to end the furloughs and reform the school system. You are invited to join them in the cafeteria for a discussion of what this legislation could mean to your kids and how you can be involved.
Click here to view the flyer sent out at Wilson to help parents engage with their representatives.
HEM Radio Hour Thursdays
Tune in every Thursday to the Mike Buck show on AM 830 KHVH for the HEM hour! Todays guests are House Representative Lyla Berg and public school mom and HEM member Melanie Bailey. They will be speaking on the status of current education bills. Call in your questions to the show at 521-8383
Brown Bag Lunch At The Capitol
Tired of furlough Friays? Want to do something positive and create change? Want to meet other like minded parents? Then join us!
Starting Tuesday, March 2nd, HEM will hold Brown Bag lunches at the Capitol EVERY 1st Tuesday of the month.
12:00 - 1:00pm
Meet at the rotunda
Bring your own lunch and talk story about quality public educaton.
Hope to see you there!
Please RSVP to Ann at anndavis@hawaiieducationmatters.org
Legislation being considered that impacts public education
There are a lot of proposals being heard by the Legislature about education right now. Here is a brief summary of bills going through committee hearings in the House and Senate. More >>>
Thank you volunteers!
Thank you for your support of our "Cookies for Classrooms" furlough event today. Because of you we kept the Furlough crisis in the news and handed out hundreds of bags of cookies at the legislature and on the street. Good work!
You can view more pictures taken by our friends at Kanu Hawaii here.
Governor Lingle's State of the State Today at 10:00am
At 10:00 Governor Lingle will give her State of the State address. We at HEM believe that the Governor has the power to greatly reduce the furloughs. We call on her leadership to overcome the differences between her office, the DOE and HSTA.
Please tune in to watch her address and the short commercial ad right before it sponsored by The Voice For Learning. We have signed on to endorse the ad which replay's the Governor's statements when she instituted the Furloughs. Governor Lingle did the right thing in admitting the school Furloughs were a mistake. Please encourage her to follow through and make sure the mistake is fixed.
Watch the State of the State live online at the Advertiser:
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/
Aloha parents and supporters,
We hope that all of you will be able to join us this 9th Furlough
Friday at the Capitol. NOW more than ever we need to let our leaders know that furlough Fridays have not gone away and NEITHER HAVE WE!
This Friday YOU have the opportunity to:
1. Make YOUR voice heard nationally and locally.
2. Let YOUR Legislator know how YOU feel.
3. Increase media attention during a very important political week
(the National Republican Governor's convention).
4. Let the Governor/HSTA/BOE know that this situation is still
UNACCEPTABLE!
Spread the word FAR and WIDE. It is up to US!
Mahalo,
Ann Davis, Director
1000 Student Voices display on Opening Day
Save Our Schools Hawaii will be hosting a briefing on opening day of the legislature for their 1000 Student Voices About Education campaign that many of you have participated in. Mahalo for your time and energy as we hope to start the session off right with a focus on hearing what students have to say about their education and FF crisis.
Wednesday, January 20th
Ongoing 12-2p
Capitol, room 225
Pupus served!
This is a great opportunity to view student art and talk to legislators and other community members about the value of education. Please come out to show your support.
There are still two days for students to make submissions to the project!
http://www.sos808.org/index.php/Main_Page
Tune in to Community Matters on KHVH this Sunday 7:00am
Public Education in Hawaii is the topic of Mike Buck's Community Matters show this Sunday the 24th from 7 - 8:00am. He'll be having an in-depth discussion with Debbie Berger, founder of The Learning Coalition, and Liam Skilling, public school parent and advocate from Save Our Schools Hawaii >>>more
Governor Lingle says her current offer is final
Our communications director Jo Curran expresses our disgust at all sides unwillingness to compromise.
http://www.kitv.com/video/22252991/
Letter to members and supporters of public education
Dear Friends,
Today, and over the next few days, I hope you take a moment to
congratulate yourself on all of the time and effort you committed to
restoring furlough fridays. I am sure many of us are experiencing
feelings of anger, frustration, shock, and disappointment tonight as
you watch the news and read press releases on the internet. But you
should also feel a very strong sense of pride. Pride in what has been
accomplished in just 8 short weeks. Pride in the grassroots movement
that has been formed to ensure quality public education. Pride in
being an exceptional parent advocate. Pride in every single phone call
you made, email you sent, and moment you spent at the capitol and away
from your children. Pride in the friendships that have been made and
the champions that have been cultivated during this process.
As the New Year begins, we will call upon all of your passion and
energy once again. This battle may be done for now, but there are
others waiting for us.
We knew that our fight to restore furlough fridays was only the
beginning. Now we must rest and prepare for the work that awaits us
in 2010. Regular session begins on the third Tuesday of January 2010.
We will begin working on new legislation for quality education to be
submitted during this session. 2010 is also a very important election
year. We will remember our unwavering supporters, and we will also
remember those who did not choose to put education at the top of their
priority list. What we did not have at the negotiating table today
was a vote. We all have that in 2010.
But for now, HEM will take the next week off. We won't participate in
an angry blaming game during one of the most magical times of the
year. And we refuse to engage in the toxic political environment we
are witnessing tonight. It is time to restore some balance to our
lives, and truly focus on what is most important - our children and
our families. After the Christmas holiday we will prepare for the
2010 regular legislative session. We need your energy. This energy
will be what pushes our movement forward.
However downtrodden, depressed or disillusioned you might feel
tonight, please remember that without your help, your passion and
your energy, none of this would have been possible.
It's true, we have not banished furlough Fridays yet, but we did change
attitudes, and we did make waves.
We could not have done any of it without you.
Merry Christmas.
See you at the Capitol.
Much aloha,
Ann and Jo
Negotiations Suspended
Our leadership has utterly failed the children of Hawaii. Furlough talks broke down today with renewed accusations on all sides.
Hawaii picked as finalist in round 2 of Race to the Top!
Hawaii is eligible for up to $75 million in Federal grant money for public school reform if we are a winning State. Interim Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi goes to Washington the week of August 9th to present Hawaii’s case for improving low performing schools. The winners will be announced in September.
Article with good breakdown of how money would be spent:
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/20100728_Hawaii_is_finalist_for_education_funds.html
KITV video and interview with HEM’s Jo Curran:
http://www.kitv.com/video/24418007/