Bad bill for teachers
I need to clarify some information regarding teachers’ issues with Senate Bill 2789. First of all, probationary teachers do go through a minimum two-year probationary period and are evaluated each year. They only get tenure on the first day after they passed their probationary period. Tenure is not given freely, it is earned.
Currently, tenured teachers are evaluated on a five-year cycle. In addition, the principal already can evaluate a tenured teacher off-cycle. So tenure is not a “free ride,” as some may think. It provides for the protection of due process rights, which should be for any employee, public or private.
Teachers are not afraid of evaluation. They voted down the state’s proposal because the language regarding evaluations was vague, much like the language in this bill. Any evaluation needs to be clearly defined, fair, reliable and validated by research.
This bill takes away collective bargaining rights of teachers. These issues need to be negotiated. The Hawaii State Teachers Association has always been open to negotiating with the governor and his appointed Board of Education. This bill could also have further implications to all public workers. The actions of the governor, the Legislature and the BOE are being compared to the actions taken by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and the Wisconsin State Legislature. Their agenda basically eliminated public worker rights. I don’t want Hawaii to become another Wisconsin!
I am a teacher at Keaau Middle School and a HSTA board director. The Board of Directors consists entirely of teachers. My colleagues and I believe in the public education system and our students. I always believed that Hawaii was the most democratic state, and our rights and liberties were sacrosanct. The state needs to negotiate these issues, not legislate or mandate.
Edwin Kagawa
President, HSTA Hilo Chapter
Mahalo, county
We at the Hawaii Drag Racing League would like to thank the County of Hawaii’s Parks & Recreation Ho‘olulu Complex for having the Hilo Drag Strip cleaned up by their workers, inmates and parks maintenance crew. The workers did a wonderful job, and now racers and spectators can enjoy races in a clean and safe environment.
We would also like to thank those who paved the road into the drag strip. It is now easier and safer for the racers to bring in their race cars and for spectators to get to the facility.
Keith Aguiar Sr.,
Keith Aguiar Jr., Jordan
Aguiar and family
Hawaii Drag Racing League
