Testimony BOE Aloha, I am testifying in support of Action Item A, for

Testimony BOE

From: brad silva <[email protected]> on behalf of brad silva

Sent:

Friday, February 12, 2021 8:39 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

TESTIMONY

Aloha,

I am testifying in support of Action Item A, for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I am a Special Education teacher on Hawaii Island for 18 years. I was in the midst of leaving the

classroom / profession, but then discussion of the differential pay for SPED teachers were being

discussed. When it happened, it definitely made me want to hold my position. To finally get

compensated for all the EXTRA work we do as case managers was awesome. Now that it is being

taken away, I am waiting for the job postings and exploring other avenues due to the loss of pay.

Please reconsider allowing differentials for SPED, LANGUAGE, and hard to fill positions.

Mahalo for your time,

Brad Silva

SPED Teacher

Keaau Middle School

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

Testimony BOE

From: Kaylie Breaux <[email protected]om> on behalf of Kaylie Breaux

Sent:

Friday, February 12, 2021 9:10 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Hello,

I am testifying in regards to action item A.

My husband and I are both HIDOE teachers, I am a special education teacher for middle school and he is math.

Without question and as a great understatement, this has been the most challenging year of my career as a

special educator. Since August, I have spent countless hours beyond the workday trying my absolute hardest to

serve my already challenged students through a computer screen. As this wasn’t adequately meeting their needs,

I advocated for them and sacrificed my own safety as well as my family’s safety to bring them into my

classroom so I could support them both educationally and emotionally during this traumatic time for them. In

addition to my in-person learners, I still have to balance the needs of the students in special education whose

parents are uncomfortable with bringing them into school, let alone learn technology and create digital lesson

plans in a completely different format than I have ever practiced before. On top of this all, I have had to

complete two extra rounds of IEP paperwork and meetings regarding COVID Impact Plans as required by the

district for special education students. My body is drained, my mental health has suffered tremendously, and I

have made sacrifices out of love for my Kelli that I never I would have to make. The $10,000 differential I have

received as a special educator has kept our family afloat as we struggle to pay bills with two teacher salaries

raising a family with Hawaii’s high cost of living. In response to the memo from Superintendent Kishimoto, my

husband and I have already applied to outside positions due to the fact that we simply cannot afford the pay cut.

The stress and tears that pending furloughs have caused for our family combined with now taking away our

much needed differential has made us feel extremely undervalued, unappreciated, and honestly, unable to

emotionally and financially bear the stress we continue to be unnecessarily subjected to as our superintendent

makes extreme and bold statements prematurely and without accountability. Please, for the sake of our keiki

and your kumus who have sacrificed more than others could imagine, do not cut our differentials.

Testimony BOE

From: [email protected]

Sent:

Friday, February 12, 2021 9:43 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Pay Differentials are necessary and covered by Federal Funding

Dear Board of Education Members,

The pay differential for Special Education teachers is something that has been very important to my family. The workload

and legal responsibilities of a Special Education teacher are enormous. This Presidents Day weekend will see me

spending at least 12 hours developing draft Individual Education Programs for two of my students to meet deadlines for

annual meetings next week. I estimate I spend at least an extra 200 hours every year at weekends completing work that

cannot be fit into the already full and demanding workweek.

The correct appropriation of CARES funds is important not just on a policy level but we must adhere to guidelines laid out

for the use of such funds. DOE and BOE must use federal stimulus funding to avoid layoffs and pay cuts. The stimulus

funding should be enough to avoid pay cuts and furloughs. The next stimulus package coming from DC means an

additional 442 million for education and will be enough continue to operate payroll and programs. Indeed that is EXACTLY

what it is designed to do.

Thank you. Angela Huntemer M.Ed.

Testimony BOE

From: Todd Holmberg <tholmberg922@gmail.com> on behalf of Todd Holmberg

Sent:

Friday, February 12, 2021 9:55 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Teachers need you

Dear Superintendent Kishimoto,

I am a special education teacher at Maui High School. I changed my career in 2019 to become a teacher in order

to do something that matters. My job is challenging but it the most rewarding position I've ever had.

I really felt like Hawaii wanted to keep encouraging good people to make a difference in kids lives with

incentives like the diferential. If HI takes that away and makes additional cuts in pay, it's game over for me and

many other teachers.

There will be now way to live here, with the insane housing prices and so few extra income options now, due to

COVID related business closures.

A mass exodus of SPED Teachers, will lead to cuts to services kids need, spurring endless litigation from

frustrated parents. You're going to need us more than ever now. Despite the incredible efforts teachers have

made to teach online, a lot of ground will still need to made up once we're all back in the classroom.

I fear draconian cuts at this juncture will exasperate an already tenuous educational deficit, which could be

devastating to so many of our students for years to come.

I urge you to look for ways to hold on to Hawaii's teachers. We can't afford to push them out of the field or out

of Hawaii completely.

Thank you

Testimony BOE

From: Holly Sullivan <holsullivan@gmail.com> on behalf of Holly Sullivan

Sent:

Friday, February 12, 2021 10:40 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha,

I am testifying in support of Action Item A, for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent Christina

Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff

geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I am a Special Education Teacher at Kalihi Waena in a Fully Self Contained classroom. My classroom size has

almost doubled from last year's number of students. My students require significant adult assistance and I have

a devoted staff dedicated to serving their needs. The pandemic has increased the demands and time for all of us

to do our jobs. This year feels like the workload has significantly increased beyond any of the demanding 20

years I have worked in special education. Additionally, there have been less funds available. My principal is

creative and supportive but due to the varying demands (pandemic, etc.) and budget cuts there have been less

funds available. While we were awarded a grant from Hawaii State Federal Credit Union for materials and best

practices software, Boardmaker Professional, we still have many needs. The stipend has been a huge benefit to

be me:

1) I do not have to work 2-3 jobs to make ends meet. Hawaii is very expensive and I have huge student loans . I

am fortunate that my landlord is teacher-friendly. This does not mean I have much money left for savings, etc.

but I am able to survive.

2) I have also been able to use the additional money to buy the materials, or have upfront money to buy

materials cheaper on Amazon, that my students need and/or benefit from. These include materials, curriculum,

support, specialty items, and everyday items that include but are not limited to: noise cancelling headphones,

velcro (lots of it), math mats curriculum, sensory items, laminating cartridges for quick in class cold process

laminating, noise cancelling headphones, card stock (for picture icons), paper towels (we are going through a

big Costco package every 2 weeks for bathrooming assistance and my staff and I are doing our best to keep up

with these needs). I was also able to purchase 2 additional storage units for home to hold the many materials I

have bought personally in the past for students with special needs as there is not enough space for materials at

school with the social distancing demands and increased class size and adults required to assist them. Also we

need more than one set of materials for safety and social distancing.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our students and staff in these difficult times.

Holly Sullivan

Testimony BOE

From: Jonathan Kissida <[email protected]> on behalf of Jonathan Kissida

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 7:35 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha Board of Education,

I am testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

Hawaii's keiki have already gone through a lot over the last year and a half with online

learning/learning at home, rotation schedules, and countless other social emotional challenges.

Please vote to continue the extra compensation in classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-

staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs so that we minimize more challenges

for Hawaii's keiki rather than adding to them

During the toughest times we have to make the toughest decisions. I understand the

challenges associated with the statewide budget crisis, but we need to be looking at any and all other

options for cuts rather than cutting the education programs that support Hawaii's future, our keiki, so

that we come out of this stronger and more ready to work together on future challenges as a well-

educated and well-rounded community. These programs support educating all keiki, support all

learners, and support the revitalization of Hawaiian culture and olelo.

Mahalo for your support of all of Hawaii's keiki and the community of dedicated teachers across the

state,

Jonathan Kissida, kindergarten teacher at Kilauea Elementary, with a child in 2nd grade at Kilauea

Elementary School on Kauai

Jonathan Kissida

Teacher at Kilauea Elementary School

PO Box 1237

Kilauea, HI 96754

https://www.donorschoose.org/mrjon

"Yeah, well, I've got a dream too. But it's about singing and dancing and making people happy.

That's the kind of dream that gets better the more people you share it with. And well, I've found a

whole bunch of friends who have the same dream. And it kind of makes us like a family." Kermit the

Frog

Testimony BOE

From: Beth Young <[email protected]> on behalf of Beth Young

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 8:05 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Please don’t take our differential

TotheHawaiiBoardofEducation:

Iamwritingtoyoutopleadfordifferentials.IamafirstyearspecialeducationpreschoolteacheratWaialua

Elementary.ImadethemovetotheDOEthisyearfromearlyinterventionduetothespecialeducationdifferential.This

wasahugebumpformyfamilyandfinallyachancetogetahead.IamtrulysohappyinmypositionbutIfeellikethe

workyouputinasaspecialeducationteacherisbeyondthetimescopeofaregularpaydayforteachers.Iknowfora

factifthedifferentialistakenaway,specialeducationteacherswillbelookingforotherwaystomakemoney.Thiswill

takeawayfromtheeducationanddedicationthistrustedteachershaveputinforourmostvulnerablestudents.Ibeg

thatyoulookintootherwaystosavemoney.Thankyouforyourtime.



Sincerely,

BethYoung,MEd

WaialuaElementary

PreschoolSpecialEducation



‐‐

ThisisastaffemailaccountmanagedbyHawaiiDepartmentOfEducation

SchoolDistrict.Thisemailandanyfilestransmittedwithitare

confidentialandintendedsolelyfortheuseoftheindividualorentityto

whomtheyareaddressed.Ifyouhavereceivedthisemailinerrorplease

notifythesender.

Testimony BOE

From: stacia sage <[email protected]> on behalf of stacia sage

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 8:05 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Pay Differentials make a difference

Aloha,

My name is Stacia Sage and I am a special education teacher at Laie Elementary. This last school year has been

the tougest ever. As a special education teacher, I was in the classroom with students in Aug., while the

majority of general education teachers were still all distance teaching. The studenets with various additional

needs, needed to be on campus to learn. I was scared and nervous and still am. But I have considered my

differential pay to be a motivating factor in why I fell obligated to work harder and do more so our students who

struggle regardless of a pandemic. I belive ALL teachers should be making 8K a year more. We all are working

through this pandemic we all struggled, many of us wanted to quit, but we are still here, and for me the pay

helped keep me here. Please keep differential pay, It makes me want to stay.

Thank you for your time,

Stacia Sage

Laie, Elementary

Sent on my Virgin Mobile Phone.

Testimony BOE

From: John Van Ornum <johnster57@icloud.com> on behalf of John Van Ornum

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 8:46 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

IamwritingthisemailinsupportofActionitemAfortheSpecialMeetingregardingSuperintendentChristina

Kishimoto’sdiscontinuanceofextracompensationforclassroomteachersinSPED,hardtostaffgeographicallocations,

andHawaiianlanguageprograms.



Iwouldnotconsideritextracompensationbutmoreofasupportforouterislandteachers;SPEDteacherswhowork

wellbeyondthecontractedworkday,andspecialtyteacherswhopossessHawaiianlanguageskills.Wedonothave

accesstoproductsandservicesthatOahu/Mauiteacherstakeforgranted.ConsequentlywehavetoflytoOahu/Maui

formedicalcare,andtobuynecessaryproducts.Theseactionsrequireaninvestmentintimeandmoney.



Giventhetrendthateducationprogramsarecontractingnationwidebecauseofthepandemic;andthefactthat

individualsarenotdesiringtobecomealowpaidteacher(commonknowledgeacrossthenation),eliminatingthis

supportatacriticaltimelikethisisnotwarranted.Teacherswillresignandfindotherjobs,andnoonethatistrainedor

certifiedwillbetheretotakethereplaces.Futurejobswillnotbefilledandwewillhaveaverylarge,uneducated,

untrainedgroupofyoungadults.Thelongtermeconomicdetractorsarewelldocumented.Uneducatedindividualswill

turntocrimetofillthereneeds.PleasesupportHawaiiteachers.



Respectfully,

JohnVanOrnumEdD

MolokaiHighSchoolHealthOccupationsTeacherandHOSAclubadvisor[email protected]



SentfrommyiPad

Testimony BOE

From: Adriana Vollono <adrianavollono@gmail.com> on behalf of Adriana Vollono

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 9:14 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent Christina Kishimoto’s

discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff

geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs

If we lose our special education bonus, I truly believe our keiki will suffer and the DOE with lose qualified

special education teachers. Special education teachers know there is more paperwork and additional

responsibilities, but we do it for the love of our kids and to make them as successful as we can as we pour our

hearts into them every single day. It really made a huge difference when HI offered the bonus. I felt like the

state understood the extra work, paperwork, individual planning, meetings, and so much more. Also, with

COVID impact plans, total distance learning plans, and school closure contingency plans, we had even more

paperwork and meetings added to our plates while trying to be the best virtual AND in person teachers. I’m

already looking for a second job to cover the money I will lose from losing this bonus just to be able to stay

here and I hate to say it, but I’m sure I’m not the only one. Please consider looking at other budgets and maybe

the professionals that can handle a pay cut because we all know teachers may not be able to handle the pay cut.

Thank you for your time.

Testimony BOE

From: Cindie McAnish <ohiki[email protected]> on behalf of Cindie McAnish

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 9:28 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha,

I'm testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent Christina

Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-

to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I'm a special education teacher, who works in a hard to fill school, and has done so for my entire

career of 22-plus years. The current differentials helped me remain in my position and somewhat

compensated me for all the extra hours I've put in over the years, but especially during this current

school year when extra meetings and responsibilities were added to my workload, due to COVID-19.

I was distressed when I read the Superintendent's memo which states I will now lose these

differentials, because it's retraction will negatively impact me and my students, since their needs have

only increased with the many changes in this school year. Now, according to the Superintendent's

memo, I'm expected to continue to do more for my students at my own personal loss of finances,

although my workload has increased, while their workload and learning curve has increased.

I was never compensated for my years of service in the form of the compression pay that we heard

was to happen, which yet another broken promise from this Superintendent. At this point, I'm

considering retirement, although as a highly qualified teacher in both Special Education and

Language Arts, I will be hard to replace and create another hurdle for my students to endure.

Respectfully submitted,

Cynthia McAnish

Department Head, Special Education

Kea'au High School

Testimony BOE

From: Tammy Gamble <[email protected]om> on behalf of Tammy Gamble

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 9:31 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I am testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian Language Immersion.

Taking away the differential will affect not only my quality of life but also that of my students. First of

all, I will have to take a second job which means that I will be very tired when I have to address my

special education students needs or I will have to move back to Missouri. This would be heart

wrenching as I have such a love for Hawaii and my students.

My husband’s hours were cut as well and for many families taking away the differential will take away

food from their table and a roof over their head. We will financially be forced to make the difficult

decision to leave Maui.

I appeal to you to find another Avenue to make up the shortage and ask your to protect our most

vulnerable students and our family of special education teachers.

Tammy Criscuolo Gamble

Sent from my iPad

Testimony BOE

From: Maile Wikum <[email protected]> on behalf of Maile Wikum

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 9:38 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Submitting testimony for Action Item A - differentials

Aloha,

My name is Maile Wikum and I am currently teaching at Konawaena Elementary School. Our school is finally

filled with 100% amazing teachers again due to these differentials. Parents always nervously wondered who

their child would get in the upcoming year, a qualified or unqualified teacher. Now they don't have to worry,

we are all amazing.

Personally, the shortage differential has impacted my life so that I can pay all my bills once again and not rely

on family to help. I have left Hawaii to teach abroad once before due to not being able to afford to live on a

teachers salary and it looks like I may need to do it again if these differentials get taken away. I left for nine

years and was able to pay off all my debt and came back with $25,000 in savings. I want to stay but with all

these items possibly being taken away from us, it is like the state is forcing their teachers to find better pay

elsewhere.

My daughter goes to a Hawaiian immersion school in Kona and they still struggle with having qualified

teachers for the students there. If this differential is taken away from them then it will be even worse for

upcoming years. We cannot have that. Our teachers deserve these differentials because of the work we do and

because we have a hard time surviving in Hawai'i without it.

Please consider this testimony in support of keeping the differentials in place for Hawai'i's teachers.

Mahalo,

Maile Wikum

This is a staff email account managed by Hawaii Department Of Education School District. This email and any files

transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are

addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.

Testimony BOE

From: Barry Tanouye <[email protected]> on behalf of Barry Tanouye

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 9:49 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony for Action Item A

Hello,

I am writing in support of Action Item A for the Special Meeting regarding discontinuance of extra

compensation for classroom teachers in special education and other hard-to-staff locations.

I have taught in special education for 20 years and have seen the difficulties over the years on

maintaining continuity within the special education teaching department at the schools I've taught.

Many teachers over the years have moved on from special education feeling burnt out,

underappreciated, overworked, and underpaid. Many only after several years and some, after only

one year teaching in special education don't return. Morale was always low due to the enormous

special education workload that was expected to be completed regardless if meetings lasted until

5:30 pm and completing paperwork took time away from family in the evenings.

I saw a difference within the last year alone in how the extra compensation helped to stabilize the

special education department in our school where no special education teachers left the profession or

moved on. However, eliminating the extra compensation would be a huge mistake and a big step

backwards. There is still a shortage of certified special education teachers. This year, one special

education teacher retired early in the school year and our school has not been able to fill the position

with a certified special education teacher. A sub has been in this position for the remainder of the

school year.

Teachers are willing to put in the extra work required when compensated for their efforts during

school and outside of school hours.

I strongly urge the Board of Education to direct Superintendent Kishimoto to rescind her February 9,

2021 memorandum and to refrain from taking action on any teacher pay differentials without prior

Board approval.

Mahalo for your service.

Barry Tanouye

King Intermediate School

Special Education Teacher

Testimony BOE

From: Katie Hillstead <[email protected]> on behalf of Katie Hillstead

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 10:12 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony support Actiom item A

Aloha,

My name is Katie Hillstead, I have been a teacher on the Leeward Coast for 6 years. I am e-mailing in support

for action item A for the special meeting regarding Superintendent Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of

extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and

Hawaiian language programs.

I would first like to say this discontinuance will disproportionately affect Native Hawaiian students. Geographic

incentives are for rural areas who serve large populations of Native Hawaiians. Native Hawaiians are also

disproportionately represented in our Special education population. And of course, they are the largest

population of Hawaiian Immersion students. Removing this differential will remove highly qualifed teachers

from these positions and areas. This will leave the state's largest population of public school students with long

term subs or unqualified teachers, putting them further at a disadvantage. That's what this is really about. This

decision will negatively affect students more than teachers.

For me personally, the differential helped me qualify for a mortgage loan to purchase my first home. Without it,

I would not be able to afford my mortgage payments and may have to sell my home, and potentially leave

Hawaii. I am a committed educator to the Leeward coast. I have been at Waianae Elementary for 5 years and

have seen many teachers come and go, and have trained many unqualified teachers in these positions. For the

first time in a while, this school year, all of our teachers are highly qualifed. We finally have a highly qualifed

teacher in our special education preschool.

These differentials positively impact students. Please ensure the DOE upholds their promise and continues the

differentials.

We will already see a mass exodus of teachers leaving the profession or state at the end of this year because of

the way things have played out, let's not add it.

Mahalo for your time and consideration,

Katie Hillstead

Waianae elementary school

Testimony BOE

From: johnny bravoo <[email protected]> on behalf of johnny bravoo

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 11:16 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

TESTIMONY

I am testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I cannot bring myself to find any sense of what she is doing to us. Why do us teachers who do so much for the

sake of our keiki get dumped on so oftenly. We do what we do for the kids because we care but very few seem

to care about the teachers. I’m over this constant bull $@%#

I am a teacher at Leihōkū elementary. Come and teach out in Waianae and you’ll appreciate us guarantee

Leihōkū elementary teacher

Sent from my iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Heather Ramiro <[email protected]> on behalf of Heather Ramiro

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 12:22 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimonial

I am a 3rd grade teacher at Red Hill Elementary testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special

Meeting, regarding Superintendent Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for

classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language

programs.

I am a general education teacher so I do not receive the differential, but I am greatly affected by it. I

teach in an inclusion classroom with a special education partner teacher. I have been teaching in an

inclusion setting for 4 years now and this school year is the first time my special education teacher

has been assigned to only 1 grade level and 1 class, which is a direct result of having the differential

in place.

At our school we have 4 teachers who are working towards a special education certification because

of what the differential offers to them. Without the differential these teachers would not have been

able to go back to school for their certification in special education and our school would not have our

Sped positions filled. In previous years the special education teacher split their time in 2 classes and

2 different grade levels. Also in previous years we had long term substitutes in many of our Sped

positions.

I have seen the strain this has caused on both the teacher and the students. The students benefit

most from a set and consistent routine, which is hard to do when the special education teacher is

balancing more than one grade level and assisting others who are not certified and need IEP writing

support and guidance. I have also seen how having to change teachers throughout the year has

directly affected many of the students progress and behavior.

Students deserve to have supports in place, they deserve to have certified special education

teachers, and they deserve to have a consistent teacher throughout the year. This is what the

differential helps to provide to the students and this I why I urge you to continue the differential and

preserve our special education teachers!

Heather Ramiro

Red Hill Elementary

3rd grade

Testimony BOE

From: Nicholas Cushnie <ncushnie@hotmail.com> on behalf of Nicholas Cushnie

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 12:31 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Teacher Differential

My wife and I are both teachers on the Big Island. We have been here for 10 years. Each year we have to

consider whether to stay or move on. The pay differential means a lot to us. It is a big factor of why we stay. I

looked at teaching in the Department of Defense school as I am a veteran but with the differential it makes

sense for us to stay here in Hawaii. I have seen so many teachers leave from our schools on the Big Island. The

constant turnover has had a negative impact on student learning.

Get Outlook for Android

Testimony BOE

From: Barry Takahashi <[email protected]> on behalf of Barry Takahashi

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 12:48 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Barry Takahashi M.Ed.

Lahainaluna High School

Academic Counselor

Aloha HIBOE members,

Please accept this testimony to retain hard to staff differentials for teachers in Hawaii.

The "hard to staff differential" I recieve is a major element of my workplace choice.

Should teachers like me have these funds rescinded/cut, it would force us to consider looking for a "closer"

position to our homes.

For me, I would opt for a position at one of the 4 DOE schools within 5 miles of my home.

This is because I would need to make up for the time and money lost, should the teacher's hard to staff

differentials are cut, and other HIDOE position's differentials be upheld.

I would love to live in Lahaina/the area I serve in, but there are not any reasonable home for sale there. Why?

Because in this case, the sprawl of tourist-influenced, overpriced properties has impacted the state's ability to

staff schools, because it has priced-out teachers from affordably entering the home market, particularly in this

area.

In rural areas, the lack of differentials added, to the weak tourist destination economies, will cause schools like

Hana, Lanai and Molokai to revert to double-digit staffing shortages. This will reduce graduation rates further

and likely add to more social service monies spent on these students as adults, when we need to invest in them

whe they are HIDOE students.

I implore you to continue to fund the hard to staff differentials.

Especially on neighbor islands, where the cost of living is closer to 22% over the national average, to

help professionals like me to justify the fuel costs to drive to work and back, and the time away from

our families.

Mahalo nui for your consideration to keep the hard to staff differentials.

Barry Takahashi, M.Ed.

Lahainaluna High School

Academic Counselor

Testimony BOE

From: David Brown <[email protected]> on behalf of David Brown

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 12:55 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

SPED Bonus

Hawaiiisaveryexpensiveplaceforpublicschoolteachers.WestMauiisanextremelyexpensiveplacetolive.The

special‐educationandhardtostaffbonuseshavebeenatremendousblessingtomeandmyfamily.Thankyou,David

BrownLahaina.



SentfrommyiPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Brian Breeze <[email protected]om> on behalf of Brian Breeze

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 1:06 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Shortage

I understand you want to do away with the shortage differential. I was posed to resign and accept a

better paying job on the mainland. Over 20 years of teaching in Hawaii I have taken a 5% and 8

percent pay cut. and a higher cost of living I may have to resign and accept the teaching job on the

mainland. Not a threat, just a fact. I will surely miss educating special needs keiki, yet I have to look

out for my Ohana.

Respectfully, Brian

Bratcher

Special Education

Teacher

Keonepoko

Elementary School

Testimony BOE

From: Cynthia Luafalemana <cynthia_luafalemana@icloud.com> on behalf of Cynthia

Luafalemana

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 2:44 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

AlohaBOEmembers,



I,CynthiaLuafalemanaamtestifyinginsupportofActionItemA.fortheSpecialMeeting,regardingSuperintendent

ChristinaKishimoto’sdiscontinuanceofextracompensationforclassroomteachersinspecialeducation,hard‐to‐staff

geographicallocations,andHawaiianlanguageprograms.

Iama3rdgradeteacheratKilohanaElementarySchool.Ihavetaughtforthepast22yearsontheislandofMolokai.I

amsopassionateaboutmyjobandhowIhavebeenaninspirationtomystudentsandtheirfamilies.Infact,Ihavebeen

aninfluencetostudentsandtheirparentstoseekoutaprofessionalandtraditionaldegreeinanyfieldoflearning.

Manyofthosestudentshavebecomesuccessfulnurses,teachers,dentist,UnitedStatesofAmericapresidentialaides,

orentrepreneurs.

Teachersarethesteppingstonestoanystudent’sfuture.Webelieveinourstudentsandtheirpassionoflearningto

becomesuccessfulcitizensinthisworld.Wehavespentcountlesshoursandmoneytryingtobetterourselvesforthe

bettermentofourstudentswithattendingPDcoursesorobtaininganotherdegreeincollege.

Fortheveryfirsttimesinceteaching,IcanhonestlysaythatIamgettingpaidformyprofessionalexpertiseasateacher

sincetheboardhasenacteddifferentialpay.Iamabletogoworkandthengohomeratherthanworkingatanotherjob.

Iamoneofthemanyteacherswhohavebeenpartofthecompressedpay.JustwhenIthoughtgreatIcanaffordtopay

myrentandstudentloans,alas,Ican’tbecauseofthefurloughpay.Ihavejustbuiltupmycreditscoresincethelast

furlough,andIbelievewithlosingthisdifferential,mycreditratewillbeadisaster.

Forthefirsttimesincethisdifferential,Ifeelsecureaboutmyjob.Icanaffordtopurchasefood,gas,andgotothe

dentist.LivingonMolokaiiscompressedasitself,Iliveoffthegridandofftheland,buttosurvivehereyoustillneeda

job.

Everyteacheronthisislanddependsonthisdifferentialpay.Takingitawaywillmeanteacherswillnotpurchasethings

fortheirclassandstudents;teacherswillnotbeunabletogotothegrocerystoreasoften,whichinreturncompresses

theeconomyofourisland;orwhichmeansteacherswillbeworryhowtomakeendsmeetratherthanteaching.Since

theCovidaswell,teachershadtopurchaseextrasuppliesfortheirclassalongwiththeirfamily.Yougetmypoint‐the

circleofeconomicscaneitherimpacteveryoneandeverythingwithinacommunity.

TheFederalGovernmentgaveagreatamountofmoneytobeuseforteachers,students,andschools.Pleasedon’ttake

thefutureofourchildrenbecauseofmoney,butleavealegacythatallwillremember.

Aloha

CynthiaLuafalemana

SentfrommyiPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Joy Nakamura <[email protected]> on behalf of Joy Nakamura

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 2:58 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Shortage Differentials for Special Education Teachers

Towhomitmayconcern,

IamwritinginsupportofKEEPINGthedifferentialpayforspecialeducationteachers.



Whenthepandemichit,specialeducationteacherswerethefirsttogobacktoworkandteachfacetofacewith

studentseveryday.WeputourlivesatriskatatimewhenwedidnotknowhowCOVID19wouldimpactour

classrooms.Wedidthiswithverylittleguidance,limitedsuppliesatthebeginningoftheyear,andwealsohadto

manageimplementingIEPsforfamiliesthatchosedistancelearning.Allotherteacherswererequiredtodoonemode

only(distancelearning).Inaddition,wewererequiredtodevelopindividualizeddistancelearningplans,haveCovid

impactmeetings,dopaperwork,andextensivedocumentationlogsthatnootherteachergrouphadtodo.Wedidthis

alltoupholdlegallybindingIEPsandhelpourmostvulnerablestudentscontinuetolearn.



Ihaveworkedinfullyselfcontainedsettingsforalmost20yearsinwhichstudentsareworkingontoileting,feeding,life

skills,academics,emotionalandbehaviorissuesthatrequireustogetinclosephysicalcontactwiththemthroughout

theday.Nootherteachergrouphastodothis.



Currently,ourschoolreleasesstudentsaboutanhourearlywiththeexceptionofspecialeducationstudents(fullyself

contained).Theseteachersaregivenanhouroftimetoprep,plan,andcheck‐inwiththeirdistancelearners.Whenour

specialeducationstudentsleaveat2:05,wehavemeetingsafterschool,paperwork,andhavetoplanandprepforour

distancelearnersaswell.Nootherteachergrouphastodothis.



Whenyouaskwhywewanttokeepdifferentialsitisbecauseyouaskustodowhatnootherteachergrouphastodo.

DuringbothCOVIDandnon‐Covidtimes,specialeducationteachersarerequiredtotakeonmoreresponsibility,giveup

moreofourtime,withthepressureoflegalramificationsasweareimplementingIEPsforourstudentsacrossthestate.



Nowisnotthetimetotakeawayfromspecialeducation.Withchildrensufferingeducationally,emotionallyandsocially,

wecanchoosetopaynoworpaytheconsequenceslater.Youwillhavelessqualifiedteachersworkingwiththemost

vulnerablepopulationtryingtorecoverfromthelossesofadevastatingpandemic.



Thankyouforyourtimeandforlisteningtomytestimonyonbehalfofspecialeducationteachers,staffandour

students.



Mahalo,

JoyNakamura

SpecialEducationTeacher

MililaniIkeElementarySchool



SentfrommyiPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Kealakai Lindsey-Meyer <kealakai[email protected]> on behalf of Kealakai Lindsey-Meyer

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 3:35 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha Board of Education members,

I am testifying in support of Action Item A for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent Christin

Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-

to-staff geographical locations Hawaiian language programs.

I urge you to please stop the superintendent's plan to discontinue shortage differentials. I am a

special education teacher at Waimea High School on the island of Kauai. The differential has helped

me remain in my position because I was actually thinking of changing careers. It is so overwhelming

the amount of paperwork we are expected to do for IEPs. I am an educator who takes pride in my

work and spends hours and hours of extra time to ensure the children and families I service have top

quality support as they should. Having the differential allowed me to quit my second job and use

those hours to do a thorough job as a special education teacher and IEP care coordinator.

I believe if you discontinue shortage differentials, we will again be short highly qualified special

education teachers. At the end of the day, our keiki's especially those that need special education

services, will be impacted greatly.

Mahalo, for your consideration of my testimony in advance.

Me Ke Aloha Pumehana,

Kealakai Lindsey-Meyer

Testimony BOE

From: noelle prasada <[email protected]> on behalf of noelle prasada

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 4:17 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Re: differential cuts being proposed by DOE superintendent

Dear members of the Board of Education:

First I want to thank you for the work you do to help our schools and keiki of Hawaii nei.

I am a special ed math teacher at Keaau high school on the big island.

I grew up in Palolo Valley, Oahu, where I went through the public school education system and graduated from

Kaimuki high. I later went on to study at Pepperdine, UCLA, and Cal State Dominguez Hills. I returned home

with my masters degree in special education and now proudly serve the families and community that I live in.

Keaau high teachers get a hard to staff differential due to geographical location. As a result, I can affirm that my

school has an absolutely top notch line up of teachers. I have amazing co workers...Smart, bright, eager to learn,

to lend a helping hand, considerate to our high percentage of students who deal with trauma in their lives... Of

course the differential is critical to hiring and retaining these teachers. The cost of living in Hawaii is too

expensive to sustain viability without it.

We also have amazing teachers in special ed who carry on despite hardships that regular ed teachers do not face.

I will not get into listing these obstacles,

ut their existence is real... At every school I have worked in on this island. The point is that special ed is a very

stressful, yet unappreciated field. We do work that is undervalued but is truly beneficial to all students, not

merely those identified with an IEP. Over the years I have taught my general ed counterparts many important

teaching tips that I've learned over a long career in my field. These are tips they never thought of as a general ed

teacher. Because special ed is both a science and an art.... Ones they have not studied nor considered.

The fact is that special ed is more stressful than general ed jobs, while teacher pay is far below the mainland,

where I lived, and the cost of living here is higher.

We need to keep our jobs competitive. Our keiki deserve this. They deserve good teachers. They do not deserve

to have a sub for months out of each year, which is what happens when you don't staff up with qualified,

licensed special ed teachers.

I will provide an analogy of how I see this whip saw behavior of the DOE differential policy.

If you are driving a car you have the intention of moving forward to go someplace. Now, if you keep stepping

on the brakes, say, every 20 seconds, you will be distracted from your drive, and it will take you a very long

time to reach your destination. It could be argued that driving like this is crazy.

The start/stop whip saw policy decisions of pay differential is also crazy and unproductive.

Please help keep our differentials in place, and keep our policies sane and consistent.

One cannot expect teachers to plan a life and a future in Hawaii when DOE keeps changing their salary. Our

cost of living prohibits that. Full stop.

Wishing you Exquisite well being,

Noelle Prasada

808.304.4488

Testimony BOE

From: Tammy Chang <[email protected]> on behalf of Tammy Chang

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 6:29 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha,

I am testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent Christina

Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff

geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I work in Special education classrooms and with students with special needs as a Licensed Behavior

Analyst. This discontinuance of differentials is extremely negative for our keiki. Good Special education

teachers are few and far between on Oahu and to decrease the staffing in this area and at schools in lower

income areas is devastating.

I support looking for cuts in other areas that will not affect the keiki with the greatest needs.

Please do not allow this change to occur.

Mahalo,

Tammy Chang

Testimony BOE

From: yakamiki <[email protected]> on behalf of yakamiki

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 7:04 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha kākou,

Ke leka uila nei au iā ʻoukou i mea e kākoʻo ʻia ai ʻo “Action item A” no ka hālāwai kūikawā e pili ana i kā ka

Luna Nui ʻo Kristina Kishimoto hoʻomau ʻole ʻana mai i ka uku keu ʻana i ko kākou mau kumu kākaʻikahi a

kūikawā. He pono ka uku ʻana i nā kumu o kēia mau polokalamu no ka mea he mau kūkulu lākou no nā keiki o

kēia pae ʻāina nei. Mahalo iā ʻoukou pākahi a pau i ko ʻoukou loaʻa ʻana mai i kēia leta hōʻike. Na nā kūpuna i

alakaʻi iā ʻoukou pākahi i ke ala kūpono.

Me ka haʻahaʻa,

Kaʻiminaʻauao Cambern

Get Outlook for iOS

Testimony BOE

From: jennifer Ezaki <[email protected]> on behalf of jennifer Ezaki

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 7:05 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha,



MynameisJenniferEzaki.IamaSpecialEducationteacheratHonouliuliMiddleschool.Iamtestifyinginsupportof

ActionItemA.fortheSpecialMeeting,regardingSuperintendentChristinaKishimoto’sdiscontinuanceofextra

compensationforclassroomteachersinspecialeducation,hard‐to‐staffgeographicallocations,andHawaiianlanguage

programs.



Thedecisiontodiscontinuetheextracompensationwillhavedisastrousconsequences.Asmentionedabove,Iworkand

alsoserveastheSPEDDepartmentHeadatHonouliuliMiddleSchool.Weareabrandnewschoolthatopenedourdoors

amidsttheCovid‐19pandemic.OurteamofSPEDteachersbeganworkinginJunenearlyfulltimetoprepareforthe

openingofschoolandtoconductlengthydepartmentmeetingsastherewereorderstoconductandcreateCovid‐19

impactplansandmeetingsforeachstudentandContingencyplansandmeetingsforeachstudentontopofpreparing

bothvirtualandin‐personlessonplansaswewereinvitingallSpecialEducationstudentstocomeontocampusifthey

choseto.



Notonlyareweaschoolthatisjustgettingourgroundingbutwealsoneedtohire5SpecialEducationteachersnext

schoolyear.Ifthedifferentialsdonotcontinue,whatqualifiedteacherwillwanttotakeonthatamountofworkand

uncertainty?MyfearisthatalloftheSPEDteacherswehirenextyearwillhavenotraininginteachingSPEDstudents

andnotrainingwithwritingandconductingIEPs,Re‐Evals,Eligibilitymeetings,PWNs,BSPs,ECSSSetc.Whowilltrain

them?Aretheschool’sexpectedtodothis?Wherewillthattimecomefrom?We’reteachingallday.



Iimploreyou,Dr.Kishimoto,torethinkyourdecision.Adecisionthatholdslongtermconsequencesandwillultimately

affectourkeiki.



Thankyou,

JenniferEzaki

Testimony BOE

From: Winter Leuteneker <cleuteneke@aol.com> on behalf of Winter Leuteneker

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 8:24 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I am a Special Educator & my name is Winter Leuteneker. I am at Kalama School in Maui & I am

testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent Christina

Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-

to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I have been educating Special education students for 20 years here on Maui. I have seen so many

teachers come & go, salaries reduced & very small increases over the years. I have stayed because

of my love and dedication to teaching & because I have a supportive family, so we can make ends

meet.

Last year when the compensation became a reality, I was able to actually feel like all the extra work

I’ve done actually meant something to the State! Because of it, I witnessed a few dual certificatied

teachers going back into Special education, newer special Ed teachers coming from the Mainland &

teacher positions that normally would have been a substitute, getting filled! This has been good for

teachers!

But now another slap in the face to take it away! This past year has been the hardest teachers (

especially Special educators)have worked , going into the schools & working face to face with the

students even with COVID, because this is what the students need! We have put in above & beyond

what anyone would think or imagine. This will not end next school year. There are still risks & the

state has imposed more & more required parts( paper work, meetings , etc) due to COVID.

Having teachers who care is one thing, but the other part is to be able to afford where we live & what

the work we do is... please don’t take this away from us! We deserve it more then I can really explain

or express in this testimony.

Our students are our future & right now we need teachers to have the support to help these students

& families more then ever before.

Thank you for your time

Sent from my iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: bee addy <[email protected]> on behalf of bee addy

Sent:

Saturday, February 13, 2021 8:44 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Differential

Aloha,

I am an elementary special education teacher with 7 years experience with Hawaii Department of

Education. The shortage differential kept me on island and made my wage liveable. I have already received

reciprocal licensing and am applying to various districts in another state in preparation to move my family. If

the differential is revoked I will not be able to financially sustain my family and I will sell my property and

move to where cost of living better matches the wage. I urge you to send a clear message now to special

education teachers and teachers in shortage areas by keeping the shortage differential in the budget and in future

contracts.

Respectfully,

Rebecca Addison, M.Ed.

Testimony BOE

From: Mike Landes <[email protected]om> on behalf of Mike Landes

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 12:46 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony for Feb 18 BOE meeting

Aloha Board members,

My name is Mike Landes, and I am a social studies teacher at Lahainaluna High School on Maui. I

am writing to you today in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

Lahaina was designated as a "hard-to-staff geographical location" under the differential program,

which means that my school (Lahainaluna), the school my wife teaches at and my daughter attends

(Princess Nahi'ena'ena Elementary), and the school my son attends (Lahaina Intermediate) have all

affected by the differentials. All of the teachers at each of these schools are obviously affected by

receiving the differential pay, our families are obviously affected by being better able to survive in this

area with such a high cost of living, and our students (including my own children) are (perhaps less-

obviously) affected by having a greater likelihood of having high-quality, experienced, qualified, and

certified teachers teaching them in all of their classes. Allowing the superintendent to eliminate the

differentials will harm all of us: teachers, families, and students.

As I previously testified for your July 23 meeting, when you rejected the DOE's previous attempt to

cut the differentials: "I fully recognize that we are in dire economic times...but austerity measures only

make economic downturns worse. When you studied history in school, whose plan do you remember

learning about that helped us get through the Great Depression? Herbert Hoover or Franklin Delano

Roosevelt? My students learn about FDR, and how his New Deal programs increased spending for

public works and public employees to stimulate the economy. It's the basic theory behind Keynesian

economics, and it also happens to be the very thing that helped us to survive the Great Recession in

our lifetimes. We already face a severe teacher shortage every year, and earlier this year, the

superintendent and this Board supported the idea of increasing pay for teachers in statistically hard-

to-fill positions (that's special education, Hawaiian immersion, and geographically hard-to-staff

locations). As someone who teaches in one of those geographically hard-to-staff locations, I can tell

you firsthand the effect these differentials have had for myself, my family, and my co-workers. For

the first time in my 16 years at Lahainaluna, I heard from teachers in other parts of the state who

wanted to come teach in West Maui, I heard from colleagues at my school who no longer had to

debate whether or not to leave West Maui so they could survive economically, and I heard from more

veteran colleagues who said they will now delay retirement and will continue to use their experience

and expertise to help guide their students and our school. Cutting those differentials, when those

very differentials have convinced teachers to upend their lives to move to West Maui, or cancel plans

to leave, or decide to delay retirement, would be a personal betrayal to those teachers. It would be a

pay cut to those teachers, and to my family, making it less likely that any of us can continue to survive

here, despite our best efforts. And in a time like this, when we know people are already leaving for

health and safety reasons, it would add an economic reason to leave as well. Please, do not cut the

differentials, and do not approve any proposals to cut our pay at all. How can we pay the rent, help

local businesses, and try to boost our islands' economy if we have no money. Economic austerity

measures make hard times worse. Please don't throw gasoline on the fire by cutting our pay."

That testimony from July 23 is just as relevant and true today. And it is also true that this very Board

voted at that July 23 meeting to deny the DOE's request to cut the differentials. So, what right does

the superintendent have to simply announce that she is cutting them now? As the Board that

oversees the superintendent and the DOE, you have every right to once again deny this attempt to

harm the employees who devote their lives to educating Hawaii's keiki. Your teachers, their families,

and our students are counting on you to again make the right decision.

Mahalo for your consideration,

Mike Landes

Testimony BOE

From: Fran Snell <[email protected]> on behalf of Fran Snell

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 1:46 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to Superintendent Christina Kishimoto about the discontinuance of extra compensation for

classroom teachers in special education and also teachers who work in hardship locations.

My son in law, Kai Balubar is a special education teacher at Olomana School Youth Correction Facility, teaching juveniles in detention. He has been

a very dedicated and hard working teacher. My husband and I have been educators in Oregon, Japan and Hawaii and we could not be more proud of

our son in law. However, up until the time that this extra compensation was offered, Kai was forced to work two jobs to make ends meet to help

support his family. When the extra compensation came through, he was able to leave his second job and solely concentrate on the students in his care.

As an educator, I know what it is like to work hard and give your students your all. To take away this well deserved compensation seems not only

cruel, but very short sighted. Hawaii already has a very hard time with its educators as far as salary and working conditions. To withdraw support

from teachers who are willing to take hardship positions and go the extra distance to be certified in special education leaves the state vulnerable in

terms of not only keeping experienced teachers, but also attracting new ones. It is really a terrible idea for the state, for the teachers, for the students,

for their families and for the future of Hawaii. I beg you to reconsider! Please feel free to contact me. This is an issue near and dear to my heart.

Fran Snell

former educator

160 S. Lanikai Pl.

Haiku, Hawaii 96708

snell.fran@gmail.com

808-359-4272

Testimony BOE

From: Reanna Badua <[email protected]> on behalf of Reanna Badua

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 2:07 PM

To:

[email protected]

Cc:

Yamanaka, Rae

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha,

My name is Reanna Badua and I am testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding

Superintendent Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs. As a newly licensed special

education teacher at Keaau Middle School on the Big Island, differentials mean everything to me. I live off of

two types of differential payments- the one for working in a hard-to-staff location, as well as being a special

education teacher. Those differentials keep me in my position. Part of the reason I became a special education

teacher was for the differential payment. Hawaii is a difficult location to afford. The starting pay for a licensed

teacher in Hawaii if broken down by hour is equal to the minimum wage pay. That is barely enough to survive,

let along get ahead in life when I am an adult trying to buy a house, pay off student loans, and afford typical

utility and grocery bills. My simple dreams of becoming a parent and a homeowner has been postponed because

the unstable pay of a teacher in Hawaii. When I made the decision to become a teacher, one of my motivators

was a higher pay, than the current position I had been in. In my first year as a non-licensed emergency hire

teacher, I was devastated to find out my paycheck was lower than my previous job. Even now that I am

licensed, it’s the differential payments that make my paycheck higher than my previous job. Without the

differential payments, I will easily go back to my previous job. I have been reached out to by my previous

employer to resume my position (as it is in healthcare and healthcare workers are direly needed during this

pandemic). Though I love teaching, a position that allows me to give back to the community, it is not worth the

financial struggle.

If differential payments are retracted, it will send a negative ripple-effect throughout the communities in Hawaii

that will have catastrophic effects for decades to come. At the forefront, qualified leaders that are teachers in our

community will leave schools. Children of teachers will be exposed to and influenced by the unstable pay of

teachers. The children will grow up not aspiring to be teachers because they have seen their parents struggle and

leave the career. The students, they would be left with a teacher shortage. They would see burnt-out qualified

teachers, and burnt-out unqualified teachers, all trying their best, but left with no winning chance. When the rest

of the qualified teachers leave, students will be left in large classrooms where there is not enough support for

their individual needs, and a teacher that has no education to help the students academically. Schools will

become a daycare center, where the importance shifts from education to meeting basic needs of children. Those

students will grow up and will not qualify for jobs. Those jobless students that are now adults will remain in our

communities, bringing down the economy, struggling to make ends meet, and they will pass down a legacy of

bad decisions because they were never taught how to make right decisions from their teachers. Take away

differential payments and this will be our future and our children’s legacy.

The right decision is not always the easiest. Hawaii and the rest of the nation is struggling financially with the

crippling effects of COVID-19. Discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs would be a grave mistake in

Hawaii's future success.

Best,

Reanna Badua

Special Education teacher

Keaau Middle School

Reanna Badua

Testimony BOE

From: Kenda Kauwe <[email protected]om> on behalf of Kenda Kauwe

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 2:47 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha,

My name is Kenda Kauwe and I am a school counselor at Nanaikapono Elementary School in Nanakuli. I am

providing testimony that addresses Action Item A for the Special Meeting regarding Superintendent Christine

Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff

geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

As a school counselor who has continued to provide face-to-face services with families and children throughout

the majority of the pandemic, in order to meet the needs of families in our “hard-to-staff” location, I find it

incredibly offensive that Dr. Kishimoto chose to quietly issue a memo that tries to imply our differentials were a

pilot and therefore easily terminated and will be. As HSTA has so clearly and honestly reported, the

differentials were not part of a pilot and they have already made a massive difference in teacher retention for

these areas most in need. This being the case, I personally know that many teachers are relying on their full

current paychecks and will suffer if they are cut.

When I realized that Dr. Kishimoto made no mention of cuts to other positions that received the differential, I

couldn’t help but believe that she relegates classroom teachers to a second-class status. While I know some very

good people who are staffed in the positions she chose not to include in the cut, I also know more classroom

teachers who are just as exceptional, and are not teleworking, but are at school every day to support our keiki.

Many of the positions (Clinical Psychologist, Educational Interpreter, Engineer, Engineering Program

Manager, Engineering Program Administrator, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Public

Works Manager, Public Works Administrator, School Psychologist, and Speech-Language

Pathologist) that Dr. Kishimoto is apparently not removing the differential from have not been physically

working with us since the start of the pandemic. Safety first for them, and they deserve the differential?

Classroom teachers at schools, on the other hand, should be on the frontline and don’t deserve the differential?

Please don’t misunderstand me, I am not arguing that those positions don’t deserve the differential. What I am

saying is that Kishimoto’s favoritism is at least a problematic error on her part, or, worse yet, a clear statement

of her belief that Hawaii’s teachers in these areas don’t really deserve the differential. Either way, it does not

bode well for the education of our high-need and deserving students in these locations. How disheartening to

work for someone who doesn’t believe you deserve what you are earning. I know several teachers who are

already looking for positions in less “hard-to-staff” occupations, not just different schools.

It is ironic to me that the pandemic has clearly created an even greater need to provide more funding and

incentives for our differential schools, if we are honestly interested in helping the children and families to

recover from the impacts of this pandemic. Throwing away teacher differentials will help to ensure that student

needs are not going to be met next year or anytime in the foreseeable future. I am curious to see Dr.

Kishimoto’s plan to address that, aside from telling teachers to do more for less.

I feel that it is important for me to state that I love my school and am dedicated to doing my very best for our

keiki, families, and our staff. I believe the same is true of my administration and the vast majority of my

colleagues. The differential has allowed us to reduce some financial anxiety and focus on our important work,

which was appreciated and also deserved. Having worked in others schools outside of the differential locations,

I certainly realize that work in a less high-need school would not be as “eventful” as my current work.

As an example, my school is currently preparing to bring back all of our students to campus, while still

accommodating families who wish to remain in distance learning. This is a daunting process and fraught with

complications and mistakes. Yet, we work with so many families who are struggling financially and unable to

support distance learning that my school is committed to making this happen for them. This being the truth, I

will stop here because too many critical things need our most immediate attention. However, I would ask for a

serious and thoughtful review of Dr. Kishimoto’s recent differential cut, with a longer game perspective. For

now, teachers may continue onward out of love for our school communities, but the impact of this lopsided and

simplistic attempt to “fix” the budget will surely come back to haunt the DOE.

Sincerely,

Kenda Kauwe

School Counselor

Nanaikapono Elementary

Testimony BOE

From: Richard Snell <[email protected]> on behalf of Richard Snell

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 3:35 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I am testifying on behalf of my son in law, a long standing special education teacher at Olomana Youth Correction Facility. As an educator for the past forty

years in Hawaii, the mainland and internationally, I have worked with and supervised many special educators. I know of the extra training and expertise they

have acquired to meet the needs of challenged students. Hawaii’s education system recognized these attributes and afforded its teachers extra compensation

for the work and hardship they endured.

Now during this most challenging of times for teachers and students, this compensation is being threatened. The timing of these proposed cuts could not

happen at a worse time. With students, especially those in detention facilities needing focused support plus extra care and their teachers required to design

new curricula and navigate around covid protocols, a stay the course should be the plan of action.

Instead, removing compensation to solve short term problems will have long term negative consequences. Teachers like my son in law who has just purchased

his first house will have to divert focus and energy from the jobs they are most qualified for to make up for lost income. The extra hours currently being

focused on preparing for students will be diverted to seeking other income streams.

Hawaii needs dedicated, highly trained, locally educated teachers that know the unique teaching circumstances of the islands. This reduction proposal

threatens not only the loss of these teachers and the lowering of services provided but falls unfairly on the most vulnerable of students. It is a step backward.

Now is not the time to punish those who have dedicated so much in a time of great need, but to enhance and celebrate their accomplishments.

I implore you to reject this proposal for the benefit of all of Hawaii.

Richard Snell

send to:

[email protected]

date: 2/14/2021

Sent from my iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Judy Beneventi <judybeneventi@gmail.com> on behalf of Judy Beneventi

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 4:08 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Possible Discontinuance of Compensation

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to Superintendent Christina Kishimoto about the discontinuance of extra compensation

for classroom teachers in special education and also teachers who work in hardship locations.

I am writing specifically in reference to Kai Balubar, son-in-law of friends of mine and fellow

educators, but I would extend my plea for all those in Kai’s position. I have spent time with Kai and his

wife, who is also a dedicated teacher, and I know them both to be passionate and hard working. Kai

cares deeply about the students in his care and wants to do the very best for each and every one of

them. He has been much more able to do so after quitting the second job he was working. His

increased compensation allowed him to be able to focus all his energy on the young people he cares

about so deeply.

I worked my entire career as a teacher and school administrator in Montana, Peru, Japan and here

on Maui. All of the teachers at my school on Maui were struggling financially, and all of them worked

long hours and were dedicated. I would have given anything to provide better compensation. At the

end of the school year, I was so sad to see a high percentage of those teachers leave Maui and/or

the profession because they couldn’t make it financially. Hawaii needs good, experienced teachers

for its children and its future.

Kai is one of those good, experienced teachers. I hope that you are able to take a longer view and

reconsider this decision. I can’t believe that when the extra compensation was offered to those willing

to work in hardship positions in special education that is was offered only temporarily. This

compensation is income that Kai and his family have planned on, and it should not be discontinued.

Beyond the hit it would be to his paycheck, I worry too about the hit to his morale. This is not a good

decision for teachers or kids.

Judy Beneventi-Maynard

Retired Educator

3950 Kalai Waa St., F-103

Kihei, Hawaii 96753

808-281-4583

[email protected]

Testimony BOE

From: Kristina Mekdeci <[email protected]> on behalf of Kristina Mekdeci

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 4:11 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

sure

Kristina Mekdeci Kihei

What can I say, it's a slap in the face The DOE is saying "hey thanks for doing all that above and beyond when

we all had to teach distance-learning now we're gonna let go of some of your teachers and hire tutors to let you

know how much we appreciate you!!

It doesn't surprise me that teachers do not want to teach in Hawaii.

Kristina Mekdeci

808-330-7339

https://www.facebook.com/KristinaMekdeci

Testimony BOE

From: Kiani McBean <kmcbean@aikahies.k12.hi.us> on behalf of Kiani McBean

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 4:16 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

BOE Special Meeting Action Item A

Aloha,

I am submitting a testimony in regards to the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A. On behalf of our Hawaii'i

keiki who are the future, I'm humbly asking that the stimulus money is used to stabilize classroom and staff

funding. Hawai'i teachers are already struggling to remain in Hawai'i with a wage that does not match the cost

of living. Such drastic pay cuts, when teachers are working harder than ever, may result in qualified teachers

leaving the islands. Our students have suffered enough during this pandemic. They deserve a quality education.

Please pay teachers what they deserve. They have been working tirelessly to provide for their students, but they

need to be able to support their own families as well.

Mahalo,

Kiani Mcbean

‘Aikahi Elementary School

281 Ilihau Street

Kailua, HI 96734

Phone: 305-6700

[email protected]

This email is the property of the Hawaii Department of Education

Testimony BOE

From: Robert Hu <[email protected]> on behalf of Robert Hu

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 4:35 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

BOE Special Meeting Action Item A

Dear BOE,

I have to tell you that after spending 26 years in special education the differentials have

FINALLYmade things a little bit easier. I understand that it was never about the pay but

trying to keep up with classroom costs and small school budgets it has always been a

struggle. Currently, I am working in a small school with a tiny budget and your cuts will

definitely be a major hindrance in providing the best I can do for the sttudents. I have been

working tirelessly with special education students in grades K - 6 with 1 main EA and NOW

her position may be taken away as well. This is the kind of thing that will make me want to

quit my job after all of these years. I have had to endure so many cuts especially with

special education and it is not fair. In fact, it is not fair to all the teachers who dedicate so

much in service of the students at our school. I am thinking that this will definitely open

the state up for hundreds of lawsuits similar to what has happened in the past. It really is

too bad that specific people cannot be blamed for this.........It's going to cost the state more

money from lawsuits that it will be trying to save jobs. The jobs of people who should be in

the classroom not in their cozy office with AC getting paid big bucks. I say CUT THE FA

off

the top so we can save the frontline essential teachers and staff who work directly with

students.

Annoyed,

Robert Hu

Testimony BOE

From: Sarah Bond <[email protected]> on behalf of Sarah Bond

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 4:39 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

BOESpecialMeetingActionItemA

MynameisSarah"Sally"BondandIamaSpecialEducationpreschoolteacherwhohasbeenmostlyinaFully

Self‐ContainedpreschoolclassroomatKahakaiElementaryfor12years.IwillberetiringonSeptember1,

2021andbythetimeIretiretherecouldbeasmanyas15childreninthatclassroomwithawidevarietyof

disabilitiesrangingfromblindanddevelopmentallydelayedtoAutismSpectrumDisorderwithmajorbehavior

problems.Wehave2FSCpreschoolclassroomsthisyearbutnowwiththebudgetcutstherewillonlybe1

nextyear.Thatisjustnotright.Ifthebudgetgetscuttherewillnotbeenoughpeopletosupporttheneeds

ofthese3‐5yearoldchildren.WeneedtobehiringmoreteachersandEA'stosupportthesestudentsneeds.

Mahaloforyourconsiderationinthisveryimportantmatter,

SallyBond

Testimony BOE

From: Lori Shibata <aikodoggie@gmail.com> on behalf of Lori Shibata

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 4:52 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Dear Board of Education,

I have been a faithful special education teacher for over 21+ years; committed to providing the best possible

education to my students. I have worked tirelessly day in and day out, spending thousands of dollars of my

personal funds to ensure I give everything I possibly can to each and every student that enters my classroom. I

have been bombarded with mounds of paperwork, multiple learning models, financial burden, teaching multiple

curriculums and grade-levels and consistently and effectively implementing safety precautions throughout the

day within my classroom and school-wide. These challenges that we as special education teachers face,

sometimes makes me question why I stay. When I made the commitment to teach special education many

many years ago, I definitely pursued this career choice because I have a passion for teaching students with

different abilities. With the differential, it has helped me to take care of my own family so that I can show up

and be the best teacher for my students. I have never waivered in my commitment to my students, my school,

and my career path so now I am asking you to do the same. I show up day in and day out despite all obstacles

being thrown in my face to show my students what it means to persist through challenges. Now I need you, the

Board of Education, to fight for me and my fellow colleagues so we can continue to provide the best education

we possibly can for our students. If I lose the differential, I lose the ability to take care of my own family. I

will then need to think long and hard of what my future will look like. I have always sacrificed the well being

of myself and my family, but I will no longer be able to do that if I can’t support my family. Thank you for

giving me the opportunity to voice my feelings as a dedicated special education teacher in the Department of

Education.

Sincerely,

Lori Shibata

Nimitz Elementary School

Testimony BOE

From: Georgianna Hashimoto <2xlinlife@gmail.com> on behalf of Georgianna Hashimoto

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 4:56 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

TESTIMONY

Aloha

MynameisGeorgiannaHashimotoIamaSpecialEducationteacheratHa’aheoElementaryschool.Idonotunderstand

howtakingthedifferentialswouldclosethegap.Ifanythingitwouldmakeitwiderasmorespecialeducationteachers

willleaveduetothelackofvalidationandappreciationforallthatwehavedoneandcontinuetodo.Isteppedtothe

plateduringthispandemicandhavebeenfacetofacedailywithmystudents13total.Onewhocan’twearamask.

Wereyoufacetoface?DidyouwearPPEandamaskfor6‐8hours?Ipayitforwardeveryday.Westruggledtobe

recognizedandwethoughtwehadfinallyreceivedvalidation.Andnowwefinallycouldpayourbillsandnotpinchfrom

onepaychecktoanotherorhavetotakeanotherjobtopaybills.Whatkindofadministrationdowehaveifwecan’t

trustyoutostandbyyourword?Peoplewhoaredecidingtojointhisfieldaretakingoutloanstobeaspedteacher.To

findouttheyweredeceived.Wedeservethis.IworkendlesshoursatnightandweekendsonIEP’swithno

compensationmonetarilyorlossoftimewithmyfamilyallforourKeikiandbecausewelovebeingateacher.Sonot

Pono!Iaskthatyounotremovethedifferentials,weearnedthat.



Mahalo,

GeorgiannaHashimoto

SpecialEducationTeacher

Haa’heoElementarySchool



SentfrommyiPhone

Testimony BOE

From: [email protected]

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 5:37 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Special Ed

TotheBOE,

Iamaspecialeducationteacher.Inthecomingmonth,Ihaveatleast6meetingstomeettheneedsofstudentswho

havespecialneeds.Ofcourse,generaleducationteacherswillbeatthosemeetings,too.But,oncewehavemet,Iwill

needtofinalizedocumentsthatmustmeetfederallaws.Thistakeshours,hoursAFTERimplementingotherplansduring

theschoolday,analyzingcollecteddata,andplanningforupcomingsessions.Oh,andtryingtomeetIEPgoalsformy

distancelearningonlystudents,aswellasmyfacetofacekidshastohappen,too.Don’tforgetcollaboratingwithgrade

levelteachersandtherapists,andservingonschoolcommittees.

DidImentionthehoursBEFOREthosemeetingsIneedtoputintobepreparedtomeet?

Inordertoattractmoreeducatorstotakeonthesestudents,thedifferentialhelpssome.Whowantstoworklonghours

forfree?Notthatanyteacherdoestheirjobwithincontracthours...weallputinwaytoomuchovertime.Butspedisin

aclassofitsown.

Kidswithspecialneedsmusthavetrained,dedicatedteachers.Keepthedifferentialforsped,andkeepteachersin

schools.Dowewantunqualifiedpeopleinanyofourschools?Wearejuststartingtoseebetternumbersofsped

teachers.Ithelpstoprovidethatsmallamountextra.Don’ttakeitaway.Denise



SentfrommyiPad

Testimony BOE

From: Chieko Idemoto <checho0708@gmail.com> on behalf of Chieko Idemoto

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 5:48 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha members of the Board of Education,

I am writing to you today regarding BOE Special Meeting Action Item A.

I have been a Special Education Preschool Teacher at Nimitz Elementary School for 23 years. Since the first

day I stepped into my classroom, I have worked diligently to provide the best education for all of my

students. But let's be real here - being a Special Education teacher is difficult and there is a reason why most

teachers prefer not to teach Special Education. The amount of time it takes me to prepare specially designed

instruction for ALL the different levels of students is extensive. I spend my mornings and afternoons in

meetings instead of spending it with my family. As if that wasn't bad enough, I spend thousands of dollars of

my own money every year on classroom supplies since the $200 I receive from my school doesn't even get me

near what I need. Can you believe I had to buy my own printer and printer ink since the school couldn't provide

me with one?

But I chose this profession 23 years ago because I wanted to make a difference with students with special

needs. Day in and day out, I sacrifice my own money, personal time and well-being to be the best teacher to

these kids. I power through whatever obstacles come my way because I want to do right for these kids. When

the Special Education differentials began, it gave me hope that I am finally being rewarded for doing a job

nobody else wants. I was happy to hear that many of my colleagues are returning back to Special Education or

that new teachers are interested in our field.

When the 2020-2021 school year began at the height of the Covid pandemic, I was forced from day 1 to teach

my students in person, face to face. While the General Education teachers were allowed to work safely behind

their computer screens, I was thrown into my classroom. I was not given adequate training, PPE or even

support. Clearly, service minutes in the Individualized Education Program were more important than my health

and safety. Another sacrifice I had to make as part of my job.

And now here we are.....due to new Covid procedures, I spend even more time in meetings, work on more

paperwork than I have ever before, and now even teach both face to face and distance learning. The amount of

work continues to rise, but yet there is talk of removing the differential. What a slap in the face.

For those of you who say that I chose to be a Special Education teacher so I can choose not to be one if I don't

like the conditions.....imagine if all of us Special Education teachers quit. Who is going to teach the

children? Who is going to be there when due process hearings start and consent decrees are put back in our

system??

There are many of us who are considering moving away from Special Education. The financial burden of being

a teacher is hard enough. Add the extra work we Special Education teachers have to endure and it's not worth

the hardship. The only logical answer here is to continue the differentials so we all stay and do our

jobs. Protect us Special Education teachers so we can protect our students with special needs. Don't take us for

granted and remember to take care of the people that take care of the keiki.

Let's do the right thing.

Chieko Idemoto

Nimitz Elementary School

Special Education Teacher

Testimony BOE

From: Caitlin Ramirez <[email protected]> on behalf of Caitlin Ramirez

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 6:12 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Ifwehavelearnedonethingfromthepandemic,itisthatourcommunitydependsonpublicschools.Weneedhighly

qualifiedteacherstocareforourchildrenandtohelpthemreachtheirfullpotential.Althoughthestateisfacingbudget

shortfalls,werobourchildrenoftheirfuturesifwecutfundingforteachers.

Asaschoollibrarian,IhavewatchedasmypeersacrosstheWindwarddistricthavelosttheirpositionsorbeenassigned

dutiesotherthanleadingonliteracy.Witheverylibrarianlost,ourchildrenhavelessaccesstobooks,lessaccessto

informationliteracyinstruction,andourteachershavefewerresourcesandsupportavailabletothemforclassroom

lessons.

AlthoughIhavetwoMastersdegrees,inEducationandLibraryScience,andhavebeenteachinginHawaiipublicschools

for15years,andIliveinatwoincomehousehold,westillstruggletomakeendsmeet.Iworkasecondjobteaching

onlinewiththeDOEeschoolandmyhusband,alsoaprofessional,picksupresidentialconstructionworkontheside

wheneverpossible.Apaycutwouldimpactmyfamily’sfinancialstability.

PleasesupportteachersandsupportHawaii’schildrenbyfullyfundingpublicschoolsandpublicschoolteachers.



CaitlinRamirez

Librarian

MokapuElementarySchool

Testimony BOE

From: Cara Fukuda <ctfukuda46@gmail.com> on behalf of Cara Fukuda

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 6:36 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I am emailing in regards to the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on

Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in

special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I am currently receiving a differential And firmly believe that eliminating these differentials will

negatively impact me and my students.

I'd like to start by saying that I have experience teaching both special education and general

education and am able to see how much more goes into being an effective special education teacher.

Although I have a passion for special education, the added amount of pressure and work was not

worth it and decided to teach general education (which I also have a passion for). The differential

encouraged me to go back to teaching special education not only for the increased pay, but knowing

that others acknowledged that these positions are hard to fill for a reason was appreciated.

Sent from my iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Susan Pcola-Davis <[email protected]> on behalf of Susan Pcola-Davis

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 6:58 PM

To:

testimony. boe@boe. hawaii. gov; Susan Pcola-Davis

Subject:

TESTIMONY

OPPOSE

ActionItems



A.BoardActiononSuperintendentChristinaKishimoto'sdiscontinuanceofextracompensationforclassroomteachers

inspecialeducation,hard‐to‐staffgeographicallocations,andHawaiianlanguageprograms



WellitsabouttimetheBoardrecognizesthesuperintendent'sAGAINlackofINTEGRITY



Thisisanexampleofhernewestreprisalandretributiontowardsteachers!!



Inpastmeetings,thenaivetyiftheBoardhasbeenfrustrating.TheBoardworksonthebasisofhonestyandintegrity!

AGAIN,you'vebeenfooled.



IhavelistenedtoBoardmembersgivingherthebenefitofthedoubtoverandover.Shecontinuouslydisappoints.



Herpocketshaveanever‐endingaccesstotrickery.



I'mconvincedthateverytimeIhear"Weknowyouaredoingyourbest,theseareunusualtimesandalltheotherthings

you'vesaidtohertoshowhertheBoardsupportsher,"you'vebeenfooled.



It'stimetolistentoyourgut!!ItisapparenttheChairiscallingheroutforonce!Nowyouaregettingatasteofhow

theseteachersfeel!!



Testimony BOE

From: Michael Oneal <[email protected]> on behalf of Michael Oneal

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 7:17 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Dear BOE

I would like to submit testimony for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on

Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in

special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

My name is Michael O’Neal. I currently teach at Lokelani Intermediate School in a district program.

My testimony is this:

This is my 11th year teaching in Hawaii. I started teaching in Hawaii in 2001 when Columbus

Educational Services was contracted to address the teacher shortage in special education. In the 11

years I have spent teaching in Hawaii, this is the first year I have started a school year with the

special education department fully staffed. I believe this is a direct result of the pay differential for

special education.

In the past, every year was begun with less than a fully staffed special education department. This

created an increased workload for the teachers in the department and diluted the services that could

be provided to students.

The pay differential or a small part of the budget and yet so impactful on special education students. I therefore

believe that they should be kept.

Thank you and kind regards.

Sent from my iPhone

Testimony BOE

From:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 7:27 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Please keep differentials

Hello,



Iamanewteacherandselectedmynewpositionasaresultofthedifferentials.Ihavetwochildrenincollegeandwill

needtolookforanotherjobifthedifferentialsgoaway.Itwasoneofthereasonsowasattractedbackintothe

professionaftermanyyearsaway.ItisthereasonIcommute1houreachwaytowork.Ilovemyschoolandmyjob.I

hopeyouunderstandthatforsomeofusthisisamajorattractionbacktoaprofessionthatwelove.



Thankyou,



SentfrommyiPhone

Testimony BOE

From:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 7:35 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Oh, no

Ijustsentinatestimony,thatIthoughtwas ‐thenIrealizeditisnot.Idonotwantmyschooltofeelthe

differentialsarereallyonlyreasonIpickedthem.Canyoukeepme 



Thankyou,





SentfrommyiPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Sara Aronin <[email protected]> on behalf of Sara Aronin

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 8:32 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Pleasekeepthedifferentialsinpay!ForthefirsttimesincethestatebroughtinColumbusTeachers‐overtwentyyears‐

schoolshavebeencompletelystaffedinSPED.Ourstudentsarefinallygettingtheservicestheyneedandarefederally

mandated.OurHawaiianlanguageprogramisbeginningtotakeitscourseindeliveringcurriculumtothosewhowantit.

Studentsinhardtostaffareasarehavingcertifiedteachersinsteadofshortandlongtermsubs.Pleasedonotgo

backwardandtakethesedifferentialsaway.Ourkeikideserveteachers!Thankyouforyourtimeandconsideration.

Dr.SaraAronin

Motheroffour

Testimony BOE

From: Alder Olive <alderolive@gmail.com> on behalf of Alder Olive

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 9:40 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha,



IamwritinginregardstoSuperintendent'sabrupt,andratherthoughtless,decisiontoendhardtofillposition

differentialpay.Asa12yearHIDOEvet,Itooktheopportunitytogobackintoaspecialeducationteachingline.Aline

thatnotmanyteacherswantbecauseofimmenseamountofpaperwork,hoursofafterschoolmeetings,andendless

caseloadneeds.Thesearethestudentswhoneedqualifiedteachersandforthefirsttimein12yearsIfeltcompensated

formyhardworkandextratime.



ThisdecisiontoendthePayforhardtofillpositionswillonlyfurtherhurtthepopulationofourstudentswhoneedthe

best.



Pleasereconsiderthisdecision.



AlderOlive

KaelepuluElementarySchool



Pleaseexcuseanyerrorsortypos,thismessagewassentfrommyiPhone.

Testimony BOE

From: RAB <[email protected]> on behalf of RAB

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 11:46 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

please

please, on behalf of special needs families

remember Felix decree

Thank you, Robert Beckvall

Love sees what is invisible. Simone Weil

Testimony BOE

From: RAB <[email protected]> on behalf of RAB

Sent:

Sunday, February 14, 2021 11:51 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

special needs last

why is this a surprise?

the lost generation of sped kids

first to get hit in the pandemic, so why not hire tutors instead of certified sped.?

Hawaii: not student centered

Thank you, Robert Beckvall

Love sees what is invisible. Simone Weil

Testimony BOE

From: Perry Buchalter <[email protected]> on behalf of Perry Buchalter

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 6:20 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony to retain differentials

Honorable Superintendant Kishimoto,

Where we understand the economic situation the State is facing, it would be unconscionable to unilaterally

discontinue contractual differentials for more than a few reasons.

1. Teachers have stepped up and have had to learn in a crash-course style to assure our students' education

would continue to the best of our ability. Visiting homes to drop off needed supplies, reaching out to families,

and coming together to assist our peers where needed.

2. The far too many of us in the "Compression-Track"

were denied the step movement the State finally recognized and agreed upon costing us over 20K a year, we

have already given.

3. It has been reported by the State's own finance director that there are other avenues the State could cut or

draw from until the State recovers, and yet, both the Governor and now you want to personally come after

teachers, why? We can barely afford to live in the very State we have dedicated our careers to.

4. The differentials for outer island teachers are to offset the higher cost of living we face on a daily basis. To do

away with these is not fair to those of us who face the higher cost of living because those teachers who would

not be affected do not face the higher costs we pay adding insult to injury.

Fixing the States shortfall does not fall on your shoulders, you should be the one fighting for us. At all of the

conferences I have attended your praise for teachers and what we do does not coincide with this action and

leaves me confused as to why you would even announce such an action.

Please reconsider, we implore you.

Sincerely,

Perry S. Buchalter, NBCT

BA, Fine Arts/CTE Department

Molokai High School

Testimony BOE

From: Ellen Farnsworth <ellenfarn80011@yahoo.com> on behalf of Ellen Farnsworth

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 6:43 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha

I am submitting testimony regarding the BOE Special meeting Action A regarding the differentials that teachers

have been receiving for special education teachers and hard to staff schools. I teach at a hard to staff school and

can honestly say that before the differential was in place, every year numerous numbers of teachers have left to

teach in less stressful positions. It has been really difficult to maintain staff members, I myself had thought of

leaving but the differential helped to change my mind. The extra money every paycheck helps since I do a lot

of work outside of school hours just to keep up with the demands that are made on teachers. The cost of living

keeps rising and now the BOE wants to cut our pay. This will cost numerous hardships on teachers and many

will flee either the profession and/or the islands to be able to live a less stressful life. Please, I am begging you,

do not take this away from our keiki and our profession.

Sincerely

Ellen Farnsworth

Teacher

Kealakehe Intermediate School

Testimony BOE

From: Chivas Niau <[email protected]> on behalf of Chivas Niau

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 7:06 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha,

I am testifying in support of Action Item A for the Special Meeting, regarding

Superintendent Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in

special education, hard to staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I have been a special education teacher for the past 14 years. Throughout the years, I’ve

firmly held onto the idea that teaching would ensure a promising and stable future.

Within that time frame, I have had to juggle taking classes to improve my professional

practice and work MULTIPLE jobs in addition to my teacher position just to provide the basic

necessities to care for myself and my children. Because the cost of living in Hawai’i is among

the highest in the nation, compounded with low teacher pay and the need to work multiple

jobs just to survive, I have not only lost sleep throughout the years, but have been absent

from my children much more than I should.

Teachers like myself have been overworked and underpaid for too long, causing detrimental

impacts to the quality of education that we are able to provide to students and the quality of

life that I am able to provide my own children.

When my daughter was 5, she told me that she wanted to be a teacher when she grows up.

My daughter will turn 9 this Friday, and now she reflects on the years that have passed and all

the times she had said that I was ‘too busy, always working’ to have time for her. She still

wonders why we can’t come home because we can’t afford to make the necessaries repairs to

our home. She has high hopes that this will be the year that mommy can finally get the loan to

repair our home so that it’s safe to live in. Please don’t allow her to lose faith.

With these projected cuts to pay, in addition to cuts in differentials, this could make all the

difference in her life, like so many others that need this income to survive. Many of us are

literally one paycheck away from being on the streets with our ‘Ohana, especially during this

crisis of a pandemic! Taking this away will force me to go back to working multiple jobs. Like

many other teachers, if we are overworked and underpaid, the quality of education that we can

give to students will suffer and teachers will experience burnout.

Please do not discontinue the differentials and allow pay cuts. This will negatively impact not

only students, but FAMILIES. Christina Kishimoto and the Board of Education, please stand in

support for teachers. So many times we have been asked to do more and more with less and

less. Please give teachers,families, and students what they need and what they deserve by

ensuring that cuts in pay do not happen, so that we have the chance to provide a high quality

education and a proper quality life.

Chivas

Testimony BOE

From: Donna Tamaye <[email protected]> on behalf of Donna Tamaye

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 7:41 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

BOE Special Meeting Action Item A

RE: Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation fro

classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawai'ian language programs

My name is Donna Kurisu Tamaye and I am a Special Education Teacher at Kalani High School. I am writing to testify on BOE Special

Meeting Action Item A.

I have been one of the fortunate special education teachers to receive the differential pay to compensate classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to staff geographical locations, and Hawai'ian language programs. As a recent widow and a teacher with nearly 20

years in the DOE, I found myself faced with the dilemna of choosing between a career that I love and pursuing an alternate career that

would empower me to support my family. The differential pay that I receive has allowed our family to afford our mortgage. Far more

important to me, as a mother, the differential pay has granted me the dignity of providing for my family without pummeling my sons with

selling our home and moving soon after their father passed away. Given the already high cost of living and the current unstable

economy, many of us teachers live in multi-generational homes or face similar impossible situations as I did.

As you may know, the number of teachers who left special education positions in SY 2020-2021 decreased by 57%. The continuation

of the differential pay will not only retain teachers like me, but will also provide our students with the stability of having qualified special

education teachers teach them. Without the differentail pay, many teachers will leave the profession and students who are already

struggling with online and/or hybrid learning will face the compounded problem of having changing substitute teachers in their

classroom. I know BOE members care about the students, families, and DOE personnel they serve. I humbly ask that the BOE

continue the extra compensation to classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawai'ian

language programs.

With Kind Regards,

Donna Kurisu Tamaye

Testimony BOE

From: Des Abreu <[email protected]om> on behalf of Des Abreu

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 8:54 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha. I am submitting testimony for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on

Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in

special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I am currently receiving a differential to teach Special Education. The differential helped me to make

the decision to move from an Educational Officer administrative position back into the classroom

where I had not been since 1995. Like all teachers, special education teachers work many, many

hours outside of their paid work days to craft IEPs, complete Progress Reports and evaluate data so

that they may best service their students and families. Special Educators coordinate and facilitate

evaluation, eligibility and IEP meetings, frequently during their own personal time as they are

providing specialized instruction to vulnerable students during the school day and attend these

meetings after school, most frequently going well past the paid work day. The differential has

compensated me for that additional unpaid time and prevented me from seeking out other non-SpEd

positions. In addition to my personal experience, for the first time during my 25+ year career, I am

seeing that teachers who are certified to provide these services are returning from non-classroom

teacher positions, general education positions and administrative positions to special education

teaching lines. I strongly believe that the differential has made an enormous difference in getting

highly qualified teachers of special needs students back into the classroom and that it will further

generate more special educators to join the ranks of the HIDOE. I ask this... Aren't our students with

special needs worth it? Don't they deserve to have highly qualified, educated, passionate educators

who are valued for their worth, there to provide them with the specialized instruction and services that

they need? Thank you for your kind consideration.

Mahalo, Des

Testimony BOE

From: dee green <[email protected]om> on behalf of dee green

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:03 AM

To:

Testimony BOE

Subject:

Regarding Feb 18, 2021 Board Meeting

Aloha



Inregardstoagendaitemat11am(iiiA),pleasedirecttheSuperintendenttorescindhermemoendingteachershortage

differentials.



1:30pm(VB)pleaseprioritizeusingstimulusmoneytostabilizeclassroomandstafffundinginsteadofcreatingnewtutor

programs.



Thankyouforyourtime

DeeGreen



SentfrommyiPad

Testimony BOE

From: Sharon Inouye <[email protected]> on behalf of Sharon Inouye

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:06 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony: Saving teacher and EA positions saves money and provides better

instruction

Dear Board of Education Members,

Thank you for your service. As a teacher and a mom, I appreciate your work.

I am testifying on the BOE General Business Meeting Action Item V, B: Board Action on

the Department of Education’s plan for use of federal funds in the new COVID-19 relief package and

annual federal spending bill.

Please do not support the DOE proposal to cut teacher and Educational Assistant positions in order to hire tutors

in the summer. It's a bad idea to cut out these critical staff members to help students and then hire private tutors

to try to make up for it later. Saving teacher and EA jobs saves money and provides better instruction.

As an example, the EAs at my school really know the students and they are able to provide personalized support

for students immediately and currently during regular school instruction. Private summer tutors will not know

the students very well and will be reactive as they try to support the students during the summer without regular

classroom instruction. Additionally, this plan will extend the school year and resources meaning extra costs for

electricity, PPE supplies, etc. Mental health experts are already sounding the alarm for increased mental health

issues for students and adults. Will an extended school year and shortened summer break be costly in these

terms as well?

Please save our school budgets, jobs, better instruction, health, and money.

Thank you,

Sharon M. Inouye

Moanalua Middle School Teacher

Testimony BOE

From: Kvn Lndrs <[email protected]> on behalf of Kvn Lndrs

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:20 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

February 18, 2021 Board meeting

Aloha board members

My input on two agenda Items:

11 a.m. 3A "Direct the superintendent to rescind her memo ending teacher shortage differentials."

The shortage differentials in one year have stabilized some special education and hard to staff positions -

stopping now will reverse this progress. Letʻs not do that!

1:30 p.m. 5B "Prioritize using stimulus money to stabilize classroom and staff funding instead of creating new

tutor programs."

Federal stimulus money has specific uses - hiring companies from the continent to tutor when we are

reducing our own staff is just plain wrong!

Mahalo,

Kevin Landers

808.777.7214

Testimony BOE

From: Cheryl B <[email protected]> on behalf of Cheryl B

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:25 AM

To:

Testimony BOE

Subject:

Feb. 18th meeting

Aloha

Will make this succinct.

11 a.m. Urge the BOE to direct the superintendent to rescind her memo ending teacher shortage

differentials. It is ridiculous to drop a policy that has done so much good in such a short time. If you need

money for this, drop standardized testing and inappropriate, biased resources for which we are still

paying.

1:30 p.m. Ask the BOE to prioritize using stimulus money to stabilize classroom and staff funding

instead of creating new tutor programs. As you are well aware, this is a slap in the face to all those folks

being furloughed and released from their positions. We need our educators, not more companies from the

continent as tutors (who has vetted those resources?).

Thank you.

C. Burghardt

Still waiting for progress on the elimination of Acellus. Have verified that at least one school is using per a

parent letter beginning in March. Also, waiting for some movement on the renaming of schools and policy

for future naming.

Testimony BOE

From: Lani Kwon <[email protected]> on behalf of Lani Kwon

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:15 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

February 18, 2021 Board Meeting

Dear BOE,

Regarding agenda item iii A:

Please direct the superintendent to rescind her memo ending teacher shortage differentials.

Prioritize using stimulus money to stabilize current classroom and staff funding instead of creating new tutor

programs.

The shortage differentials just in one year have stabilized some special education and hard to staff positions. To

stop it now, will undo such a positive path. V. B stimulus $$ from the Feds. has specific uses, hiring companies

from the continent to tutor when we are reducing our own staff is wrong. Please continue to support our

local teachers!

Thank you,

Lani Kwon

Concerned Parent

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: John Van Plantinga <john.vanplantinga@mauihigh.org> on behalf of John Van

Plantinga

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:38 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

“Testimony” Shame, Shame, Shame!

Dear BOE Officials

Without the differentials I may no longer be able to afford to teach in Maui. Rentsand mortgages are the

equivalent to or more than one paycheck, leaving the second paycheck to pay for bills, the car note and food.

No savings, what? Just imagine that we are trying to recruit new teachers to the profession and requiring a

lengthy licensing process after many years of education only to learn that TEACHERS are not valued as highly

trained professionals.

For example, I have a four year Bachelors degree, a Masters in Special Education, 60 units of DOE PDE3

continuing education yet I can barely afford to live in Maui without a second and third income source. Teachers

salaries are already low in comparison to the cost of living in Maui. But with over 10 years experience in

Hawaii's classrooms, a Masters Degree in SPED, and a solid program for my students, our superintendent wants

to hire tutors and reduce our pay?

The pandemic has already reduced our opportunities for the second and third income sources needed; our

spouses are most likely out of work because their jobs are closed due to the pandemic and now we are to make

do with even less? You would cut our pay during a pandemic when we are risking our lives as front line

workers? Teachers have sick days because they get sick from their students. When I was teaching online I did

not get a cold once when normally I battle the sniffles a few times a year. But now I am to work in a raging

pandemic for less when I was only just getting by?

Why is it that we do not value our teachers? Is it because we do not value our keiki? Shame , Shame, Shame!

Mahalo!

John Van Plantinga

Maui High School

Work Place Readiness O-101

[email protected]

(808)727-4156

The Hawaii State Department of Education ("HIDOE") does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex,

age, color, national origin, religion or disability. This requirement extends to all of HIDOE's programs

and activities, including employment and admissions as applicable. In addition, the HIDOE does not

tolerate acts of harassment on the basis of race, sex, age, color, national origin, religion, or

disability. Any student who believes that he or she has been subjected to harassment on the basis of

race, sex, age, color, national origin, religion, or disability, is encouraged to report such

harassment. Students and parents may report allegations of discrimination or harassment to the

Principal, Mr. Jamie Yap at 727-4000, or via email at [email protected]; OR to the

HIDOE's Civil Rights Compliance Office at (808)586-3322.

Testimony BOE

From: Lynn Yoshizaki <yoshizakil@knights.k12.hi.us> on behalf of Lynn Yoshizaki

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:39 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Regarding BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on Superintendent Christina

Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-

to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

In this stressful time, it is imperative that the DOE hold up its end of a contract and keep its

promises. Breaking an agreement will cause current teachers to leave the profession and further

exacerbate the teacher shortage.

And in the future, who will fill those positions? What promises could the DOE make in the future? No

one will believe the DOE will hold up its end of a deal. Things will only get worse.

Ms. Lynn E. Yoshizaki

Physics Teacher, Medical/Culinary Academy

E Ola Pono Coordinator, Medical Pathway

Testimony BOE

From: Len Fergusen <[email protected]> on behalf of Len Fergusen

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:42 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony for the Special Meeting Action Item A/Action Item B

Aloha, my name is Len Fergusen and I am a Special Education teacher at Nanakuli High and Intermediate

School. I have been at NHIS for 8 years. Our school has an enrollment of approximately 1043 students of

which 209 (20%) are receiving special education services. Due to economic circumstances we face a teacher

reduction of 3 special education teaching positions and reductions in Sped educational assistants as well at

NHIS but we will still have the same or larger number of students to service. The hard to staff and special

education differentials we receive were long in coming and well deserved. For Superintendent Kishimoto to

unilaterally discontinue the differentials is unconscionable and detrimental to the retention of teachers and

quality of special education services to the students who need the most help.

Please prioritize restoring all cuts the the weighted student formula and special education per pupil allocation to

eliminate the need for any teacher reductions and differential reductions. We cannot afford to allow the

student/teacher ratio to increase to an unmanageable size especially when our students return to face to face

instruction.

I ask you to support your teachers, support your community, and do not allow reductions in pay or staffing,

thank you.

Len Fergusen

[email protected]

808.271.1167

808.744.9052

WH6GKC

Testimony BOE

From: Linda Rist <[email protected]om> on behalf of Linda Rist

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:45 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to Superintendent Christina Kishimoto about the discontinuance of extra compensation for

classroom teachers in special education, and also teachers who work in hardship locations.

This extra compensation has allowed these special teachers to support their families without depending on

second jobs to make ends meet. This transfers into their ability to focus totally on the students in their

care. Having been a dedicated educator myself, working in special education and as a resource teacher for the

bulk of my career, I know what it is like to put all your energy into helping students with special challenges.

Taking away this well deserved compensation is both unfair and short sighted. With its salary limits and

working conditions, Hawaii struggles to attract the teachers it needs and taking away this incentive for teachers

in high burn out positions compounds this challenge. Teachers willing to take on these demanding positions

should be highly valued. The decision to discontinue the compensation for special education teachers and those

who work in hardship positions is unfortunate for all concerned - students, teachers, their families and Hawaii's

educational system. I sincerely ask you to reconsider.

Respectfully,

Linda Rist

170 Ho'omaika'i Place

Kula, HI 96790

Testimony BOE

From: Julie Ariola <[email protected]om> on behalf of Julie Ariola

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:46 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Pay Differentials

Iama7thgradespecialeducationteacher.Idon’tknowhowIcanmakeendsmeetwithoutthepaydifferential.The

differentialhelpstopayforthestudentloanIaccruedtobecomethespecialeducationteacher.

Ilovemyjobandthefamilies,butwithoutthepay,Iwouldhavetoseekoutotheremployment,asduetotheworkload

Ihave,anadditionalparttimejobisoutofthequestion.

Pleasedon’ttakeawaythespecialeducationteacherspaydifferential.

Thankyou

JulieAriola



SentfrommyiPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Qurratulayn Joy <qurratulaynjoy@gmail.com> on behalf of Qurratulayn Joy

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:53 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Shortage Differentiatials Impact Statement

Aloha members of the Board of Education,

I would like to thank you for your support of continuing the differentials that have been helpful for myself and

my family these past few months.

Times are getting harder in some ways; financially, due to the sustained impact on my older children who are

just starting out on their own, e.g. job hunting after graduation, myself and husband who were hoping to build

our own home this year, thinking we can now afford it, emotionally, as family with pre-exisiting health and

mental health issues need our support more now than ever. Our youngest child is now in the vulnerable

population as he continues to struggle with Distance Learning (from a well performing student last year). He

will probably need tutoring and perhaps correspondence courses all of which I will have to pay for, in order for

him to graduate next year. I cannot begin to explain how much my family depends on the differential I receive.

What we once considered a safety net has now become part of the foundation upon which we now rely on

daily.

Yes, things have changed, definitely. I know our story is not unique. We are not more deserving more than

anyone else. I wanted to report on my current situation in the hopes that if there is a way to protect the

differentiatials, you will have another reason to keep looking for it.

Mahalo for your time,

Q. Emiko Joy

Testimony BOE

From: Ginnie Schwarten <[email protected]> on behalf of Ginnie Schwarten

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:55 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I am testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

The Special Education extra compensation has motivated me to continue teaching even though I am

eligible for retirement. The decision to continue or not continue the compensation will influence my

decision to continue teaching next school year.

Virginia Schwarten

Mauka Lani Elementary

Sent from my iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: linda jones <[email protected]> on behalf of linda jones

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:53 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

TESTIMONY

Aloha,

I am a product of the Hawaii public education system. I have been a special education teacher now teaching

general education English at a hard to staff location... Lanai High and Elementary School. I am a veteran

teacher with twenty years of service to the state and for our keiki.

Regarding monies for teaching in a head to staff school. On Lanai there are two grocery stores. Options are

incredibly limited for food and other items. If the weather is bad the barge doesn’t come and the shelves are

literally bare. There is no where on this island to buy underwear! There is only one gas station which means the

price of gas is set without competition! Currently gas is 4.45 a gallon. It is not easy to live on the most isolated

island in the most isolated state. We can only travel by ferry or plane, both of which are severely limited due to

the virus. Travel is incredibly difficult in the ferry as weather conditions can shut that down for days at a

time. When the weather turns bad the single prop planes serving our island are grounded until the weather

eases. Travel is also incredibly expensive!! The bonus allows me to be able to survive here. It lets me be able

to travel to Maui or Honolulu for basic and necessary items. Without that bonus it would be too difficult to

remain here. That extra money allows me to stay at a school that can never fill all its positions with

trained, experienced teachers. By withholding the bonuses the keiki of Lanai are doomed to “ teachers” who are

not trained/experienced. They will not be afforded a free and appropriate education... they will receive baby

sitters with handouts.

Regarding the pay reductions... my pay was cut in 2009 to ease the economic disaster. I was frozen on Step 6

for eight years. My union successfully fought for movement in the Steps and now I am stuck on Step 11... with

over twenty years of service!! I have never recovered from 2009 and now I am asked to suffer yet again. The

longer I work as a teacher in this state the less money I make!!! This does not happen in any other

profession!! How can teachers who have been used to save the economy be asked to do so again without ever

reestablishing said teachers to the pay level the years of experience demand? How can we be asked to take even

more cuts in pay??? It is a travesty. And I repeat... the longer I work for the DOE in the state of Hawaii... the

less money I make!!

If the state moves forward with the tutor idea, I think I would retire and apply to be a tutor. I bet a lot of others

would do the same. Leaving keiki with babysitters and trained, licensed and experienced teachers tutoring!!!

Teachers have born the brunt of any economic downturn. The teachers suffer and so the keiki suffer as

well. Take care of the teachers... especially those who have sacrificed before for the economy and were never

restored to their rightful salaries.

I love teaching. But I ponder daily the idea of retiring with a pension that isn’t what it should be... retiring and

moving away from my home of fifty years because I can’t afford to do so as a retired teacher.

I have served my community and my state and our keiki faithfully and devotedly for twenty years...I , and

others in my situation, deserve better than this!!!

Respectfully,

Linda Jones

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: John Fitzpatrick <fitzformaui@gmail.com> on behalf of John Fitzpatrick

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:58 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Fitzpatrick BOE Testimony Covid 19 funds: Paycuts, layoffs, furloughs, out of state

private tutors

Aloha Honorable Hawaii Board of Education Members,

My name is John Fitzpatrick and my 7th grade integrated science at Maui Waena School students call me

“Mista Fitz.” I am writing in strong support of using Covid-19 stimulus funds to fund the weighted student

formula and special education per pupil allocation. Before the pandemic these were underfunded and cutting

both of these will have drastic effects. By ensuring we use Covid 19 relief funds we will prevent layoffs, prevent

an average $6000 pay cut for most educators, and we can support the highly successful differentials that have

helped across the board in areas of special education, hard to staff, and Hawaiian immersion. Please reject the

use of ⅓ of the covid relief funds to go to out of state tutoring services that will only impact 25,000 of our

roughly 186,000 students.

At my school I feel for the newly hired educators that are trying to start families here on Maui and have shown

their love and commitment to our students in the face of unprecedented challenges caused by the DOE and

the pandemic. At my school two math teachers and one language arts teacher are likely to be displaced

because of cuts to the weighted student formula. In addition, an art position is also going to be cut which

means that our students will not have a loving and a caring art teacher that helps them express themselves

during the pandemic. We already had a 1,000 teacher shortage before the pandemic, laying off 700-1100

educators is not going to help this problem.

At the second bargaining meeting the DOE proposed a nearly 10% pay cut to our negotiations team over the

next four years without the option of a re-opener in two year if and when the economy recovers after this

pandemic. I am already living paycheck to paycheck and do not have very much discretionary spending. I will

loose $6,200 annually ($24,800) over the next four years. Like 60-70% of educators I had a second job

captaining a sailboat to help make ends meat. I have already lost $10,000 of income over the last year of the

pandemic. Loosing another $6,200 will be extremely challenging for me and my family to pay rent, buy food,

and survive through the pandemic. When we are barely making it ourselves it is really hard to put on a strong

face and help our students through the pandemic as well.

I would also like to ask that the BOE vote to protect the $2500 bonus that educators receive after serving our

students for three years and committing to them for years to come. I am at the three year mark in limbow not

knowing whether I can return to my school or not. Not knowing if another science teacher will fill my posted

position and not knowing where I will end up or even if I will find a position next year. It would be nice to know

that I can finally get the $2500 bonus for serving the keiki of Hawaii in the DOE for the past three years. I was

looking forward to this because of the $10,000 a year pay hit I took by being laid off of my second job.

The differentials were extremely successful and helped get special education teachers into classrooms to give

the services students like my 7th grade self needed when I was faced with learning challenges and disabilities.

Because of these differentials more of my special education students get the one on one care and support that

they need from highly trained special education teachers because more educators are choosing to fill these

roles due to the differentials. For the first time in years the college of education had too many applicants that

wanted to get a degree and training to help our special education teachers thrive. My girlfriend chose to go

from english into special education because of the differentials. In a distance learning environment I see and

hear her working with many of my students giving them the one on one attention that they need in order to

thrive on their own. She is so successful and I see the growth of her students every day as they use the skills

they gain in my science class as well. If the differentials are cut our special education students will not get as

many highly qualified and trained educators. In addition, at my school with the differentials we have lost two

special education teachers because they had to move back to the mainland. Their students mid quarter were

thrown into other special education teachers classes and had to learn to adjust even further. This also made

the other teachers' classes larger and made it harder to give the one on one attention that is so incredibly

helpful. Imagine if we no longer have these differentials? How many highly qualified and well trained special

education teachers will we fail to attract to special education and how many will we fail to retain? Because my

girlfriend is likely to lose this special education differential and face a 10% pay cut our family will be have to live

through this pandemic another $16,000 a year short of what we currently make.

Altogether we, two of the worst paid teachers in the nation when adjusted for cost of living, will have to find a

way to survive and educate through a pandemic losing an estimated $94,600 over the next four years. We are

working harder than we ever had to before to try to deliver a quality education to our students as the DOE and

Governor Ige put us through the stress of paycuts, furloughs, layoffs, distance learning, and unsafe in person

learning. We have had to adjust at least once a month to what teaching methodologies we were going to use

and it is incredibly taxing.

I adamantly reject a 10% paycut, cutting the highly successful differentials, and drastic cuts to the Hawaii

public education system while Superintendent Kishimoto proposes to use ⅓ of the funds to hire private tutors

for 25,000 of our students that are presently choosing not to take advantage of the services currently offered to

them. A highly trained special education teacher, a teacher in a hard to staff area, and Hawaiian Immersion

teachers that actually speak Hawaiian are far more impactful to the students of Hawaii than tutors that are

hired from out of state tutoring agencies.

I hope you reject the DOE’s current proposals to hire private tutors and ask them to start negotiating a suitable

contract in a way that shows they value us and care for our lives as well as our students' lives. Educators have

not recovered from budget cuts falling on their backs in 2009. If legislators believe we can afford to take a 10%

paycut then maybe just maybe they should ask the wealthy to pay 10% more in taxes and use the Covid relief

funds to strengthen public education in Hawaii and not cut it.

Mahalo,

Fitz

John Fitzpatrick

Fitz For Maui

email: fitzformaui@gmail.com

phone: 808-268-1073

85 Mokuahi St.

Makawao,

Hi, 96768

Testimony BOE

From: Katherine (Katie) Jagger <katie.[email protected]> on behalf of Katherine (Katie)

Jagger

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:58 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Re: Special Meeting Action Item A

Good morning,

I am a special education teacher for the Central District of Oahu. I am submitting written testimony to urge the

Board and the Department of Education to keep pay differentials for hard-to-staff positions for the following

reasons:

o The data shows that the pay differentials WORKED. Case closed. Teachers moved into these hard to

staff positions as a direct result of the differentials. Why would we take away a program that is working

and helps our most vulnerable students?

o With COVID, the need for qualified SPED teachers is even more important than it was before. The

need will continue as this health crisis ceases and we will need to assess future learning needs for

students with disabilities.

o Not only are SPED positions getting cut due to the current budget plan, but taking away the differential

will only further contribute to SPED teacher shortages.

I would like to end my testimony by asking: What areas of the DOE farther removed from the classroom are

being reviewed for cuts? Why does the DOE continue the bad practice of taking directly from our students in

the form of classroom teaching positions?

There has got to be better way.

Respectfully,

Katie Jagger

Special Education Teacher

Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary School

Sent from my iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Derek Bishop <dbishop@paauiloschool.k12.hi.us> on behalf of Derek Bishop

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:08 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony in support of BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Rescind DOE

Superintendent Kishimoto's memo discontinuing shortage differentials for SY

2021-2022.

Dear Hawaii State Board of Education,



My name is Derek Bishop. I am a 31-year special education teacher veteran at Paauilo Elementary and

Intermediate School on the Big Island. I am submitting testimony in support of BOE Special Meeting Action

Item A to rescind DOE Superintendent Kishimoto's memo of Feburary 9, 2021 that unilaterally discontinues

teacher pay differentials for next school year. I ask the BOE to have Supt. Kishimoto reverse this memo.



As recently as this past December, the DOE had recommended that Federal stimulus moneys be set aside to

continue the differentials for the second year of this "pilot" program. Why? Because the differentials have

proven effective! Due to the past year's differential implementation, the number of teachers transferring into

special education positions for the 2020–21 school year increased by 29 percent over the previous school year,

while the number of teachers who left SpEd positions decreased by 57 percent. As well, nearly twice as many

educators transferred into hard-to-staff schools for the next school year compared to last, while the differentials

led to a 41-percent decrease in those leaving hard-to-staff locations.



If we care about providing qualified and stable staffing for our most vulnerable schools and populations, we

must maintain these differentials.



I moved to the islands to teach in January 2020 largely on account of the differentials put into place by the

DOE. I had left the islands in 2005 to earn greater pay in California. While I did find it there, I am fully aware

that the climate and culture of Hawaii is a far more rewarding place in which to live. With these differentials,

the "price of paradise" is now much more competitive with mainland options for teaching.



I will have to think long and hard as to whether I can afford to remain in Hawaii if the DOE abandons the

differentials.



I ask the BOE and the DOE to do everything they can to attract more teachers into these challenging positions

serving our most at-risk populations.



Our keiki deserve nothing less.



Mahalo for your time!



Derek Bishop

Testimony BOE

From: Mark Nakatsuka <[email protected]> on behalf of Mark Nakatsuka

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:10 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

BOE: Special meeting action A

My name is Mark Nakatsuka from Likelike elementary school and a first grade teacher. I am against the

removal of extra incentives. This will create a larger challenge to fulfill the needs of an already hard to staff

school or area. By having these incentives it promotes and encourages people who are highly qualified to

continue to stay or even generate more opportunities for schools to decide from a wider range of applicants

because of these incentives. It also helps quality of life to these teachers receiving these incentives. It makes the

profession much more viable for our future teachers looking to create change too. By having these in place it

will also secure highly qualified teachers to be able to teach these students who need teachers who understand

and are knowledgeable about their craft and field. If you think a substitute or some random emergency hire can

easily take their place you are highly mistaken. You could ask anyone who had to help their child or

children during this pandemic let alone 11 more. I know having a highly qualified teacher is the difference

maker. Please rethink your decision.

Thank you,

A teacher that does not receive any of those incentives

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Luke Mason <sirluke1978@gmail.com> on behalf of Luke Mason

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:13 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Special ed

I'm writing on behalf of fighting against cutting differentials and special education pay that was implemented

last year. I have taught special education in Hawaii since 2007 and it has been difficult to say the least given our

shortage of teachers and lack of special educators who know how to correctly write the paperwork and deal with

such a difficult population. I was looking at different career paths until this pay increase was implemented and I

decided to stay in special education for the sake of the children and since it also allowed my family a normal

living lifestyle. if you make these pay cuts, I fear I will have to go with my other choice and leave the field of

special education. Please reconsider the pay cuts.

Thank you for your time,

Patricia Mason

Special education teacher on Big Island

Testimony BOE

From: Beth Young <[email protected]> on behalf of Beth Young

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:16 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

TotheHawaiiBoardofEducation:

Iamwritingtoyoutopleadfordifferentials.IamafirstyearspecialeducationpreschoolteacheratWaialua

Elementary.ImadethemovetotheDOEthisyearfromearlyinterventionduetothespecialeducationdifferential.This

wasahugebumpformyfamilyandfinallyachancetogetahead.IamtrulysohappyinmypositionbutIfeellikethe

workyouputinasaspecialeducationteacherisbeyondthetimescopeofaregularpaydayforteachers.Iknowfora

factifthedifferentialistakenaway,specialeducationteacherswillbelookingforotherwaystomakemoney.Thiswill

takeawayfromtheeducationanddedicationthistrustedteachershaveputinforourmostvulnerablestudents.Ibeg

thatyoulookintootherwaystosavemoney.Thankyouforyourtime.



Sincerely,

BethYoung,MEd

WaialuaElementary

PreschoolSpecialEducation



‐‐

ThisisastaffemailaccountmanagedbyHawaiiDepartmentOfEducation

SchoolDistrict.Thisemailandanyfilestransmittedwithitare

confidentialandintendedsolelyfortheuseoftheindividualorentityto

whomtheyareaddressed.Ifyouhavereceivedthisemailinerrorplease

notifythesender.

Testimony BOE

From: Ikaika Gonzales <ikaikagonzale[email protected]> on behalf of Ikaika Gonzales

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:18 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha,

Cutting shortage differentials in Hawaii will be a disaster. Not only are teachers in the state of Hawaii being

paid nearly the least in the nation (in reference to salary), but he cost of living is so high. Teachers will not be

able to afford to live in Hawaii. Teachers will either leave the profession and find other occupations or

careers. Furthermore, teachers will move to the mainland for a better cost of living and a better salary. This is

counterintuitive to what we have been trying to combat for the past couple of years. In order to keep teachers

here in Hawaii, there has to be a “give-and-take” approach. If cutting salary and differentials is inevitable, how

about eliminating all student loan debt for teachers?How about giving teachers more affordable housing (not

rent but mortgages for a single family home)? If nothing can be done and no incentives can be made, teachers

will leave the profession and seek other career opportunities. Teachers will leave Hawaii and go elsewhere to

other states or maybe other countries. All in all, students will ultimately suffer. Everything will be a domino

effect. Please do what is right and just for our students, teachers and community.

Testimony BOE

From: SH 77 <[email protected]> on behalf of SH 77

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:19 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony: BOE Special Meeting Action Item A

Dear Esteemed Board of Education members,

My name is Anjanette Naganuma. I am a high school teacher at Lahainaluna HS, Maui. Like a good number o

teachers at my school, I am a former graduate. Our community nurtures and values each other and the

dedication of one generation to the next shines through in this quality. I became a teacher because of the

teachers I had, both former graduates and those who chose to remain at Lahainaluna long-term.

I implore you to retain the shortage differentials that Superintendent Kishimoto has, without approval or

consultation of the Board, threatened to discontinue. While the community loves one another, nearly half of all

homes and rentals in Lahaina are now short-term vacation rentals. Out-of-state buyers who acquire real estate as

investment opportunities do not care that teachers in Hawaii cannot afford to live in the community in which

they work. When adjusted for cost of living, teachers in Hawaii are the lowest paid in the nation; our turnover

is disheartening. The data shows that shortage differentials are a small step in repairing this terrible situation.

Students learn best from stable, qualified teachers. Students at rural schools, special education students,

Hawaiian Language students are often faced with a revolving door of educators. Please continue the shortage

differentials.

Mahalo,

Anjanette Naganuma

Lahainaluna HS, Maui



CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The contents of this e-mail message and any attachments are intended solely for the addressee(s) and may contain

confidential and/or legally privileged information. If you are not the intended recipient of this message or if this message is addressed to you in error,

please immediately alert the sender by reply e-mail and then delete this message and any attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, you are

notified that any use, dissemination, distribution, copying, or storage of this message and any attachments prohibited.

Testimony BOE

From: Alex Miller <[email protected]> on behalf of Alex Miller

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:20 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony: do not cut pay differentials

Aloha,

Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony. I am writing to submit testimony in opposition to BOE

General Business Meeting action item V. B: Board Action on Department of Education’s plan for use

of federal funds in the new COVID-19 relief package and annual federal spending bill.

In particular I oppose the DOE’s plan to eliminate recently instated teacher shortage differentials. The

differentials have reduced teacher shortages in rural areas, SPED, and Hawaiian language

immersion programs, reducing inequal access to qualified teachers for some of our islands’ most

vulnerable keiki. This program is important to continue to ensure quality education for low income

students, Native Hawaiians, and students with disabilities.

I also oppose the plan to use CARES Act funding to hire tutors rather than qualified teachers. Our

keiki need qualified, trained teachers who are receiving the pay they need to live in Hawaiʻi and stay

in their jobs. Low pay has resulted in higher teacher turnover, which means students often have

multiple teachers in one year or a stringy of unqualified substitutes. More than tutors to make sure

they perform well on standardized tests, we need dedicated, trained, long-term teachers who can

guide our keiki into responsible and critical citizenship in Hawai‘i. Pay teachers, not tutors.

Thank you,

Alex Miller

Honolulu

Alex Miller

M.A. candidate, Dance--Cultural and Performance Studies

Department of Theatre and Dance

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Graduate Assistant, Center on Disability Studies

Chair, Academic Labor United

academiclaborunited.org

Testimony BOE

From: Veronica Wright <enosahulani@yahoo.com> on behalf of Veronica Wright

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:37 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Do NOT cut differential

TotheBoardofEducationmembers,



Youhaveonejob,tomakegooddecisionsthatwillaffecttheeducationofourfutureleadersforthebetter.Bytaking

awaytheshortagedifferentialsyouwouldbemakingastatementthatourkeikiandstudentsinthepublicschool

system,especiallythoseinprogramsandgeographiclocations,donotdeservethebest.Thedifferentialshavenoteven

beenaroundlongenoughtomakeadifferenceyet!DoNOTtakethemawaybeforetheyevenhaveachancetomakea

differenceinourpublicschoolstudentslives!Ourstudentsdeservemore,moredevotedteachers,morefunding,more

priority,notLESS.



Putthemoneywhereitmattersmost.Investintheteacherswhowillstayandgiveourstudentstheirall.It’sthebest

chancetheyhave.



Sincerely,

AhulaniWright

Hauula,Oahu

Teacherandparent



SentfrommyiPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Fawn Ali <[email protected]> on behalf of Fawn Ali

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:43 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha,

I am in support of Action item A. I have been a special education teacher for 20+ years. I have dedicated my

life to helping special needs populations. When I arrived in Hawaii, I came with a SPED license from the

mainland AND I already obtained my Hawaii Teaching license. I am a highly qualified teacher. If we continue

to put emergency hires in the classroom we are taking away from the education our children deserve. The

differentials were definitely making a difference by decreasing the turn-over rate of teachers leaving the

islands. It is time we stand together to support our educators. You are taking away from the future generations

of Hawaiian students by robbing them of highly qualified teachers that hold degrees, teaching licenses, and

teachers that challenge them to reach their potential. We can NO longer accept unqualified teachers teaching

our students. These unqualified people are merely babysitting.......until we take a stand and put Qualified

Teachers in ALL classrooms you are taking away from our future children.

I am currently working with at-risk females at Kealakehe High School. If you could truly see the difference I

have made with these young women..... because I am changing lives. I LOVE my job empowering young

women, challenging them to "rise up" and take control of their future. The problem is that I can barely pay my

rent and keep food on the table. I never wanted to be rich, I want to be able to live comfortably and contribute

to the Hawaiian community. If the differentials of hard to staff and SPED are discontinued I have no other

alternative but to move back to the mainland where the salaries are competitive and I can afford to pay my rent.

I am not afraid of hard work, I have been working two jobs since I arrived in Hawaii. All I want to do is help

students move forward in a positive direction. You are taking away from the future generation of Hawaii.. I

cannot live in poverty by moving backwards in my salary. I am begging you to understand that I did not

become a teacher for the $$$, but I cannot accept a reduction in my salary and continue to afford to live in

Hawaii. It is not possible. PLEASE PLEASE do not allow the differentials to be cut.

Mahalo,

Ms.Fawzia Ali

Transitional Learning Center

SPED Teacher Kealakehe High School

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Testimony BOE

From: Verne Kiaha <[email protected]> on behalf of Verne Kiaha

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:45 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Shortage differentials/all differentials

IamateacherinNanakukicomplexandIamagainstanychangestowardtheshortagedifferentials,Hawaiian

Immersion,Hardtofillpositions.Ibelieveitshouldcontinue.Weteachersinthisareaofteachingworkreallyhardfor

thebenefitofourstudents.Iamateachernow,butIhavebeenwiththeimmersionprogramforover20years.The

teacherswhotaughtmyson,Icouldseetheirhardworkbutnotgettingcompensatedforit.Iamgladitishappening

nowandIdonotwantittochange.Isaywecontinuealldifferentialincomeforteachersacrosstheboard.

Humblysubmitted,



Mekealohapumehana,

Kumu(Verne)NalaniKi'aha

Testimony BOE

From: Katherine Shinsato <kshinsato2019@gmail.com> on behalf of Katherine Shinsato

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:53 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

testimony for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in

special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language

program

To whom it may concern,

I am submitting testimony to prioritize using stimulus money to stabilize classroom and staff funding

instead of creating new tutor programs and for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board

Action on Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom

teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language

programs.

I am writing to ask that you prioritize using the stimulus money to stabilize classroom and staff funding,

because at my school we are losing a teacher position for music as well as Educational Assistant (EA) positions

that support our Special Education students' needs. As an elementary Special Education resource Teacher, I

have students joining virtually and in-person. My EA has been so much more important, because he makes

supporting all learners in-person and online so much more possible. Within my group of students, I have a wide

range of needs. For example, I have both non-readers and ones whose needs are more comprehension. I also

have students with behaviors that disrupt their learning and the learning of others. Without an EA, I would not

be able to meet the needs of my students as well or as easily. During the upcoming school year, we will have a

few SPED classrooms that may not have EAs, which means making it more difficult for the teachers to support

the needs of their students.

I also know of several teachers that are at risk of being cut from their positions. Having been in this position

every year until I received tenure, I understand how stressful it is to not know whether I would have a job at my

current school. I longed for a piece of mind to plan for the upcoming school year to best support my students;

however, each year, I was never guaranteed to know whether I would need to change schools. Now, it is more

stressful than ever, because teachers don't even know if they will have a position at a different school if they are

cut from their current school. I worry for those teachers that are waiting for confirmation of student enrollment

at their school and may need to wait until the summer or into the next school year to know whether there is a

position for them at their current school. This was a position I have also found myself in before. It is

unsettling, and I wonder if we will continue to lose qualified teachers as a result.

In the long run, hiring tutors over recruiting and retaining teachers would be more detrimental to our students

and our education system. I understand that we want to support those students who are falling behind. Of

course, we all want to make sure we do this, but tutors are not the answer. Losing teachers and support staff is

not the answer either. Many of our students are falling behind because of attendance, unqualified/unlicensed

teachers that were placed in positions that they were not adequately trained for, and not valuing the qualified

and licensed teachers that are serving our students everyday. We should be investing our time and money into

hiring, supporting, and training qualified teachers and support staff and counselors that can help to support our

students with their attendance at school.

As for cutting the differentials, I understand that the state has a big task on its hands to deal with the deficit in

the budget; however, I urge you to please look at other places to cut from because of the effects on a personal

level for many teachers and the effects on a systemic level if the differentials are discontinued.

On a personal level, the differential makes a huge difference to my family. My husband and I are now

preparing for our first child, and we are very excited about our incoming addition to our family. The

differential would continue to make a huge difference for us as we are financially preparing for our baby and

our future. As you know, it is very expensive to live here in Hawaii, and I know that the differential makes a

big impact for many other teachers as well.

On a systemic level, the differential would reduce the shortages in Special Education, hard-to-staff locations,

and Hawaiian language programs. Last year, I was a General Education teacher and had to transfer as a result

of my school losing positions due to enrollment. As a semester 6 teacher, I participated in TATP for the first

time, and the school that I was offered a position at ended up not having positions in the general education

classroom but in a special education resource room. Being the most qualified I can be for my position and for

my students is the most important motivator for taking courses to enhance my knowledge of Special Education

and getting licensed in Special Education; however, the differential was another huge motivator to ensure that I

get licensed in Special Education for this school year. The differential would continue to recruit and retain

teachers in these positions that may otherwise end up with substitute teachers, emergency hires, or other

teachers that are not licensed/qualified for those positions.

Please urge the superintendent to prioritize keeping teachers and support staff on the payroll and fund the

differential that is not a pilot program.

Testimony BOE

From: Mara Saltzman <mara.saltzman.haw[email protected]> on behalf of Mara Saltzman

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:59 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

BOE SPECIAL MEETING ACTION ITEM A TESTIMONY.

BOE GENERAL BUSINESS MEETING ACTION ITEM V, B testimony

Dear Board of Education Members,

I am a special education teacher and the Student Services Coordinator at The Volcano School of Arts and

Sciences on The Big Island.

I am writing to you today about two main issues. First of all, teachers and parents are concerned that certified

teacher positions will be cut and teachers will be replaced with less qualified individuals or tutors. This is not in

the best interest of our students.

Secondly, I want to let you know that if it were not for the hard-to-staff differentials, I could not afford to live in

Hawaii and teach here. Prior to the hard-to-staff differentials, I had a second job selling household goods online

and at swap meets. To make my mortgage and utility payments for years, I sold most of my own home contents,

lived paycheck to paycheck on payday loans, and borrowed against my 401k retirement accounts. As you

must know, our teaching preparation involves hours of work beyond the school day each week and that is

sacrificed when we work second and third jobs.

As the data indicates, the differentials made a huge change in filling special education and other hard-to-staff

positions. It is shocking that state officials are considering reverting to the prior situation of vacant teaching

positions for our most vulnerable learners.

Please reconsider your positions on these two matters.

Sincerely,

Mara Saltzman

Testimony BOE

From: Maelani Lee <maelanilee@yahoo.com> on behalf of Maelani Lee

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:02 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Feb 18, 2021 Board Meeting

Mytestimony:



AgendaItems:

11a.m.iiiA.Directthesuperintendenttorescindhermemoendingteachershortagedifferentials.



Theshortagedifferentialsjustinoneyearhavestabilizedsomespecialeducationandhardtostaffpositions.Tostopit

now,willundosuchapositivepath.



1:30p.m.V.BPrioritizeusingstimulusmoneytostabilizeclassroomandstafffundinginsteadofcreatingnewtutor

programs.



Thestimulus$$fromtheFeds.hasspecificuses,hiringcompaniesfromthecontinenttotutorwhenwearereducingour

ownstaffiswrong.



Sincerely,

MaelaniLee

(808)369‐5383

85‐280BAlaHemaSt

Wai’anae,Hi96792



Testimony BOE

From: Keks Manera5 <[email protected]> on behalf of Keks Manera5

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:08 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

February 18, 2021 Board MEETING

Agenda Items:

11 a.m. iii A. Direct the superintendent to rescind her memo ending teacher shortage differentials.

1:30 p.m. V. B Prioritize using stimulus money to stabilize classroom and staff funding instead of

creating new tutor programs.

Thank you,

Stephanie Manera

Testimony BOE

From: Shel <[email protected]> on behalf of Shel

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:12 AM

To:

[email protected]; Hawaii State Teachers Association

Subject:

Shortage Differentials for Special Education Teachers

Aloha,

Don't get me wrong, general educations teachers work hard. They have their own set of difficult students, parents, and battles with administration. None of use have an easy

job. However, there is a shortage of special education teachers in particular for a reason. We have extra mandated paperwork and responsibilities that general education teachers

don't always know or even understand. My former gen ed co-teacher transferred over to special ed. By the end of the 1st quarter, she apologized to me for some of our differences,

she didn't realize the sheer paperwork that had to be completed for each students, each with their own deadline. She said it was very stressful and planned on returning to gen ed

and/or retire. This year has been especially difficult for special education teachers because of COVD shut down. On top of the mandated special education classes we need to take

(5 of them), we had to do a Contingency Plan for each students, hold a COVID Impact meeting for each student (yes, on top of the regular IEP even if we just did an IEP less than

a month prior), and figure out ways to possibly conduct formal assessments needed for the IEP and evaluations over Zoom. This is on top of what we regularly do, which is

already extensive. It can be very overwhelming especially to those who are new to special education. Now, I understand that fighting for the Shortage Differential can seem like

teachers are in it for the money. This is the furthest from the truth. I (and many that I know) would gladly give up the extra pay if it meant a complete restructuring of the way

special education in the state of Hawaii is run, so that we don't feel so overwhelmed with paperwork and can focus on teaching. This is what we came to do; Teach. We do this for

the kids, to see them grow, to make sure they get their chance to shine. But its very difficult when we get bogged down by paperwork and process and everything is a battle. Can

special education or you will always have a shortage without the added pay incentive.

Mahalo,

Shellie K. Maize

Testimony BOE

From: Lindsay Alexander <lalexander@wailukuelem.k12.hi.us> on behalf of Lindsay Alexander

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:14 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

My name is Lindsay Alexander and I have been teaching at Wailuku Elementary for 23 years. I

am testifying in support of Action Item A. for the

Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra

compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations,

and Hawaiian language programs.

This program has been very successful

attracting people to these hard to staff

locations. Cuts made to people’s wages right

now will have an even greater than normal by

impact. Most teachers have at least one other

job to help make ends meet. Because of Covid,

most of these “extra” jobs have already been

lost. A lot of teachers are married to people

whose jobs have been cut. Many are already

hurting financially. Please don’t exacerbate the

problem by cutting these differentials.

Sent from my iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Nālani Downing <nalani_downing@anuenue.org> on behalf of Nālani Downing

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:17 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Dear Board of Education,

I am testifying in support of Action Item A for the special meeting regarding Kishimotoʻs discontinuance of

extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations and

Hawaiian immersion programs.

I am a teacher at Ānuenue school, teaching 6th and 7th grade math. Like all teachers, we have had to work even

harder to provide quality education to our keiki during this pandemic. Though the English speaking schools

have a distance learning program to rely on as a resource, we immersions teachers have NOT had any type of

distance learning curriculum/program provided to us. Therefore we have had to come up with our own distance

learning curriculum, while learning the new technology at the same time. It has been more than challenging.

Our blended model of teaching still has quite a number of students and families relying on us providing a

distance learning curriculum for our students.

This is typical for we immersion teachers in that translated resources in the Hawaiian language have always

been lacking. Though we try to leverage from other immersion teachers as much as possible, we still end up

spending hours beyond our contracted work load to come up with curriculum. We do that, however, because we

love our students and believe wholeheartedly in supporting the growth of our native language.

The pay differentials provided to us last year really did a lot for us to know that we were appreciated and

supported by the Board of Education. It helped to re-ignite the passion we already had to keep the immersion

programs rich and growing. It was confirmation that we were being heard and that our hard work was being

acknowledged. Taking it away not would really deflate our energy. I am afraid many of us would revisit the

idea of changing careers or retiring early. The work we have been doing these days is really overwhelming. My

stress levels have caused health issues at least twice within the past year which resulted in doctorʻs visits.

Honestly the additional financial compensation via the differential has helped to ease my stress.

Why would the BOE penalize the immersion, sped, and hard to resource area teachers by taking away the

differential now? We of all people have had to work even harder given:

- no Hawaiian language distance learning program

- SPED students having the most difficult time with distance learning

- hard to resource area teachers have even more limited resources than most.

What about all the other category staff that have been awarded differentials?

I implore you to keep your commitment to paying these diferentials and recognizing the difficult work we do. I

urge you to look into using stimulus monies and such to keep your commitment that you made to us with these

differentials. Please vote on having Kishimoto rescind her memo to remove these differentials.

Sincerely,

Nālani Downing

This e-mail is being sent by a student or employee of Kula Kaiapuni ʻO Ānuenue.

Testimony BOE

From: C D <[email protected]> on behalf of C D

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:29 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha All,

I am writing to address concerns I have as a result of differential pay being threatened when the data has

shown that this program not only benefited our teachers but also the students that those teachers serve. I would

also like to express my displeasure and shock regarding the current plan to hire private tutors when the careers

of Hawai'i's educators are on the line.

Are we really willing to backtrack in a field that we have knowingly been defunding over the past 40+ years

as a nation? The same field of professionals who step up time and time again to fill in gaps when those budgets

just don't come through as planned? During a time when these same professionals are, yet again, going above

and beyond to reach and service their haumana? The students under our care are connected to countless services

- food, therapy, community support (and YES, even during distance learning we are connecting these families

to help). It is absolutely unacceptable that taking pay away during a time like this is something anyone who

understands what is going on in education right now would even consider. And from our hardest to staff

schools? Is the BOE out to purposefully cut the legs out from under educators in Hawai'i? Are we not capable

of looking into what this means even longer term not only for education but for our state and the keiki?

Please feel free to read about this school district in Washington, who chose to use the money they saved on

facilities (due deciding to distance learn this year) to give their educators bonuses because they realize what this

means for a teacher's already overwhelming workload.

https://www.kxly.com/pullman-school-district-spending-725000-for-teacher-bonuses-in-

pandemic/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_4_News_Now

How will people view Hawai'i's treatment of educators? We are already in the midst of a shortage, are 50th

in teacher pay, what incentives are we really leaving for any educator potentially interested in making the move

here?

As for the idea to spend money to hire private tutors while rumors are abuzz about layoffs in education to

save money, does anyone care to try to make that illogical plan make sense? It's incredible to me (and

unfortunately I do not mean in a flattering way) that THIS is what we thought could solve rather than exaperate

problems?

The HSTA continues to find ways around what seems to be the BOE's first go to "solution" - cuts and

layoffs. Where is the care? Where is the BOE's kuleana to the educators that they employ and the haumana

under their care? I implore you to dig deeper as there are people and life decisions that will be affected by these

changes. This is not a time to be moving backwards but instead is a time to use the data we have to shake up

education in a positive way. Hawai'i could be the state that handled this past year and came out on top any way

using data and facts to improve how we problem solve. Please take the time to truly consider the weight you

carry this year as BOE members as it is an incredibly serious one.

-Claire Dobson

School Counselor

Maui, HI

Testimony BOE

From: Henry <[email protected]> on behalf of Henry

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:43 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

HelloBOEmembersmynameisHenryWongandIhavebeenaSpecialEducationsteacherforthirteenyears.Special

educationisnotajobforanyonebecauseitrequiresmorethancommitmentanddedication.It’salsorequiresthe

propermentalhealth,knowledge,preparation,workethic,personality,andfortitudetofacethedaytodayneedsfor

specialeducation.HencethereisashortageofspecialeducationteacherseveRyyearforthelasttwentyyears.The

shortagedifferentialsdefinitelyhelpedwithrecruitingnewandsecuringcurrentspecialeducationteachers.Highly

qualifiedandcertifiedspecialeducationteacherswillremainashortagefortheforeseeablefutureandthedifferentials

willaidwiththat.Pleaseconsiderotheralternativestocontinuefundingthespecialeducationdifferentials.



Respectfully,

HenryWong

AlvahScottelementary



SentfrommyiPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Ken Kimmage <[email protected]> on behalf of Ken Kimmage

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:46 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Differentials

My wife and I who are both special educators feel that taking away the shortage differentials for

teachers would negatively impact the students as well as the teachers who receive this differential. This

different has made it easier for us and other teacher to live in an expensive place. Many teachers would not be

able to stay with this drastic cut in our pay. We love our students and want to be there for them but without this

money we would have to leave Hawaii because of the expense to live here. Also other teacher would not want

to come to Hawaii because they would be underpaid. Ultimately it effects the students education specifically the

students in special education who truly need the extra support.

Sincerely

Ken and Maureen Kimmage

Testimony BOE

From: Susan Fryxell <[email protected]> on behalf of Susan Fryxell

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:52 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

To Whom It May Concern:

Please restore all cuts to the weighted student formula (WSF) and special education per-pupil allocation

(SPPA).

Also, as a special education teacher, I see first hand how the extra compensation for classroom teachers in

special education, has improved my school's ability to retain qualified special education teachers.

Sincerely,

Susan Fryxell

Special Education Teacher

James Campbell High School

Testimony BOE

From: Shahinaz Nassar <[email protected]> on behalf of Shahinaz Nassar

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:56 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

School-level Budgets, Position, Salaries

Aloha,



Teachershaveworkedveryhardlastyeartoensurethattheeducationofourstudentscontinuesuninterrupted.We

havelearnedtoadapttovirtuallearningandspentmanyhoursonourowntimetolearnandadjustsowecanbetter

serveourstudents.Manyofushavestudentsattendingface‐to‐faceputtingourownhealthatrisk.Itisincredibly

disappointingtohearthattheDOEandthegovernordonotvalueourservicesandbelievethatcuttingteachers’pay

andpositonsarethesolution.Cuttingpositionsmeansclassroomsizewillincrease,whichmeanssocialdistancingwillbe

impossibleandwillputusallatrisk,includingourkids!Thiswillalsoimpacttheabilitytoreachallofourstudents

efficientlyandeffectively.

Teachershavebeenworkingveryhardforaverylongtimewithlowsalariesandbenefits.Andnow,theDOEandthe

governorareproposingmorecuts!!IamamentorandIcoachnewteachers,andIcan’tcontinuetoencouragethemto

dotheirbestwhenIknowthattheymightlosetheirjoborreceivehugecutsintheiralreadylowpay!HowcanIpossibly

helptoretainnewteachers.Whywouldanyonewanttobecomeateacher?Therealityisthatweallhavebillstopay,

familytosupport,andweneedtosurvive.Ihaveworkedveryhardtoimprovemysalary.Ihavetakenmanyprofessional

developments,Ihaveamasterdegree,andIamaNationallyCertifiedTeacher,Iamatthetopofmypayscale,andIstill

havetoresorttowork3part‐timejobsinordertosurviveasasingleparentwith2kidsincollege.Andnow,Ihearof

theseridiculouscuts!!Isitworthtocontinuetobeateacher,orshouldIsimplyrelocatetoadifferentstateorevena

differentcountrythatvaluesteachers?Iambeyondfrustrated!!Iworkveryhardtoensurethatmystudentsaregetting

theeducationtheydeserve,andyetthegovernorandtheDOEsimplydon’tcareaboutthefutureofourkids.Weare

askedtodomiraclesandproducehightestresults,butwithnoadequatesupport!Itisexhausting,andsimplyfake!!My

priorityistoensurethatstudentsaretrulylearningandreachingtheirpotential,itisnottomaketheDOElookgood

withfake,unrealisticexpectations.



Shouldwetrytoretainqualifiedteachers,orhiretutorsandacademiccoachesfor$49million?Well,tutoringwill

certainlynotreachallstudents.Itwillonlybeforselectstudents.Isthisfair?ALLSTUDENTSdeservethebesteducation

inordertoreachtheirpotential!!!Academiccoaches?Manyacademiccoacheshavelefttheclassroomformanyyears,

sotheyareoutoftouchwiththerealityofbeingateacherwhonotonlyhastolearnnewcurriculumandcontent,deal

withclassroommanagement&behavior,supportstudentacademically,psychologically,andemotionally,andensure

parentalcommunication,prepstudentsforstandardizedtesting,butalsohavetoapplynewmandatesimposedbyour

academiccoaches.Manyofourteachersattendprofessionaldevelopmentsthatwechooseforthereasontoenhance

ourskills.Wedothatonourowntobecomebetterteachers.Idon’tunderstandthereasonwhyweneedthatmany

academiccoaches,whomightnotevenbeclassroomexperienced!Infact,Iknowofsomewhocouldn’thandleaone

yearbeingaclassroomteacherandbecameanacademiccoach.Withmyexperience,andbeingaNationalBoard

CertifiedTeachers,IchosetobeintheclassroomsoIdon’tlosetouchwithrealityandpreachdemandsthatare

idealistic!Thebestcoachesaretheonesintheclassroomdealingwithrealityondailybasis!Inadditiontobeinga

classroomteacher,Iamalsoamentorwhofeelsandempathizewithnewteachers.Ifindwaystoteachefficientlyand

effectively,andIamabletodosobecauseIamstillinthec

lassroom.Insteadofhiringpermanentacademiccoaches,we

canretainclassroomteachersandavoid

paycuts,whi

chwillhelpretainqualifiedandexperiencedteachersthatourkids

deserve!Mysonwentthroughpublicschoolsandbecauseofteachersshortages,hehadmanylongtermsubstitute

teachersincoresubjectslikemath,english,andscience.Hestruggledinalloftheseareasanddevelopedanincredibly

lowselfesteemthat,aftergraduatinghighschoollastyear,hedidn’twanttogotocollegebecausehebelievedthathe

wasn’tabletodoit!!!ThisisnotOK!!!Ourkid’sfuturematters!!!Andwe,asadultsandleaders,haveadutytoensure

ourkidsareprovidedwiththebesteducationtheydeserveinordertohaveabetterfuture.Thisisespeciallyimportant

forallofus!Theyareourfuture!



PresidentBidenpromisedtore‐openschoolssafelyandfundschoolsadequatelywithnotcuts.Yet,ourDOEand

governorarenotdeliveringwhatourPresidentoftheUnitedStatespromised!!!Thesebudgetcutswilldrivemany

teachersoutoftheprofession,whichwillonceagaincreatehugeteachershortages.WhatwilltheDOEandthe

governordothentoprovideourkidswiththequalityofeducationourkidsdeserve?



PleasespendthetimetostudyhowKishimoto’sstimulusproposalwillnegativelyimpacttheoverallofALLofourkids

education,andnotjustaselectfew.Morequalifiedteacherstranslatesintolowclasssize,whichmeansprovidingthe

besteducationtoALLSTUDENTS!Theeducationthattheydeserve!



Thankinadvanceforyourunderstanding,



ClassroomTeacher/WailukuElementarySchool



Testimony BOE

From: Linda Sorenson <linda.sorenson@k12.hi.us> on behalf of Linda Sorenson

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:59 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Goodday,

I am writing regarding the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A. I have been a special education teacher at

Kalama Intermediate School for 23 years. I was very pleased when the decision was made to give special

education teachers a differential in their salary. As a special ed. teacher, I am frequently overwhelmed with the

amount of time my position requires in order to be effective. Not only do I work a full school day, I often have

numerous meeting to attend and countless IEP's to write. Also, both and inclusion and resource teacher, I spend

countless hours planning with my regular education co-teacher, and then planning for my own resource classes,

which are a different subject from what I co-teach.

This year, the workload has been even more overwhelming. On-line school is difficult for most students, but

even more so for special ed. students. After school hours and even weekends are often spent doing 1-on-1 on-

line sessions with my special ed, or even my regular ed. students. Planning for my classes takes hours and

hours. Due to the fact that many special ed. students are not able to read at grade level, I make google slide

shows for the material being taught so the students have visual aids to help them with their assignments. Since I

teach two subjects (Language Arts and Social Studies) it seems as if all I ever do is work, work, work. On top

of that, since the start of the school year I have spent much of my own money for supplemental materials for my

students from programs such as Wizer, Ed Puzzle, and Teacher pay Teachers.

I am more than dismayed that you are even considering doing away with the differential for special education

teachers. I am committed to my job and my students, but there is a limit. If I am not valued for what I do, why

should I keep going the extra mile to ensure student excess? I wish everyone on the Board of Education could

spend a day in my shoes, and see how great the workload really is. As I type this, it is Monday, President's

Day, a holiday, a so called day off. It may be a day off for some, but not for me. I still need to grade

assignments for both my special education students and my regular education students from my co-taught

classes. I still need to create google slide shows and edpuzzles for this week's lessons. Even though this is my

so-called day off, I am working a full 8 hour day.

I ask that you keep the differential for special ed. teachers. While it might not be the end all to keep qualified,

dedicated special ed. teachers, it is a step in the right direction.

Thank you,

Linda Sorenson

Special Education Teacher

Kalama Intermediate School

This is a staff email account managed by Hawaii Department Of Education School District. This email and any files

transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are

addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.

Testimony BOE

From: Greta Martinez <greta.[email protected]> on behalf of Greta Martinez

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 12:05 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

TESTIMONY

Dear BOE members.

My name is Greta Martinez, I am the science teacher at Kualapu'u Elementary School on Molokai.

I urge you to rescind the superintendent’s plan to discontinue shortage differentials, that were implemented in

January 2020, for classroom educators in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian

language immersion programs.

My school, myself, teachers and students will be negatively affected by potential budget and position cuts,

along with the HIDOE’s proposal to use a large share of the latest federal stimulus funds on tutors instead of

restoring funding for schools so they can retain teachers.

1. For the school year 2019_20 we were able to hire 2 classroom teachers, 1 special education teacher, 1

hawaiian Immersion teacher. This was made possible due to the differentials offered. For many years our school

had been experiencing teacher shortfalls before this, causing several different grade level classes to merge

(Hawaiian Immersion) and other classes to merge making them very large (30+ students) and difficult to

manage and teach.

Our rural island is always suffering from teacher shortages, but when the differentials were approved we finally

were able to hire and keep the amount of teachers we needed to serve our children adequately. Taking those

differentials away will cause our school to again lose those teachers that we hired, creating again large classes,

joining different grade levels in one class, and underserving special education children. Presently, cutting

teacher positions and possible furloughs are in the talks with our school principal.

Science teachers (myself) might need to be cut in order to fill in holes left by losing teacher positions. The loss

of this subject will affect our students and school negatively.

My family relies on my medical benefits and much of my income. Losing the differentials will impact my

family negatively as we would have to live on less income, especially on this island of Molokai where food is

more expensive, gas is almost $5 a gallon and electricity rates are one of the highest in the nation.

I urge you to rescind superintendent Christina Kishimoto's memo addressing the cancellation of teachers'

differentials. That would mean approximately 4,000 educators will experience a drop in pay and many of these

might leave the islands, making our teacher shortage a problem again! Who will suffer most? Our children who

will be stuck with large size classes and inadequate education.

Respectfully submitted,

Greta Martinez

Science Teacher NBCT

Kualapu'u Elementary

Molokai

Testimony BOE

From: Heather Sheridan <mommyx100@gmail.com> on behalf of Heather Sheridan

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 12:06 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Differential pay cuts

This letter is written in response to the district cutting the differential pay for special education teachers next

school year. At this time, I need to bring any IEP work home at night and every weekend to keep up with a

caseload that could be large enough for two licensed teachers. Every moment of my school day is dedicated to

providing face to face instruction and simultaneously working with students online who have special needs, but

are participating in "Distance Learning. " In addition to grade level meetings and SFT meetings.

In addition to working above and beyond what hours my contract covers, I'm the only person in my household

with a job. My husband has been a food and beverage employee for most of our twenty years on Maui and now

can not find work and unemployment is on hold until the state gets caught up with the new stimulus package.

Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration,

Heather Sheridan

3rd grade special education teacher

Pu'u Kukui Elementary school

Wailuku, HI

Testimony BOE

From: Lily Gong <[email protected]> on behalf of Lily Gong

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 12:09 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Shortage Differentials Testimony

Aloha Board members,

I am submitting testimony for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-

to-staff geographic locations, and Hawiian language programs. The differential means a lot to us, our students,

and our families.

I am a special education teacher at Fern Elementary. I have been teaching for 6 years. The most rewarding part

of teaching SPED is seeing the students improving. But the hardest part is that I have to balance myself between

family and work. I have never worked in a job that requires so much time and being stressed throughout the

year. Moreso, I have to work even harder since the pandemic started.

During the last quarter of last school year, I had to try everything to keep the students to learn. I had to do

Google Meet with my students on the weekend because the parents' were not available to provide tech support

during the weekdays. When this school year started, I had to juggle between in-person instruction and distance

teaching everyday with two different grade levels and a wide range of disabilities which means I have to

prepare different curriculum/ programs. I have to do additional meetings including the annual IEP meetings

that were not done due to the school closure in the 2020-2021 school year, COVID-19 impact meetings, and the

contingency plan meetings for each student. On top of that, I have to squeeze student 1:1 sessions into my busy

schedule to make sure I can take IEP data because I can no longer put the students into small groups due to the

social distancing. Sometimes I have to work with the students virtually after school hours.

And because of all these, I have to spend less time with my own kids who also struggle with the change of their

learning. I have to pay an expensive monthly fee to send my own children to the distance learning centers when

they cannot go to school in person. When we learned about possible furlough and pay cuts, I cried because I

was so worried that we had to change how we live and cut our living expenses. We don't have savings. We

already live paycheck to paycheck. How can we survive if our income is lessened. Now it's even worse when I

read the Superintendent's memo. The differential plays a big part of our income. Without the differential, my

husband and I will have to find a second job. In either way I cannot no longer spend my nights and weekends to

catch up on my teaching job including IEPs, gradings, or planning the lessons. I will feel bad for my students

but I cannot help. Afterall, I need to take care of my family too. You may ask how we lived before the

differentials. My husband had to work overtime a lot and I was able to spend more time with the kids.

Also, look at the data how the differentials have helped school to get qualified and licensed teaching in the three

differential areas. When one of our SPED teachers had to leave DOE in summer due to the health concerns, we

were able to find a dual-certified teacher to switch to SPED quickly. And I know there are other dual-certified

teachers who are interested to transfer to a SPED titled position if the differentials continue. Without the

differentials, we will see many teachers leaving the special education field. So please consider continuing the

shortage differentials. We need to support our most vulnerable students.

Thank you

Lily Gong

Special Education Teacher

Fern Elementary

To Chair Payne and the Members of the Board:

I am submitting testimony on BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on

Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom

teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language

programs. My name is Anne Alves and I am a teacher at Waianae Intermediate School.

Can you imagine being in the thick of the hardest year of your professional life and in the middle

of a workday be notified that, starting this summer, your pay would be cut? That is exactly what

happened to me and many other teachers last week. We are struggling in this uphill battle and

our superintendent throws us another life-changing blow.

There’s no denying the fact that the additional income from shortage differentials was one of the

deciding factors in my choosing to work at Waianae Intermediate. Yes, there were other reasons

besides money. No one decides to become a teacher because it seems like a lucrative career path.

But we deserve to be compensated fairly for the work we do. I decided that taking on the

challenges of a hard to staff position was worth the additional effort because of the additional

compensation.

I also knew that a sizable percentage of that additional compensation would be going right back

into the classroom to help fund necessary supplies for my students. For example, before it was

decided that this year would be paperless, I purchased enough composition books, folders,

pencils, color pencils, pens, erasers, and glue sticks for each student to have their own so that

they would not have to share supplies to complete any assignments. Luckily, I saved this stock to

be used next year, because we’ve already been notified that, due to budget cuts, there would not

be any money for classroom supplies next year. I also stocked up on healthy non-perishable

snacks to feed those who walked in my room hungry. And since students have begun to return to

campus, those snacks have already needed to be replenished. Maxi pads and deodorant sticks can

also be found in my supply cabinet so that when a student is in need it’s there for them to

discreetly resolve their problem. These basic supplies may not be available to all children,

putting them at a further disadvantage. Without fulfilling a child’s most basic needs first,

teaching them to write an essay is next to impossible. Without the shortage differentials, I will

not be able to supply these necessities.

For the first time in my adult life, I have been able to set money aside for emergencies. Before

these differentials, we were living slightly above paycheck to paycheck status. A $500

emergency would’ve made us come up short for our basic monthly expenses. Thank goodness

we set aside emergency funds because we’ve needed them! Between unexpected vehicle repairs,

a death in the family, and a medical emergency, our emergency funds are again gone. But in a

year of such uncertainty, one thing has become abundantly clear. Emergency funds are not

something we can go without. If shortage differentials are canceled for next year, I will have no

choice but to take on part-time freelance work to cover the difference. Right now, on a weekly

basis I spend an average of 20 hours outside of contractual time working on grading, lesson

planning, creating resources, assessing data, and communicating with parents. I will not be able

to dedicate that additional time to the demands of this job moving forward if I need to take on

additional work for necessary income. My students will be the ones who end up suffering in the

long run when my hands are tied this way.

Thanks to the shortage differentials, I had also began to set aside funds for additional

professional development. When I received an email about the Med-CS with an emphasis on

National Board Certification, Teacher Leadership program, I felt a renewed spark of hope for the

future. I am very interested in applying to this program and seriously considering it. However,

having earned an MEdT already, I understand the time and financial commitment that

completing a Masters program takes. Without the guarantee of the shortage differentials, my plan

of furthering my education will have to wait. I will not have the time nor the necessary funds to

dedicate to this exciting professional development opportunity.

I understand the state doesn’t have money, but these differentials were promised to us. Dr.

Kishimoto had recommended them herself and now is going back on her recommendation. It is

unjust to lure us into these positions and then take away our compensation once we are there. Not

only do we stand to lose our differentials, but we are also facing a potential 10.7% paycut (when

you combine the proposed 9.23% salary cut and the elimination of the 21 hours of paid

professional development). For teachers receiving shortage differentials, this equates to more

than a 20% loss in annual income.

As teachers, we keep being pushed into these fight or flight situations. There’s only so much

fight left in us before we have to fly.

Thank you for your time,

Anne Alves

Testimony BOE

From: Ann Killeen <annkilleen56@gmail.com> on behalf of Ann Killeen

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 12:25 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I am asking that the DOE prioritize maintaining current teacher salaries and ideally increasing them. The best

way to ensure we are providing quality education is to keep the teacher student ratio as it is. None if this can be

acheived if funds are diverted to pay for tutors. I see the benefit in bonuses for new teachers and teachers in

hard to place positions, but I could agree to dropping those if there were no pay cuts. Pay cuts are going to push

some of our best teachers to move to different states or careers. Please no pay cuts so we can continue to

provide our keiki the best possible education.

With Thanks, Ann Killeen

Dear Members of the BOARD OF EDUCATION:

My name is Christy Hirae. I am a 16-year veteran teacher at P`aauilo Elementary and

Intermediate School in the Hamakua District on Hawaii Island. I am submitting testimony to

oppose the discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education,

hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language immersion programs for the 2021 -

2022 school year.

Please continue to provide the pay differentials for teachers in special education, Hawaiian

language immersion, and hard-to-staff positions to show that the BOE of Hawaii continues to

value our hardworking teachers. Our teachers are worth it as they are important for the future

of our keiki and the future of our state economy. Temporarily discontinuing this compensation

for this next school year will continue to impact our profession and communities in these areas

significantly.

The differential I have received for this past school year made a tremendous difference in being

able live a little easier financially. I know you hear many teachers are living paycheck to

paycheck. It is still continuing even with the current differential we are receiving because I am

one of them. I have bills, student loans, child dependency (a child still in college) and not to

mention additional family members whom have lost their homes and lively hoods due to this

pandemic living with me. It is even harder now with the COVID-19 pandemic where the price of

goods are astronomically higher in our rural communities.

This school year, my differential pay has helped me to supply my students with all of their

school supplies. My entire class supplies and a bin to store their supplies in as they learn from

home has been supplied to my students. Programs that I use to help make the distance

learning possible have all been purchase using my differential pay. The time and effort spent

with my students online far exceeds the hours that I use to physically see my students. Some of

my students are online at 7:30 am until 4pm or later with me. I have worked at Paauilo

Elementary and Intermediate School for 16 years and when I first started the differential pay

came up and we were told that our school did not qualify due to the fact that teachers have

been stable at our school. As a new teacher traveling 81 miles a day, round trip every day, I

was crushed knowing the cost of gasoline and the wear and tear on my vehicle. I also had two

young children who went to school in the complete opposite direction of where I worked.

I have watched good teachers come and go as a result of the pay not being able to keep up with

their vehicle expenses. I have watch good teachers come and go because we are a small

country school that keeps getting forgotten. Yet, I continue to stay with the belief that I can

make a difference in some “country” student’s life. Having this differential has made a huge

impact on sheading some light on getting good teachers to stay at our school. In the past year,

listening to the young probationary teachers talk about wanting to stay has sparked a new light

and energy. We need the extra pay to compensate for not working “in town” and working in

the “country”. There is such a shortage of accredited teachers and having just any “ole” person

there as a make pretend teacher or tutor is not what we want to show our children their future

is becoming. As licensed accredited teachers we want to show the students to work hard,

move forward and be recognize for what is being done as they (the students) are the future.

The recognition for teachers is their pay and by taking our differential away speaks volumes to

our students and families that we as teachers who are working in a hard-to-staff geographical

locations, special education and Hawaiian language immersion programs do not matter and the

futures of students do not matter to the Board of Education, our Governor and our

Superintendent.

Mahalo for your time and understanding,

Christy Hirae

Elementary Teacher

Paauilo Elementary and Intermediate School

Hamakua District, Hawaii Island

Testimony BOE

From: Russell Ogata <[email protected]> on behalf of Russell Ogata

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 12:27 PM

To:

[email protected]

Cc:

Jonathan Leibowitz

Subject:

Pay differentials and stimulus funds

Respectfully,

My name is Russell Ogata and I have been a Teacher for 29 yrs in Hawaii. In those years I have seen many initiatives

implemented for the betterment of education. Some moved us forward and others pulled us further back.

The move to take away the promised pay differentials for SPED in a time when that area is hit harder because of our covid educational

situation will not add qualified Teachers nor retain the ones still in the system. The litigious nature of administering the services is not

enhanced or aided by lesser paid emergency hires to fill slots that have been eliminated due to cost or vacated by disenfranchised

SPED Teachers.

Pay Differentials and working towards "living wage" in Hawaii is a necessity for those who made the decision to work in SPED in

Hawaii. Teachers have come to the Islands of Hawaii on the promise of differentials to make that living wage. They cannot drive to

another state and "find another job" to continue to live here. To be asked to perform an essential, vital and life enhancing service daily

while being deprived of essential, vital and life sustaining wages is not ethical or realistic.

Diverting Stimulus funding away from Teachers and the class room to hire private tutors after school is both wrong hearted and wrong

headed. Depriving the quality of the educational frontline to fund "after school" tutoring is not considering the student who has had 6

hours in school/on line or has not even entered the online educational venue (that is why they need extra help).

Let's not "...unplug our life support to charge our cell phones"

Again respectfully,

Russell Ogata

Highlands Intermediate School

PE Teacher

Testimony BOE

From: Mary Phillips <mphillips[email protected]> on behalf of Mary Phillips

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 12:31 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

To whom it may concern,

I am a second grade special education teacher at Lincoln Elementary. I currently have 10 students in my

classroom who attend class in person. In spite of the difficulties of this year (wearing masks, staying 6 feet

apart, being isolated from other students not in our 'bubble'), we have managed to have an extraordinary year

with many successes.

My school has 7 highly qualified special education teachers. I have confidence when I receive students from

first grade and when I pass students on in third grade, that they are in good hands and will continue to make

educational gains. My parents agree with me that Lincoln Elementary has a strong team of special education

teachers.

It is disconcerting that the differentials promised to us in January 2020 are continuously being threatened. This

is the second time I have had to write an email supporting the need for differentials. I am frightened that if the

differentials are removed or if they continue to be threatened, that at least two staff on our team will return to

the mainland. It is unthinkable that my students may at some point be taught by a non certified substitute

teacher. I do not have a lot of hope that if two of our staff members leave, that we will be able to find qualified

teachers to replace them. The students will suffer. Morale and trust parents have in our school will suffer.

I have spent hundreds of dollars in addition to what I would have normally spent on my classroom on COVID

related expenses. I buy cleaning equipment as well as many additional lesson specific supplies since my

students can no longer share supplies. I wish Dr. Kishimoto would address why the budget can't provide my

classroom with adequate supplies rather than adding to my stress level by threatening pay that was promised to

us a little more than one year ago.

Please support the need for continuing differentials. Our most vulnerable students deserve strong qualified

teachers who feel respected and supported.

Thank you for your time. My number is 8082690890 if you need further information.

Mary Phillips, MEd.

Special Education Teacher

Lincoln Elementary School

Testimony BOE

From: Star Mullins <[email protected]> on behalf of Star Mullins

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 1:06 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha Board of Education Members,

My name is Star Carlin and I teach Third and Fourth Grade at the Volcano School of Arts and

Sciences. I have been a teacher in Hawaii for twenty-three years.

I am testifying in support of Action Item A for the Special Meeting regarding Superintendent

Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-

to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs. These differentials were the first

phase of the department’s multi-phased plan to address teacher shortages. COVID 19 has already

exacerbated our teacher shortage and removing the differentials now will encourage more teachers to

leave Hawaii or retire sooner.

My school has difficulty in finding Special Education professionals such as Speech Pathologists and

Occupational Therapists to work with our students. Last year we had two different Speech

Pathologists who came from the mainland to work for a short period of time. I imagine they received a

bonus for doing so. Removing the differential will encourage Hawaii professionals with expertise in

these fields to move to the mainland, where they can receive higher wages. When I began teaching in

Hawaii the state was under federal supervision due to the Felix Decree. We are precariously close to

violating federal mandates for providing essential services to our keiki. Would it make sense to lose

special education professionals by withdrawing this differential at a critical time such as this?

I am eligible for retirement and have been considering how many more years I will teach. I receive

the bonus for hard to staff geographical locations. This bonus has meant a lot to my family by

allowing me to put some money away for my retirement. If this bonus is taken away it will make

retirement more attractive and I will retire at the end of this school year.

Hawaii has many teachers like myself; teachers who are of retirement age and have chosen to keep

teaching. Reducing compensation will encourage people in this position to take their retirement now

instead of postponing it. This will exacerbate the critical teacher shortage in our state.

Your actions now can affirm the value of teachers; or suggest that the BOE is not looking toward a

future in which Hawaii educators will be fairly paid. The consequences of this decision will echo down

the years. Please let wisdom guide your choices as you fulfill your responsibilities to our keiki.

Mahalo for reading my testimony.

Respectfully,

Star Carlin



SentfromMailforWindows10

Testimony BOE

From: K. 'Ilima Long <[email protected]> on behalf of K. 'Ilima Long

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 1:07 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

TESTIMONY

Aloha,

My name is 'Ilima Long. My daughter attends Ke Kula Kaiapuni o Ånuenue. I am submitting testimony in

opposition of Superintendent Kishimoto's intentions to discontinue teacher shortage differentials.

I understand how the pandemic has turned the state budget on its head. I understand that the fiscal challenges

that lie ahead for the state are immense. And with that said, it is the duty to the Board and the community to

ensure that state leaders do not use these challenges as an excuse to cause further disadvantage

to Hawai'i's keiki, especially those from marginalized communities.

The two proposals laid out in Kishimoto's February 9th memo— using CARES monies to hire tutors and

discontinuing differentials for teachers in SPED, Hawaiian Immersion, and rural areas to name a few—indicates

that in difficult times, it is okay to just give up addressing problems that are already in a crisis state, such as the

teacher shortage in Hawai'i.

While all of the positions that are threatened by a potential differentiation cut, I will speak to the one that most

impacts my family and community, that of Hawaiian language immersion school teachers. I have learned, since

having a keiki in immersion for the past seven years that prior to this, I took immersion education for granted.

Now I witness the struggles of these schools, to build curriculum, to have space (the library at my daughters

school is used for two classrooms - no more library), and especially, to staff the school with teachers.

The Hawaiian language movement has been built upon the blood, sweat and tears of extremely dedicated

Hawaiians and allies over the course of a couple of generations. Immersion teachers are teachers who enter the

profession with a deep passion for lifting up the keiki of Hawaiʻi. It goes beyond teaching keiki for immersion

teachers - it's restoring a sense of self and place to a people in order to rise above generations of

marginalization. I've watched how incredibly hard my daughter's teachers work, both prior to the pandemic and

even moreso since the pandemic began. As immersion teachers, they do extra work that requires extra skillsets.

They do not deserve to figure out once again, how they'll adjust their modest family budgets to accommodate

the states lack of courage and vision. Aside from that, the Hawaiian language immersion schools in Hawai'i

cannot afford any additional compromises to an already unstable structure. What will be the hair that breaks the

camel's back for us?

Please ensure that shortage differentials continue. Please ensure that CARES money goes to stabilize and

support the DOE's teachers. My keiki needs this and our community and decade long efforts to restore a people

need this.

Mahalo nui loa,

Ilima Long

Faculty Specialist, Native Hawaiian Student Services, UHM

Parent at Ke Kulakaiapuni o Ānuenue

Testimony BOE

From: Donna Hallock <[email protected]> on behalf of Donna Hallock

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 1:10 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

testimony for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A:

I am submitting testimony for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A

Aloha, I am a teacher at a "hard to fill school" on Hawaii Island. I teach at Na'alehu Elementary, on the southern

tip of the island. Na'alehu is over 65 miles from both Hilo and Kailua Kona ,offers very little for groceries, and

home rentals are hard to come by. Most of our teachers live more that 50 miles away and therefore commute.

Because of these hardships, it has been historically normal for our school to lose up to 6 teachers each year.

The $7,000 differential has helped alleviate that problem by giving commuting teachers the monies they need

for transportation costs.

Many of Hawaii's extreme rural schools depend on teachers who must commute long distances. Please help

these schools keep these teachers.

Mahalo

Testimony BOE

From: Charlene Villaro <cvillaro@271leihoku.k12.hi.us> on behalf of Charlene Villaro

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 1:12 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Regarding differentials.

Thank you HSTA for giving us a voice in this process. We appreciate you so much. Thank you BOE for

letting us be heard.

I am honestly frustrated at this point. I don’t know howmanytestimonials I have to submit in order for

our Dr. Kishimoto to understand our stances as teachers. I don’t understand how many times I or many

of my colleagues have to restate that in order to retain GOOD, QUALIFIED teachers in hard to staff areas

and positions, you need to give them incentive to do so. Perhaps part of her due diligence as our

superintendent should be to give up a few months of her salary, and actually do the work of a teacher in a

hard to staff area or in a Special Education classroom WITHOUT the incentive…then at the end of her

“term”, ask herself if it was worth it. I seriously, seriously doubt she would say it was worth the late

nights, the many tears, and the herculean effort it took to muster up the enthusiasm to face the following

day as if none of the stress from the day before had no effect on her emotional or mental well-

being. Teachers, gen ed and special ed, on the Leeward Coast do this everyday, some of us have done this

for years whenwe could have left, BECAUSE we love these children and this community. We are some of

the coast's biggest defenders.

Teachers work hard, period. However I am imploring, BEGGING Dr. Kishimoto to look at the work of

teachers in hard to staff areas and hard to staff positions, and dare to witness the work ethic of these

colleagues of mine, and the level of professionalism and QUALITY involved in their instruction. We are

earning our incentivized pay, you’d better believe it! EARNINGIT. You need only spend 1 minute in any

of our classrooms to see that we bare our hearts out and we willingly make ourselves vulnerable and

available in order to do our jobs WELL. We take criticism upon criticism from our OWN department of

education, from our communities, from our own family members who have no idea what it’s like…AND

WE STILL SHOW UP. Dr. Kishimoto needs to know this….she needs to be brave enough to see it and

accept the reality of it.

I am a single mother. Widowed. This is the only job I have to depend on because my own children are at

an age where my presence is critical, and yet I am on campus longer than I should be…and I’m working at

home long after they’ve both gone to sleep. I have a mortgage. I have utilities. We need to eat. Now the

superintendent is asking me to be okay with being without my incentive.

I.AM.NOT!

Respectfully yours,

Charlene B. Villaro

Proud Public School Teacher

16 Years on the Leeward Coast

Testimony BOE

From: Michelle Librie <mlibrie922@gmail.com> on behalf of Michelle Librie

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 1:17 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I am submitting testimony for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on

Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in

special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

According to the department's data, the differentials rapidly reduced shortages. For instance, the

number of teachers transferring into special education positions for the 2020–21 school year

increased by 29 percent over the previous school year, while the number of teachers who left SpEd

positions decreased by 57 percent.

Nearly twice as many educators transferred into hard-to-staff schools for the next school year

compared to last, while the differentials led to a 41-percent decrease in those leaving hard-to-staff

locations.

I personally know of two teachers from Kailua Intermediate School in 2019-2020, who accepted new

positions for the 2020-2021 school year because of these differentials. One of those teachers,

relocated to a hard-to-staff school (and also a SPED position) while the other moved from a general

education to a SPED position at Kailua Intermediate. I also personally was blessed for the

differentials that occurred during the 2nd half of the 2019-2020 school year. As a SPED teacher, I

was so grateful for the extra money to help my family survive.

Teachers who teach in these types of positions need to put in so much extra time, paperwork, etc.

that the differential is at minimum a good way to show those efforts are appreciated and noticed.

If you take away the differentials, you will most likely lose SEVERAL qualified teachers who are

ust at

the end of their rope and feel unnoticed. I know that I feel that way often in the system. The

differentials were one thing that helped me hang on. For SPED positions, the loss of qualified

teachers could very well lead to more lawsuits in the future.

Please show the teachers that not only do you value them, notice them, and appreciate their extra

effort in these specific positions but also that you are a Board that keeps their word and promises.

The Differentials were agreed upon and promised to continue, so please don't go back on your word.

Mahalo Nui Loa,

Michelle Librie

SPED Teacher

Testimony BOE

From: Kate Maloney <kateannmaloney@gmail.com> on behalf of Kate Maloney

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 1:35 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Stoppaydifferentials!Theyareaninsulttoothercertifiedteachersandtheycreateanimosity.Oneshouldnotearn

moreforbeingcertifiedintheirfield,itisarequirement.

Howaboutnothreatsofpaycutsorfurloughs?Whataboutusingthosepaydifferentialstomakeupthedifferencefrom

ourfurlough?

Testimony BOE

From: Corina Calsing <cbcalsing@gmail.com> on behalf of Corina Calsing

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 1:44 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I am submitting testimony for Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on Superintendent Christina

Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff

geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many families have lost income, mine included. My husband's income

was cut by a third, and I know we are more fortunate than others. One of the reasons we were able to stay afloat

and meet all of our financial obligations was because in January of 2020, I began receiving the shortage

differential for special education teachers. Then pandemic is not over. Our financial situation has not changed.

If I do not continue to receive the differential, and my husband does not see an increase of his income, we will

not be able to make it.

In addition, the line I was assigned this year, and next year, is a combined role: I am both a fifth-grade

classroom teacher and the special education teacher for the fifth grade. I have a class of sixteen students, four of

which have exceptionalities. I teach their regular education classes as well as write their IEPs, create their

specially designed instruction, and deliver that instruction. Because I am doing the work of two teachers, I

should be paid more. The differential makes up for the extra time I spend in my extra role. If it is not there, I

will be essentially working for free in one of my roles. This is true next year for another teacher at my school as

well; it was the only way to keep class sizes down. I can't imagine that you would ask us to do that extra work

without compensating us.

I hope the board will seriously consider maintaining the differentials. Many teachers changed roles and schools

for these, and to lose them would put an undue burden on us.

Cordially,

Corina Calsing

Kalaniana'ole Elementary and Intermediate School

Report ebook piracy http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

Testimony BOE

From: Nancy Parker <[email protected]> on behalf of Nancy Parker

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 1:46 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

testimony

GreetingsBoardMembers,



IhavebeenteachingintheDOESpedfieldforalmost10years.Iamjustbarelygettingbywiththedifferentialsto

supplementmyalreadymeagerpay.Ihavebeenaskedtoworkinanotherfieldbyafriendthatownsathriving

business.Iteeterbetweenthetwo.Asateacher,Ihaveworkedtocompleteamaster’sdegree,earnedadditional

professionaldevelopmentcredits,andIamcertifiedtoteacherinseveralareasoutsideofspecialeducation.IfIwereto

takeupmyfriendsoffer,IwouldworkfarlessandnothavetheadditionalpaperworkandlessonplansthatIpresently

havewithmycurrentjob.Thedifferentialdidmakeadifference.Inotonlyearnedmore,butfeltthatmypositionwas

respectedandtheadditionaltimethatIputinwascompensated.Asfarasjobchoiceisconcernedregardingthelossof

differential,thechoiceisclear.Iwillnolongerbeteachinginthepublicschoolsystemifthedifferentialisdiscontinued.

Itishardenoughtogetbyonteacherpay.Asaspecialeducationteacher,Ialsohavetheadditionalpaperworktaskthat

takestimefrommyfamilyandopportunitytojusthavesomedowntime.Ialsousemyownmoneytobuyclassroom

supplies.SinceIteachatanelementaryschoolthathasstudentswithuniqueneeds,notallnecessaryitemscanbe

boughtwithapurchaseorder.Ihavehadtodigdeeptocomeupwithincentivesorsuppliesthatsupportreinforcing

behaviororfunctionallifeskills.Theareaofspecialeducationisacriticalareaanditisimportantthatwekeepthose

thathavetheuniqueskillsintheirpositions.TheBOEshouldsupportSpedteacherstokeepthedifferentials.Without

themourmostvunerablestudentswillbeputatrisk.Thankyou

Testimony BOE

From: Damien Silva <[email protected]> on behalf of Damien Silva

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 2:00 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

BOE Special Meeting Action Item A Testimony

Towhomitmayconcern,



Aloha!MynameisDamienSilvaandIamanew8thGradeSPEDScienceTeacheratHiloIntermediate

School.IaminitiatingmywrittentestimonytohelpswayyourdecisionthatspecificallyaddressestheSPED

shortagedifferentialpaythatwaspromisedtoteachersquitesometimeago.

CuttingourfundingwithoutproperconsultationorrepresentationfromallBOEMembersisrecklessand

justplainshady.Iunderstandthatweareallgoingthroughroughtimesasastateandwillrequiresacrifices

andconcessionsfromeveryone.However,pullingcontractualpromisesinourpayiswrong!

AccordingtoarecentUSAToday'sNewsArticletitled"TeachersandSalaries:WhichStatesPaysEducators

TheBest?"(September10th,2020),HawaiiTeachersonaveragerank19thinpay(whenadjustedforcostof

living)butyethavethehighestcostoflivinginthenation.Morespecifically,thecostoflivingis18.1%higher

thanthenationalaverage.Howmuchmoreyouliketakefromus,beforeyoustartcreatinganotherteacher

shortagecrisisinourstate?

Isaylookforcutselsewhere!Getcreative!Acrosstheboardpaycuts,backtrackingonshortage

differentialpay,andpreyingontheteacher'swillingnesstosacrificeormakeconcessionsjusttocontinueour

callingisHEWA!Enoughisenough!Youwilldiscouragemanyupandcomingteachers(likeme),awayfrom

pursuingourpassiontoteach.Youwillalsoforcemanyteachersthatwanttowork,butareburntoutinto

earlyretirementorintoanentirelynewprofession.Makecutselsewhere!



MalamaPono,



DamienSilva

Testimony BOE

From: Erik Tanaka <[email protected]> on behalf of Erik Tanaka

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 2:01 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

DearWhomItMayConcern...



Ipleadwithyoualltopleasemaintainthedifferentials.ThereasonisbecauseourSpecialEducationDepartmentnext

schoolyearwillremaincompletelyintactforthefirsttimeinmanyyears.The10Kincentivehas/willcontinuetobevery

effective.Intimately,Hawaii’skeikiarethebeneficiaries.Thankyouverymuch.



Sincerely,

ErikTanaka

IlimaIntermediateSchool

25.5‐yearDOEteacher



‐‐

ThisisastaffemailaccountmanagedbyHawaiiDepartmentOfEducationSchoolDistrict.Thisemailandanyfiles

transmittedwithitareconfidentialandintendedsolelyfortheuseoftheindividualorentitytowhomtheyare

addressed.Ifyouhavereceivedthisemailinerrorpleasenotifythesender.

Testimony BOE

From: [email protected]

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 2:20 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Re: Testimony

DearBOEmembers,



MynameisRomeoElenoandI'mateacheratLanaiHigh&ElementarySchool.I'mwritingtotestifyinsupportofAction

ItemA.fortheSpecialMeeting,regardingSuperintendentChristinaKishimoto'sdiscontinuanceofextracompensation

forclassroomteachersinspecialeducation,hard‐to‐staffgeographicallocations,andHawaiianlanguageprograms.



HowintheworldcanwemakeeducationinHawaiiaprioritywhenwecontinueto"takeaway"fromeducatorswhen

oureconomyneedstobebalancedonourbacks?Isn'tittimewetreatteachersinHawaiiwithrespectand

professionals?IfthestudentsinHawaiishouldbeapriority,thenteachersshouldbegiveneverychancepossibleto

continueprovidingqualityeducationtoourkeiki.



Thedifferentialwasagoodstepintherightdirectioninprovidingfundingtoschoolsthatcontinuetohavehighturnover

ratesofteachersleaving.However,evenwiththepositivesignsoffillingmostclassroomswithqualifiedteachersforjust

ayearitseemsourSuperintendentwantstonowtakethatawaybecauseshedoesn'tseetheimportanceithasmadeto

oureducationalsysteminHawaii.Whereisthelogicalthinkingbehindthis?



Pleaseconsiderkeepingthisdifferentialfundinginordertoattractandretainqualifiedteacherswhichinturnwill

providethestudentswithaqualityeducationthatwillhelptobringthemintothe21stcenturyacademically.



Thankyouforyourconsideration,

RomeoEleno

LanaiHigh&ElementarySchool,IslandofLanai





Testimony BOE

From: Kari Stagno <[email protected]> on behalf of Kari Stagno

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 2:51 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha,

My name is Kari Handley, and I am a Teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing at Lehua Elementary School in

Leeward district on Oahu. I am submitting testimony on BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board

Action on Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom

teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I was over the moon when you passed the special education differentials in December of 2019. You see, I am a

teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing. There is ALWAYS a shortage of us, so much so that the DOE has

partnered with UH to provide a stipend for any teacher who wants to go into this specialty. They are offering to

pay the cost of tuition for a graduate level program at the University of Northern Colorado to achieve a Masters

in Special Education with an emphasis on the Deaf/Hard of Hearing. Fantastic! The problem? Well, since I am

already a teacher of the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, I don't qualify for the stipend. So, if I want to pursue higher

education and better myself as an educator through this program, I have to pay for it myself. The answer to this,

and not having to go into further debt, was the differential. The special education differential is helping to pay

the cost of my tuition for this program.

If you take this differential away, I will not be able to finish this graduate program that I have started, that I am

being forced to pay for out of pocket, and also may not be able to stay in Hawaii, meaning my position will be

vacant, with not many able to fill it. Who will work with my students of this unique specialty? Who understands

their diverse needs? Clearly the DOE sees this as a need, as they have created this opportunity. Please continue

to fund the differentials so that the need for special education teachers, especially teachers of the Deaf/Hard of

Hearing, doesn't become greater!

Thank you,

Kari Handley

Lehua Elementary School

Testimony BOE

From: Felicia Ferrance <[email protected]> on behalf of Felicia Ferrance

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 2:53 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Differentails for Teachers Benefit Keiki and Community

To the BOE and Christina Kishimoto,

As an experienced teacher with over 20 years of service, multiple certifications, and a master's in curriculum

studies, I am submitting testimony on why it is in Hawaii's best interest to continue to pay differentials for

teachers who are filling hard-to-staff positions.

Last year, I applied for and got a position at a school that, because of its remote geographic location, is hard to

staff. Now, I travel 45 minutes each way, 7.5 hours a week, 30 hours a month, is spent on my commute to work,

not to mention the cost of gas and a reliable vehicle purchased for the often rainy and dangerous road along the

Hamakua Coast. I love my new school, the students, and the community in which I serve, so making that

commute is worthwhile.

For several years prior to my being hired, the school where I now work did not have a licensed high school ELA

teacher. As the school year began and I got to know the students, I could see that the lack of an experienced

educator along with the constant shift in instructors, left a large and noticeable gap in the student's learning.

Hawaii's students, in general, are markedly behind their mainland peers. One of the reasons for this is that

teacher pay does not meet the needs of professional qualified educators, who oftentimes are, paying off their

own student loans, supporting family, and trying to meet the high cost of living in Hawaii. The average pay for

a teacher who holds a master's degree in California - where the cost of living is on a par with Hawaii, is between

$80,000. and $90,000. per year. My taxable income after 20 years is still below $60,000.

Why are teachers in Hawaii under constant pressure to fight for every dime we receive? We work extra hours,

we work weekends, we spend out of pocket for the students we love. We are an essential part of the community

and have a role in keeping our Keiki and their families well, mentally and academically, and it is time that our

pay reflected this.

Receiving the pay differential has allowed me to take a job where I was needed, it has allowed me, as a single

parent, to worry less about how I can continue to support my own child with her college education. It has

allowed me to have a mortgage that I can pay without sacrificing something else, each month.

Without the differentials, I would be making close to the pay I received 15 years ago before I went back to

school for my masters. This is unacceptable.

I know that my situation is not unique and that I speak for many of my colleagues.

Sincerely,

Felicia Ferrance

Honok'aa High School

Testimony BOE

From: Willy Banta <[email protected]> on behalf of Willy Banta

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 2:54 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony: DO NOT discontinue shortage differentials for classroom educators in

special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language

immersion programs

To Whom It May Concern:

I am testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-

to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

"HSTA President Corey Rosenlee said, “The shortage differentials have made a huge difference and have

decreased vacancies in shortage areas by 66 percent in just the last year. HSTA does not believe the

superintendent can unilaterally discontinue the shortage differentials without the BOE approval.

On Tuesday evening, the HSTA learned of a memo sent by Schools Superintendent Christina Kishimoto

regarding her plan to discontinue shortage differentials, implemented in January 2020, for classroom

educators in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language immersion

programs. However, Board of Education members plan a special meeting Thursday during which they will

discuss and vote on a proposal directing Kishimoto to keep the differentials in place and rescind her memo that

tries to end them.

The superintendent’s memo is misleading. While she indicates that the shortage differential program was a

pilot, this is not the case. These differentials were enacted and approved by the Board of Education based on

Kishimoto’s request on Dec. 5, 2019.

While it is true that the superintendent announced a plan for a pilot program related to teacher compensation,

that plan was related to the superintendent’s intention to address equity and compression in teacher salaries via

a pilot project she proposed in January of 2020.

The superintendent seems to target teachers for discontinuing the shortage differentials, but has mentioned

nothing about the other 11 HIDOE employee types who receive shortage differentials.

The other public school job classifications that receive a shortage differential due to a recognized labor shortage

in their areas of expertise are Clinical Psychologist, Educational Interpreter, Engineer, Engineering Program

Manager, Engineering Program Administrator, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therad Speech-Language

Pathologist.

This is not to say that HSTA advocates for those in other shortage areas to lose their shortage differentials. We

want to point out that the superintendent is not explaining how she is or is not prioritizing qualified

classroom teachers for our children.

Discontinuing shortage differentials for our teachers would mean that nearly 4,000 educators will see a

drop in pay.

Kishimoto’s memo also references what she claimed is a 10-percent cut to the HIDOE’s budget. This too

is false, since on Jan. 21, Gov. David Ige restored a great majority of the HIDOE’s cuts, reducing the

original 10-percent reduction to a 2.5 percent cut. But if you factor in the $100 million in cuts to the HIDOE

budget this school year, the cuts next year rise to about 8.6 percent, still not the 10 percent that the

superintendent referred to in her memo.

Last summer, Kishimoto attempted a similar move, asking the BOE to suspend the shortage differentials for this

school year. HSTA fought that effort and the Board of Education rejected her proposal and supported

continuing the shortage differentials."

Thank you for your consideration,,

Ted Banta, Science Teacher

Pahoa High and Intermediate School

Testimony BOE

From: Tina Mehl <[email protected]> on behalf of Tina Mehl

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 3:11 PM

To:

[email protected]

Cc:

Tina Mehl

Subject:

Testimony 2/18/2021

ToWhomItMayConcern:



ThistestimonyisfortheBoardofEducationmeetingscheduledonThursday,February18,2021.Irespectfullyurge

boardmemberstostopthesuperintendentsplantodiscontinueshortagedifferentials.



AsaspecialeducationteacherontheBigIsland,IpersonallydoalotwithlittleanddoitbecauseIcareaboutourkeiki.I

actuallyappliedformypositionlastFebruarybecauseforthelasttwoyears,therewasadifferentsubstituteeverytimeI

walkedbytheclassroom.Itbrokemyheartknowingthatthesestudentsdidnothaveacertifiedteachertosupport

them.Theydeservesomuchbetter.IthoughtthatthebestmovewastogobackintotheclassroomwhereIcantryand

makeadifference.Thedifferentialwasnotonmymindwhendoingso,butwasaniceaddedincentivesincewearenot

compensatedforasmuchaswesacrifice,especiallynowthroughthispandemic.



Priortotakingmycurrentpositionasaspecialeducationteacher,Iwasthe619DistrictOfficeTeachersupporting

teachersthatworkwithpreschoolstudentsidentifiedforSpecialEducation.Iobservedatremendousamountofdis‐

actionacrossWestHawaiithatwouldhavehelpedourteachersandkeikigrowastrongfoundationearly.Iobserved

manyteachersburnoutandmoveonbecauseitwasathanklessjobwithasmallsalary.Theyweretreatedlike

babysittersvseducators.

EachyearItrained15‐20beginningteachersthatwereeitheremergencyhireorexistingteachersputintotheposition

becausetheschoolcouldnotfindqualifiedapplicantsduetosuchlargeamountofstressandlowsalary.



Allteachersworktirelesslywithlimitedfundingandlowsalaries,butteachersincriticalfields(e.g.Sped,EL,immersion,

etc)havebeenwidelymisrepresentedandputonthebackburnerforthegoodofthe“whole.”Manyarerequiredto

supportalargenumberofstudentswithavarietyofneeds(e.g.physicalneedsrequiringADAaccessforwheelchairs,

visualimpairments,etc)withlittletonoaccesstonecessarybasicsupport/resourcessuchashavingEducational

Assistants(EA)andrelevanttraining.



Althoughnotquiteasmuchaswedeserve,wefinallyhaveadifferentialtosupportourteachersinhardtostaff

positions/locations.Nowthattheseteachersarefinallybeingacknowledgedfortheirhardwork,thesuperintendent

wantstoeliminatethesedifferentials!Thiswillnotonlybedevastatingforourkeiki,butwewilllosegreatteachersand

seemoreandmoreunqualifiedteachersinclassrooms.



Sincerely,

TinaM.Mehl



Testimony BOE

From: [email protected]

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 3:15 PM

To:

'[email protected]'

Subject:

Testimony

I am testifying on the BOE General Business Meeting Action Item V, B: Board Action on

Department of Education’s plan for use of federal funds in the new COVID-19 relief package and

annual federal spending bill.

-Why is it important to use these funds to retain our qualified teachers?

Department of Education Licensed General and Special Education Teachers, Counselors and

Educational Assistants who continue to be committed to providing education and who choose to stay

in a school for more than 5,10, 15, 20+ years make a proven difference in the lives of our young

children! It is nearly impossible to duplicate or replace the professionalism and dedication we

professionals have to our school by hiring private tutors who may not have the unwavering

commitment that we have.

Most importantly is the unmatched and genuine connection and relationship we professionals make

with each and every student, each and every parent, whom we touch in that child's lifetime at our

school. These students, who come from a spectrum of family backgrounds, circumstances, stability,

financial bracket also come with varying levels of cognitive, social, behavioral and emotional

factors. It is a natural practice that we as teachers, counselors, IRA teachers, librarians connect with

our students in many ways besides providing an education in class - in the walkways, cafeteria,

during recess, before and after school, phone calls and meetings with parents...the list goes

on. These connections go beyond the contractual work day of 7:50 am to 2:50 pm (many times into

the evenings.) Will a private tutor have the same genuine care and commitment to developing the

whole child that comes intrinsically from a DOE professional? The State's financial cost to provide

medical, retirement, etc... benefits us but indirectly it provides for each and every child we've

committed ourselves to educating during their school years with us when we decided to become

a licensed teacher in Hawaii. Will private tutor have the same long term commitment and more

importantly, significant impact that a DOE professional have in a child's lifetime at the school?

-On a personal level

These budget cuts will affect my ability to pay for my bills including my mortgage and daughter's

college expenses. I am a single mother who has managed to survive on my income and child

support which have ended when my son turned 18 in 2020 and when my daughter turned 23 years

(January 2021) since she is still in college. Just as devastating as being a single mother, is the fact of

how I have unfairly been paid in the DOE since becoming a counselor in 1997 but still commit my life

to counseling because of the impact I have on the students I have the opportunity to work with. With

a Masters in Education, I was hired so untimely to be placed in the compression group (now earning

$10,000+ less than some of my colleagues or the same as others being hired later), became

pregnant with my son and walking the picket lines during the 2001 strike when I was out of pay for

over 2 weeks and was affected by furlough days which put me further back in salary.

If I were to be asked why am I still in the same position and the school I started working for DOE, it is

definitely not for the great salary I make. My answer would still continue to be that I want to impact

generations of change in a child's life which can only be done if you allow yourself to work with the

child, the family, the community over a long period of time. When you see that the students you've

worked with who were at risk for some reason or another are now college educated mothers and

fathers with their child now attending the same school, you know that you make a difference...one

student at a time.

We cannot afford to lose qualified licensed teachers over budget cuts, hiring private tutors, cutting

other lines of teachers such as Physical Education or Educational Assistants. It has to stop being so

corrupted already, where construction continues, the rail project continues, funding goes into the hotel

industry because tourism is the State's source of revenue...every profession that doesn't have pay

cuts survive for political, money making reasons.... And we believe budget cuts in education is the

answer because education does not bring in PRESENT revenue to the State. We miss the fact that

we need to protect what's needed for education TODAY knowing that children and their educational

success will bring revenue for our State's FUTURE.

Thank you for this opportunity to share my testimony.

Angie Iaea

School Counselor, Central District

Testimony BOE

From: Gordon Wong <gordonkwong16@gmail.com> on behalf of Gordon Wong

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 3:30 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony to continue shortage differentials in SPED, Hard to staff areas and Hawaiian

Immersion

ToBoardofEducationLeaders,

MynameisGordonWongandIamaSpecialEducationteacheratMcKinleyHighSchool.

IamsubmittingmytestimonyinregardstotheBOESpecialMeetingActionItemA:BoardactiononSuperintendent

ChristinaKishimoto’sdiscontinuanceofextracompensationforclassroomteachersinspecialeducation,hardtostaff

geographicareasandHawaiianimmersionprograms.

BeingaspecialeducationteacherintheStateofHawaiicanbeverychallengingwiththeamountofIEP’s,

documentation,meetings,workingwithparentsandguardiansofstudents,preparingdifferentiatedcurriculum,

teachingSpecialeducationstudentsin‐personandalsovirtuallyonlinenowwiththeon‐goingCovid19pandemic.Also

workingeachdayriskingmyownlifeandmyfamilytoteachthesespecialneedsstudentswhomanytimesdon’twear

facemasksbecausetheydon’tcomprehendthereasonforitduetotheirdisabilities.Buteventhoughithasbeen

extremelychallengingasaspecialeducationteacher,Ihavebeendoingmybesttomakesuremystudentsandtheir

parentsandfamiliesaresupportedintheseverytroublingtimesandtocontinuemakingapositiveimpactintheirlives.

Mygrandfatherusedtotellme,youhavetobeabletotakecareofyourselfbeforeyoucantakecareofothers.Forme

hiswordsareimprinteddeepinmyheart.Withtheseshortagedifferentialsithashelpedtosupportmyselfandmy

familythroughthesetoughthingseconomicaltimesaswell.Hawaiiteachersalreadymakeaverylowsalaryinan

expensivestatewherefoodandrentpricesareoutstandinglyhighercomparedtoUSmainlandprices.Iwanttocontinue

toteachandhelpmyspecialeducationstudentsandtheirfamiliesbutIcan’tdoitifIcan’teventakecareofmyself.I’m

askingyoutocontinuetheshortagedifferentialsforclassroomteachersinspecialeducation,hardtostaffgeographical

areasandHawaiianImmersioneducationbecauseweneedtobesupportedinourcareersinordertohelpthekeikiin

theStateofHawaii.

I’malsoaskingtoutilizecurrentclassroomteachersasafterschooltutorsratherthanhiringprivatetutors.Classroom

teachersalreadyhavetheclosebondandtrustwithstudents.Hiringanoutsidebandofstrangerswouldnotbe

conducivetoanalreadystressedmindsetofvirtualstudents.

Ibelieveifwetakecareofeachotheritwillbenefiteveryoneinvolved.

Appreciateyouforreadingandlisteningtomytestimony.Ihopeyoumaketherightchoice.

Mahalo,

GordonWong

McKinleyHighSchool

SpecialEducationTeacher



SentfrommyiPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Jenna A <[email protected]> on behalf of Jenna A

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 3:36 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Towhomitmayconcern,



IamsubmittingatestimonyfortheBOESpecialMeetingActionItemA:BoardActiononSuperintendent

ChristinaKishimoto'sdiscontinuanceofextracompensationforclassroomteachersinspecialeducation,hard‐

to‐staffgeographicallocations,andHawaiianlanguageprograms.Iamabsolutelyenragedtohearabout

SuperintendentChristinaKishimoto'sdiscontinuanceofextracompensationforclassroomteachersinspecial

educationLastyear,SuperintendentKishimotoagreedthatactionneededtobetakentoeaseHawaii’scritical

specialeducationteachershortage.Duringthemeeting,Kishimotoandotherboardmemberspledgedtofund

thedifferentialsfromexistingHIDOEmoneyifstatelawmakersdidnotfunditfornextschoolyear.This

proposalcompletelybreaksthatpledgeandnegativelyimpactsthousandsofeducatorsandchildren.Ifthis

proposalgoesthrough,therewillbeasurplusofspecialeducationvacanciesandthousandsofchildren

sufferingbecausetheyarenothavingtheirneedsmetwithaqualifiededucator.Thenegativeeffectsofnot

havingaqualifiedspecialeducationteacherwillbeastronomicalandwillincludemanyspecialeducation

lawsuits.

Havingbeenbothageneraleducationteacherandaspecialeducationteacher,Icansaywithabsolute

certaintythattheworkloadofaspecialeducationismuchgreater.Itisamentally,emotionallyandphysically

taxingoccupation.Thereisanenormousamountofpaperworkandadditionalresponsibilitiesthatgointobeing

aspecialeducationteacher.Iamconstantlyworkingunpaidovertimetocompletewhatneedstobe

accomplished!Thereisnotenoughtimeintheschooldaytocompletetheworkload.Iamtakingmywork

homeandfinishingindividualizededucationalprograms,workingonassessments,specialeducation

evaluations,collaborationwithserviceproviders,planningIEPmeetingsandconsolidatingvariouspiecesof

dataintothelatehoursofthenight.Inaddition,thestudentsinaspecialeducationsettinghavehighneedsand

requiremuchmoreonadailybasisintheclassroom.

The10kspecialeducationdifferentialiswhathaskeptmeANDMANYOTHERspecialeducatorsinthe

classroom.IfIknewaboutthispaycutearlier,perhapsIwouldhaveappliedtootherjobs.Ifthisdifferentialis

takenaway,Imayhavetoleavethespecialeducationfieldforgood.Thedifferentialshavealreadymadea

HUGEDIFFERENCEinrecruitingandretainingspecialeducationteachers.Icannotfathomhowitwouldmake

sensetotakeawaythisdifferentialfromthespecialeducationteachers.WHYWOULDYOUCUTAPROGRAM

THATWORKS?ITDEFIESLOGIC.PLEASERECONSIDERTHIS.



Thankyouforyourtime,

Jenna

SpecialEducationTeacher

Oahu,Hawaii

Testimony BOE

From: Diane Mokuau <diane_mokuau@molokai.k12.hi.us> on behalf of Diane Mokuau

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 3:48 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

My name is Diane Mokuau, Librarian at Molokai High School and I am in support of Action Item A. for the

Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra

compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and

Hawaiian language programs.

52% of Molokai's students live at or below the poverty level and as teachers, we buy food for our

students, clothes, support club fundraisers, everything we can to make our students feel whole and safe in our close-knit

community.

The hard-to-staff locations, special education & Hawaiian language programs differentials have made a big difference for

Molokai teachers with our limited resources. We need to continue these differentials so our Molokai teachers will continue

to stay on our island & educate our keiki.

Testimony BOE

From: Eric Iwasaki <[email protected]> on behalf of Eric Iwasaki

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 3:48 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Good afternoon Board of Education,

I am submitting testimony for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-

to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I think the extra compensation for classroom teachers has been effective in retaining teachers and in recruiting

teachers to these difficult areas/subjects to teach.

As a faculty rep at my school, my door, phone, and email are always open and I often talk to teachers about

various issues related to our profession and how it often affects their personal lives. I am grateful to hear

their stories because I am become aware of how other teachers are doing in these uncertain times.

From a recent conversation with one of the SpEd teachers at my school, this extra compensation makes the

teacher feel like their past work has finally been rewarded and gives them the incentive to continue putting in

the extra time and extra effort to help their students.

From another young SpEd teacher at my school who also has a kindergarten daughter, the extra compensation

has already been factored into their family finances and looking ahead, this SpEd teacher has expressed the

expectation of less money in the near future and to plan accordingly.

I think we can look at this extra compensation in two ways.

We can save money this year and balance our budgets and appease our superiors who are looking over our

shoulders.

Or, we can look at the long term view and believe this extra compensation will help our students be successful

when “regular” learning returns because we will have professional teachers ready to greet them at the door.

Sincerely,

Eric Iwasaki

Testimony BOE

From: Maile French <halia36@hotmail.com> on behalf of Maile French

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 3:53 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

IwouldliketosendinwrittentestimonyfortheBOESpecialmeetingdiscussionitemA.



MynameisMaileFrench.Iamasinglemotherwithfullcustodyof3publicschoolchildren.IworkatCentralMiddle

SchoolasaFSCspecialeducationteacher.Ihavebeenteachingspecialeducationforover25years.Ihavebeenworking

withstudentsinclasssincethebeginningoftheschoolyearwhohavedifficultywearingmasks(somostof

themcannot)andsocialdistancingisnotanoption.IalsohavestudentsIworkwithonlineteachingduetotheirpre

existinghealthconditions.Theadultsinmyclassaswellasmyselfputourownhealthonthelinetohelpsupportand

educatethestudentsinourclassroom.Ihavespentmanymanyextrahoursplanningandpreparingforhomeand

schoollearning.Ihavealsohadtoleavemy3childrenhomealonetolearnontheirown.



Myclassroomchildren.Thedifferentialsworkedandprovidedthemmoreofachancetohavearealteachertoeducate

themforthenext11yearsoftheirschooling.Longtermsubs,vacancies,emergencyhireandunqualifiedusuallyiswhat

themostvulnerableandmostneededofourchildrenget.Theydeservebetter.



Withtheteachershortageandhardtofillpositionsprogresswasbeingmade.It’satoughjob.Thoseteachersmakean

extraeffortormakesomesortofsacrificetoteacherinthepositionsandschoolstherearein.theyarecalledhardtofill

forareason.Thosehardtofillschoolandjobswillbeshockinglyevenhardertofillwithoutsupportingteachers.The

differentialsworked!



Firstdifferentialsandthenfuturepaycuts,stillpossiblefurloughs‐theeffectwillitaffectmeandmychildrenitwillbe

potentiallydisastrous.IamasinglemotheronaSINGLEINCOME.Myminimalchildsupporthasbeenthreatenedtobe

decreasedduetocovid.Iamafraid.Iwillnotbeabletoprovideformychildrenandpotentiallyloosemyhome.My

daughterissupposedtoattendcollegeintheFall.AsateachermypaycheckshavebeenstretchedthinsinceIhadto

careformychildrenaloneforthelast17years.Wehadcutbackalotthroughouttheyearsandhavesoevenmorein

thelast8months.Idon’tknowifthiswillstretchitsothin,itwillbreak.Iwillneedtolookatthepossibilityofanother

jobtosupplementmyincomebutIdon’tknowiftherewillbeanythingthingthatwillworkforme.Ihaveinthelast

monthmoresothaneverhavebeenseriouslyconsideringleavingtheteachingcareerIhaveheldformorethan25

years.MovinginwithmymotherorevenleavingthestateIwasborninforanotherstatewithalowercostofliving.

Earlyretirementseemslikeagreatideaaswell.



Thankyou,

MaileFrench

CentralMiddleSchool





SentfromMailforWindows10



Testimony BOE

From: latarsha lawrence <[email protected]> on behalf of latarsha lawrence

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 3:56 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

TESTIMONY

Firstandforemost,itstatesoneveryIEPthat"Theteamproposesthisaction.""TheHawaiideptofEducation

proposesthisaction."Asateamofprofessionals,wedevelopaplanforastudent,weeachaddtothat

student'sprogress,exposure,success,environment,development,andfoundationallearning.Thereisno"I"

inateam.

Asaneducator,IknowthatIbelongtoateam.Incontrast,ourpoliticsremovedthewordsteam/peopleand

togethernessoutofthecountry.SpecialEducationTeachershavearesponsibilityforcreatinganOhanainside

ofeachclassroom.Ourcreativityissuchthatwehavetoorganizeourclassroomstomeetourstudents'needs.

SpecialEducationteacherslearntothinkoutsideofthebox,besporadicandartistic.Webringthecommunity

inside,butforcovid‐19.

Thedifferentialcreatedapathwaytowardssuccess.ItsymbolizedtheBOEwasn'tgiving‐inorthrowing‐inthe

towel.Thedifferentialsymbolizedourresilienceasspecialeducators.Itsymbolizedourstrengthtoour

stakeholdersforcommunityup‐liftingbysaying,weareinvestinginyourcommunitythroughourteachers.

Theteachersinreturnareinvestinginourstudents&classrooms.

Today,learningtheBOEwantstocut,strip,andtake‐awayfromSpecialEducationTeachersagainsaysthat

covid‐19wasjustthebeginningofhardtimes.Iamtryingtogrowmyclassroom,butthereisnorestwiththe

BOEfinancesandwhethertheyarewillingtoinvestinourcommunity.

Pleaseallowustousethedifferentialsasprofessionalsofateam.AllowustimetofindOhanawithinour

students,tonurturedamages,brightenourcommunityandbuildbridgesinourclassrooms.Whenyouinvest

intheteachers,youinvestinthestudents.Ineedthedifferential.Weneedthedifferential.Ourteachersneed

toalwaysbeinvested‐in!

Ateacherhasaresponsibilitytohis/herstudents.Ateacherwiththedifferentialforsupportcanback‐upthe

responsibility.Last,Ateamwithateacherisbestsuitedforthesuccessofthatstudent.

Testimony BOE

From: Ruth Romero <[email protected]> on behalf of Ruth Romero

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 4:11 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Dear Board of Education,

RE: I am testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent Christina

Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff

geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs. Thank you for your time.

Aloha, my name is Ruth Marie Romero, teacher at Lanai High and Elementary. I have been a teacher in Hawaii

on the island of Lanai since 2005, where I raised my daughter as a single mom from 6th grade through

10th. Lanai offered a safe place for the two of us. I was a teacher here through the furloughs forced upon us

from Governor Linda Lingle. That amounted to about an 8% or more pay cut with no step movements for 4

years. I believe our hard to fill stipends were not discontinued, not sure. Living on Lanai, that earned us $3000

extra annually which helped with the higher cost of living here. However, with the furloughs impacting us,

there really wasn't "extra" money. I saw firsthand the impact furloughs had on students and families, as well as

teachers. Families were frustrated with less school instruction time. Student performance declined. Teacher

morale was lowered. And Hawaii lost good teachers. I was one of those teachers.

I left Hawaii in 2011 and taught in Florida, where the cost of living was lower and other opportunities were

available for my daughter. I returned to Lanai, Hawaii in 2014 because 12 teachers had left that year and the

students needed teachers. My heart called me back to where I could be of service. My daughter remained at

college in Florida and I returned without a dependent. By 2014 there were no more furloughs, but there hadn't

been much advancement in teacher salaries either.

Now, here we are in 2021 facing another threat of furloughs, salary cuts, differential cuts, step movements

frozen, for teachers and keiki for the next 4 years. This is not progressive. This is not fair to teachers, students

and their families. How will Hawaii ever retain qualified teachers? How will Hawaii ever close the

achievement gap? Do you want Hawaii to lose SPED teacher and EA positions? Do you want students to lose

programs like Physical Education, STEM, AVID, AP courses, Art, etc?

I am praying that you, the BOE will amend the HIDOE's budget proposal to follow the intent of two bills being

heard at the Legislature which would require the HIDOE to follow federal law and use the stimulus funding to

prevent school layoffs and pay cuts.

I am hoping to see Hawaii do the right thing for teachers, keiki, and families. If Hawaii will not invest in the

future of education for its children and families, then Hawaii has no future. The children are our future.

Sincerely,

Ruth Marie Romero

Testimony BOE

From: Kari Odo <[email protected]> on behalf of Kari Odo

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 4:22 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony-Sped

My name is Kari Odo. I’m a Special Education Teacher at Hahaione Elementary. I am writing in hopes that you

will continue the pay differentials for Special Education Teachers. As a Special Education Teachers, we are

responsible for the education of some of the most vulnerable and sensitive students and families. We are

physically and mentally pushed to our limits and we continue to do so because we know we can make a huge

difference in our students’ lives.

We have extra meetings after school for IEP’s, evaluations, and other team meetings. After meetings, we

typically have hours of paperwork and documentation to complete. On top of all of that, we have to actually

plan to teach our students.

Many of our students also require manipulatives to support their learning that usually needs to be purchased

with our own money. They might need special visuals that either need to be made after work (more extra hours)

or purchased with our own money. I probably spend about $50-$100/month on my students and the supports

that they need.

I know that you know our jobs are not easy. I have been a cooperating teacher for 4 student teachers in the past

2 years. I tell all of them that this job is not going to be worth it, if your in it for anything other than the kids.

There are a lot of positives to being a Special Education Teacher, but there are probably more cons.

I was optimistic to hear that the Special Education differentials were encouraging more people to consider

Special Education. The kids deserve teachers who understand and specialize in teaching students with different

needs.

Please consider continuing the Special Education differentials. If we continue to have shortages in Special

Education, the current teachers will continue to be overwhelmed with the amount of students on their caseloads.

Overworking and underpaying our Special Education Teachers will either force them to find a new career or

spread themselves so thin that they won’t be able to give their best for our students who need us the most.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Get Outlook for iOS

Testimony BOE

From: Travis Flynn <[email protected]> on behalf of Travis Flynn

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 4:48 PM

To:

[email protected]

Cc:

Travis Flynn

Subject:

Testimony in Support of Continuation of Extra Compensation for Classroom Teachers

in Special Education

Aloha,

My name is Travis Flynn and I am a public school teacher writing in support of extra compensation for

classroom teachers in special education.

After six years as a teacher in the DOE, I transitioned to the special education classroom. Not only did I

transfer to special education, but the specific job I took happens to be with an elementary school that is in

Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (A-TSI) status due to consistent underperformance by the

school's students with disabilities. The work that I am engaged in at Ka'umana Elmentary school in the Hilo

Complex on the Big Island is extremely important to the academic success of some of Hawaii's most vulnerable

students with disabilities.

Please know that, based on my personal experiences, I can attest to the fact that providing extra compensation

for teachers working with students with disabilities is effective at attracting and retaining teachers. While my

heart is in education, I likely would not have taken the time to become certified in special education, spend

considerable energy transferring to a special education position, taken on additional mandatory professional

development requirements, and embraced the extraordinarily time consuming and challenging work of meeting

the needs of my students with disabilities if it were not for the promise extra compensation for my

efforts

Simply stated, the extra compensation was a significant factor in my decision to switch from general education

to special education, and will continue to be a factor as I weigh the extra demands and related stress of being a

special education teacher against other teaching assignments that I might pursue.

For the sake of the tens of thousands of students with disabilities in Hawaii who deserve qualified and

committed teachers, please do not discontinue the extra compensation for classroom special education

teachers. If anything, please consider extending this compensation to non-classroom special education teachers

who work in complex area offices and student services coordinators who work at the school level; they provide

essential resources for people like me, and their efforts have a direct impact on students with disabilities.

Appreciatively,

Travis Flynn

Testimony BOE

From: Francine Hennemann <f[email protected]> on behalf of Francine

Hennemann

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 4:57 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony



TestimonytoBOESpecialMeetingActionitemA;February18,2021

Alohaall,

MynameisFrancineHennemannandIamaspecialteacher,currentlyteachingResource/FSC3rdand5th

grade.Asweallknow,beingateacherrequiresdedication,love,andpatience.IlovemyjobandIwantto

keepworkingandprovidinggoodserviceandsupporttomylearners.BecauseIamreceivingadifferential,I

candothis.Iamsingleanditisreallyhardtomakeitoverhere.HonestlywithoutthedifferentialIdon'tthink

IcankeeplivingandworkinginHawaii.ThesadpartisthatthechildrenofHawaiiwilllosegoodqualify

teachersthatabsolutelylovewhattheydo,becausetheyhavenofinancialconditionstostayintheirjobs

withoutthedifferential.Eliminatingthesedifferentialswillnegativelyimpactourchildren,becausetheywon't

havethequalifiedteachertodeliveraspecializedinstructionthattheyneedtosucceednotonlyacademically,

butintheirfuturelives.Whoisgoingtoteachourchildren?Theyneedqualifyteacher,notsubstituteteacher,

nottutors.Theydeservequalifiedteachers,withknowledge,education,qualification.

Asocietythatdoesnotinvestineducatorswillnotprevail.Educationisapilarofastrongsociety.Teachers

shouldneverbeputinthepositiontohavetofightfortheypaycheck.Teachersshouldbealwaysappreciated

forprovidingspecializedinstructionforthenewgeneration.

Pleasedonoteliminatethesedifferentialsifyoucareforthefutureofourkeiki.

Thankyou,

FrancineHennemann

Testimony BOE

From: Jeffrey Iveslie <[email protected]> on behalf of Jeffrey Iveslie

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 5:06 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

“Testimony”

Testimony to the Board of Education

I am testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting regarding Superintendent Christina

Kishimoto’s intended discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I fully support Item A which calls for the Board of Education to direct Superintendent Kishimoto to

“rescind her February 9, 2021 memorandum and to refrain from taking action on any teacher pay

differentials without prior Board approval.”

I am the Preschool special education teacher at Konawaena Elementary School on the Big Island. I

have additionally taught other grades during my 18 year tenure at Konawaena Elementary. During

these 18 years, I have worked with over 30 special education teachers who were unable to remain in

the field and/or in Hawaii due to insufficient financial compensation. It has been so dire that teachers

have left mid-year. I, as well as others, have had to work longer and harder to help support special

education students, the department and the DOE. Though we did what we could, the services were

inadequate to compensate for the loss of qualified special education teachers. Many of these

departures resulted in sub-par services to the students who were provided unqualified substitutes.

s reported by HSTA, “Assistant Superintendent for Talent Management Cindy Covell testified before

the House Committee on Lower and Higher Education that the department typically has about 200

special education teaching vacancies a year, filling those spots with emergency hires. But this school

year, that vacancy rate fell about 66 percent to roughly 69 positions.”

This is a clear indication that the differentials have made a difference in the state’s ability to retain

qualified special education teachers.

While I understand that the state is struggling with lost revenues due to the COVID-19 Pandemic;

slashing teacher pay to this most vulnerable population of students will not be cost effective in the

long run.

Thank you for considering my testimony.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeffrey Iverslie

Konawaena elementary Pre K special education teacher.

Testimony BOE

From: Chanelle Kalama Oliveira <[email protected]> on behalf of Chanelle Kalama Oliveira

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 5:35 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

To whom it may concern:

I am submitting testimony for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's

discontinued of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian

Language programs.

I was raised in a small town that is considered hard-to-staff. On top of it being hard to staff, there is always a shortage of Special

Education Teachers, and the school is in the beginning stages of the Hawaiian Language Program. Having the additional incentive

ensures that the keiki there get qualified teachers. Without qualified teachers, the students have difficulty striving for a better future.

The students there already have limited opportunities, do not take away the opportunity to have qualified teachers.

I was raised in a small town where there were not many qualified teachers. Today I am a qualified Special Education teacher. I am

licensed to teach General Education and Special Education. Before the incentive, I worked for a private school and decided to take a

Special Education Positon due to the incentive. Working as a Special Education Teacher, I realized how much of a difference the

incentives makes. During my regular work hours, I ensure that my students get the specialized instruction they need. When my

students leave for the day, I either have IEP meetings to attend or an IEP to write. I also have to evaluate how each student is doing. I

have to evaluate them according to (HELDS) Hawaii Early Learning and Development Standards and each of their individualized

goals. Therefore the extra compensation makes up for the additional work that special education teachers need to do as opposed to

general education teachers.

I can honestly say that I love my job, and I love my students; however, I may need to look for additional work to make up for

everything without the added incentive. That will also mean that I cannot put in as much time as I do now working as a Special

Education Teacher. I feel that is why we do not have qualified teachers. There is no way that I will be able to do both.

Would you put in additional time and effort after being promised an incentive then have it taken away? We need to prioritize better.

Our students are our future; your child is the future. What are we teaching them? That they are not deserving? That in life, the goal is

to become qualified and skilled at what you do but not get compensated for it?

We saw the numbers in what the incentive did. We have seen how it helped teachers switch positions or take a Special Education

position. It gave our students qualified teachers; why take that away from them. They deserve a chance at a bright future, and

qualified teachers give them that chance, but qualified teachers will not stay unless they get paid for their hard work.

Mahalo,

Chanelle

Testimony BOE

From: J Fernandez <jessica.sonia.fernandez@gmail.com> on behalf of J Fernandez

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 5:36 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha! I am submitting testimony for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on

Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in

special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I am currently an emergency hire special education teacher and have been working full-time as well

as going to school to meet the requirements for the DOE and the position I hold. I work tirelessly,

giving up evenings, weekends and holidays to meet the requirements that are expected of me. I will

finally be receiving my teaching certificate this spring and was looking forward to finally getting some

much deserved compensation for my time. I would finally qualify to receive the differential this fall

and just as I was expecting to finally be able to receive it, it may be discontinued.

If the differential gets continued it would help me remain in this position. Why should I do so much

extra work and not get paid any extra? Not to mention, eliminating these differentials will negatively

impact me and my students because I spend a lot of my own money on things to help the students

learn and to motivate the students to learn.

Additionally, I am also a parent and as a parent, I am disappointed in the lack of qualified teachers

across the state and how it has hurt my children's education and ultimately will impact

the opportunities they have for their future.

Please prioritize using stimulus money to stabilize classroom and staff funding

instead of creating new tutor programs! The stimulus money was supposed to

reverse the impacts from the budget cuts, not go to any other purpose.

Thank you.

Jessica Fernandez

Haleiwa Elementary School

Testimony BOE

From: dustin haru <[email protected]> on behalf of dustin haru

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 5:43 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

testimony

Aloha,mynameisDustinMorita.IcurrentlyworkintheKKPdistrictwhereIcurrentlyreceiveadifferentialin

workingatahardtofillschool.IliveinHilo,andinordertogettoworkIhavetocommutetoschooldaily

whichIusemydifferentialtomaintainmycarandfillingas.IfthischangesIwillconsiderlookingatother

optionsinschooldistricts.Ialsoamconcernedaboutcutsinpayandpositions,asitdoesplayavitalrolein

supportingmyfamily.Ihopeyouconsiderallyouroptionsbeforecuttingthefrontlineemployees.True

leadershipstartsfromthetopandendsatthebottom.

Testimony BOE

From: Cai <[email protected]> on behalf of Cai

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 5:50 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

My name is Catherine Davis. I am a teacher at Kamali'i Elementary in Maui District on the island of Maui. I am submitting testimony

in support of continuing the shortage differentials. These salary adjustments encourage teachers and student teachers to consider a path

in education addressing the needs of our most vulnerable students and communities. Special education teachers experience some of

the highest attrition rates of any school employee. Special education and general education teachers are experiencing burnout and

increasing anxiety due to changing job conditions. The shortage differential makes a difference. For the first time since teaching in

Hawaii, I have not had to be overly concerned with my budget. I have been able to do some home repairs and invest in

my community.

I moved to Maui in 2006 from Colorado. I didn't know anyone here but I sold most everything I owned and moved with every

intention of staying. I have stayed at great expense because living here has been all about aloha and being part of a larger ohana and

community. After all these years, I have friends and extended family, as well as, wonderful colleagues with whom I share a mission.

Each day we come together as a team to support our keiki and local families. We are doing our level best to keep up the good work but

it is heartbreaking to see teachers come and go, many of whom could not bear the financial sacrifices in order to support their families.

I do not want to lose any more teachers! We need your help.

Please think of the future of education in Hawaii and provide continued funding of the pay differentials for teachers in special

education, Hawaiian language immersion, and hard to staff positions. This shows that we as a state value our hardworking teachers.

Our teachers have shown courage and professionalism in this time of uncertainty. Please support them to support our keiki and

community.

Additionally, I personally have spent almost $200 already to secure PPE and other supplies as I am in the high-risk category for

infection. Some days I have to corral my mind and take deep breaths to calm myself. There is little time to plan and prepare my

lessons for I am seeing students individually throughout the day and each one must have specialized instruction. I work at least an

extra hour each day uncompensated. The proposal of hiring tutors and coaches and cutting my pay is quite the insult. If this happens I

may be forced to move to the mainland. I sincerely pray that you will rethink this awful thing and support those who have committed

to making a difference in the lives of our future leaders.

Respectfully submitted,

Catherine M Davis, M.Ed.

480 Kenolio Rd 5-201

Kihei, Maui, HI 96753

Kamali'i Elementary

Maui District

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Katie Sherick <[email protected]om> on behalf of Katie Sherick

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 5:58 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Hello,mynameisKatieSherickandIama1

gradeteacherinWaianae.



I am submitting testimony for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action on

Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in

special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.



Iamwritingtourgeyoutocontinuefundingtheteachershortagedifferentials.Igraduatedfromcollegeayearagoand

decidedthatIwantedtoteachinahardtostaffareaofOahu.Iknowthatthekeikihereneedteachersthatwillwork

hardforthemandgoaboveandbeyond.Theteachershortagedifferentialiseffectiveingettingmorehighquality

teachersinthehard‐to‐staffpositions.Withoutthedifferential,manyteacherswillleavethehardtostaffpositions,not

becausetheydon’thavethehearttobethere,butsimplybecausetheseteachersaretryingtomakealivingandthereis

largeamountofextratimeandenergythatgoesintothesepositions.Withoutthedifferential,thehigh‐quality

educatorsthataregradatingfromcollegewiththefreshknowledgeandextraenergyarelesslikelytochoosetoworkin

ahard‐to‐staffschool.Manynewteacherscan’taffordtoliveinHawaiiandteachonalowsalary,sotheymaybeforced

tomovetothemainlandinordertostayfinanciallyafloat.IamconcernedformyabilitytocontinueworkinginWaianae

ifwedon’tgetthedifferential.



OURKEIKINEEDHIGHQUALITYTEACHERS,andthisteachershortagedifferentialhelpsgetthebestteachersforthem.

Withoutthedifferentialitwouldbeheartbreakingtoseeourstudentslosethegreatteachersthattheyneednowmore

thanever.



Teachersinhard‐to‐staffpositionsgoaboveandbeyondinmanyareaswhichiswhythedifferentialisfairand

beneficial.Tonameafewexamplesofteachersputtinginextratimeintotheirjobs:

‐Teachersspendextratimecaringforthestudentswhodealwithtraumaathome.Thislookslikemeetingwithstudents

afterschooltoprovidesupport,givinguppersonallunchtimetomeetwithstudents,andspendingextratimeplanning

socialandemotionallessonsorcalmdownstrategies.

‐Teachersspendextratimetoprovidesupportsforstudentswhoarefarbehindgradelevel.Findingwaystodrastically

differentiateforstudentsisnecessarybutaddshourstowhatitalreadytakestoplanlessons.

‐Teachersspendextratimeattemptingtocommunicatewithfamilies.Itisdifficulttohaveonestreamlinedsystemfor

parentcommunication,soteachersspendextratimemakingvariousattemptstomakecriticalcontactswithfamilies.



Thedifferentialsarecrucialforbothkeikiandteachers.Families,teachersandstudentsurgeyoutocontinuefundingthe

differentials.

Thankyou,

KatieSherick

Testimony BOE

From: Michelle Lindsay-Lewis <[email protected]> on behalf of

Michelle Lindsay-Lewis

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 6:23 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I am testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

This will be my second year on the island and at Pahoa High School. I have a Masters degree and

taught college English for 10 years but I was not certified to teach at the high school level. I enrolled

in a Hawai'ian culture based certification program on a state-funded scholarship and will be certified

in May 2021. I had planned on remaining in Hawai'i and at Pahoa High School, however with these

cuts (and the other proposed cuts) I will not be able to afford to continue to live here. Thus the state o

Hawai'i will have paid for me to be certified to teach but another state will reap the benefits.

Any cuts to a teachers salary at this point in the pandemic is a slap in the face to those working so

hard for our keiki.

Michelle Lindsay Lewis

Testimony BOE

From: Ricky Rulloda <ricky.rulloda@k12.hi.us> on behalf of Ricky Rulloda

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 6:51 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

2/15/21

Aloha,

First, thank you for the opportunity for allowing teachers to express our concerns

regarding pay differentials and other matters.

With that being said, since the $10,000 differential for SpED teachers was

implemented in January of 2020, it has made a positive impact on my finances and on

being able to obtain a new car for my son. He had a used 2005 Toyota Prius (which

my family purchased in January 2019) that racked up repair costs that reached nearly

$3,500.00.

My high school son with his new no-frills base car no longer needed to worry about his

car dying off on the road or not starting up when he was off to school.

Secondly, my flight attendant wife has been furloughed from last March until May of

2022--that’s over two years. My family is hyper-consciously aware of where every

penny of our money goes. A 15% plus reduction of my yearly salary (not including the

other State of Hawaii budget cuts) would adversely affect my family’s ability to pay

even the most basic of things ranging from our mortgage payment to gasoline and food

necessities, let alone to save for a rainy day.

So please consider this and its dire effects your proposed differential cuts will have on

my ohana and others.

Lastly, when COVID 19 quarantine came in March of 2020, the DOE along with the

governor of Hawaii and administration have suggested/requested/implied that all of us

employees be compassionate, flexible, and adaptable along with doing

synchronous/asynchronous education, inadvertently increasing hour work hours.

By the same token above, it is expected of you and your approach to our ohanas and

our salaries to be compassionate, flexible, and adaptable and put in the hours to

examine the budget with fidelity.

Just because this year and last has taken an economic toll on all, salary negotiations

should be visited at least once every two years if not yearly. Hawaii's economy, no

doubt will bounce back as it has after 9/11 and the Lehman Brothers collapse. These

economic circumstances will be mitigated and overcome with the COVID vaccine, the

reduction of COVID cases, and Hawaii’s business going back to normal (if not more

so) in the future.

Our salaries by the same token should not be held hostage until the next contract

negotiation. So I ask on the behalf of my colleagues that open yearly or biennially

salary negotiations be embedded in the teachers’ contract.

Mahalo for your time and consideration.

Rick Rulloda

7th Grade Sped Science Inclusion/Resource Teacher

Kalama Intermediate School

This is a staff email account managed by Hawaii Department Of Education School District. This email and any files

transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are

addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.

Testimony BOE

From: Gary Roberts <[email protected].us> on behalf of Gary Roberts

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 7:20 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

TESTIMONY

To whom it may concern:

I am a teacher at the Paauilo Elementary and Intermediate School on the Big Island. We are a rural school on

the West side of the Island. Rent averages from $1400 - 2000 a month in our area. I, as well as many of my

colleagues currently commute 30-40 minutes each way per day to get cheaper rents. I currently pay $1400 a

month. It has been the cheapest I have found. Smaller places closer to work are much higher. If the

differentials are removed, my rent will take my entire 5th of the month paycheck. The differential helped me

feel like I could comfortably stay in my position this year. If the differential, as well as the percent cut the

governor has requested both go into place, as well as the increase in health insurance premiums, it will be

difficult for me to find an affordable place to live in commuting distance to our school. I love our little school,

but we really need these differentials. This year was the first year in many that we easily filled our openings. I

feel like the differentials played an important role in that. Please figure out a way for our differentials to remain

in place.

Thank you.

Gary Roberts

This is a staff email account managed by Hawaii Department Of Education School District. This email and any files

transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are

addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.

Testimony BOE

From: Lisa Silva <[email protected]> on behalf of Lisa Silva

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 7:25 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Maintaining Salary Differentials

MynameisLisaSilvaandIamwritingtopleadthatthedifferentialsneedtostay.Iunderstandthattheincreaseinthe

fillingofspecialeducationpositionsshowsadirectconnectiontothedifferentialpay.Withoutthepaythepositions

wereunfilledformanyyearsbygivingadditionalmoneytothesepositionstheybecamemoredesirableandteachers

werewillingtoapplyforthem.Ibelieve100%thatthepositionswillbecomeundesirablewithoutthepayincentiveand

willonceagainbecomevacant.Iwouldliketoaskthatthemoneystayinthesepositionsandweshowteacherstheyare

worththisextrapayandweappreciateallthededicationtheyshowtotheirstudents.Showthemtheyarevaluedby

payingthemwhattheydeserve.



Sincerely,

LisaSilva

Pomaika’iElementarySchool

MauiHawai’i



SentfrommyiPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Lisa Silva <[email protected]> on behalf of Lisa Silva

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 7:37 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

MynameisLisaSilvaandIamwritingtopleadthatthedifferentialsneedtostay.Iunderstandthattheincreaseinthe

fillingofspecialeducationpositionsshowsadirectconnectiontothedifferentialpay.Withoutthepaythepositions

wereunfilledformanyyearsbygivingadditionalmoneytothesepositionstheybecamemoredesirableandteachers

werewillingtoapplyforthem.Ibelieve100%thatthepositionswillbecomeundesirablewithoutthepayincentiveand

willonceagainbecomevacant.Iwouldliketoaskthatthemoneystayinthesepositionsandweshowteacherstheyare

worththisextrapayandweappreciateallthededicationtheyshowtotheirstudents.Showthemtheyarevaluedby

payingthemwhattheydeserve.



Sincerely,

LisaSilva

Pomaika’iElementarySchool

MauiHawai’i



SentfrommyiPhone



SentfrommyiPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Lawrence Hill <lawrencehill888@gmail.com> on behalf of Lawrence Hill

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 7:45 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I am testifying in support of Action item A for the Special Meeting regarding Superintendent Christina

Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation of classroom teachers in special education, hard to staff

geogrphical locations and Hawaiian immersion programs.

Sincerely,

Lawrence Hill

Lehua Elementary School

Testimony BOE

From: Yvonne Urbas-leboeuf <yvonne.urb[email protected]> on behalf of Yvonne Urbas-

leboeuf

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 7:50 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha BOE Members,

I write to you to express my deep concern over possible cuts to teacher salaries (elimination of differentials). I

work at Lana'i High and Elementary School and receive the hard-to-fill differential. This differential is so

greatly needed for the dedicated teachers and their families who live and teach on Lana'i. The cost of living

continues to rise and so too must my income if I will be able to remain here.

As noted from Hawaiinews.com. Apri 5, 2018, "In fact, the site estimates that you need an income of

$153,520 to afford the average home in Hawaii this year. (For two earners to bring in this income,

they'd need to earn $76,760 each per year.) " I have taughton Lana'i for the past 15 years and even

with the differential, I do not yet make the needed $76,760. PLEASE DO NOT CUT THE

DIFFERENTIAL, as we need it for our survival on an island with an ever increasing cost of living. For

example, the barge raised their prices sharply in the past couple of years so groceries have gone up

here severely.

According to HSTA, "The superintendent seems to target teachers for discontinuing the shortage differentials,

but has mentioned nothing about the other 11 HIDOE employee types who receive shortage differentials."

I am writing to testify in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent Christina

Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff

geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

Mahalo for your time and consideration. I so hope you will appreciate and respect the work teachers do and

provide them with a respectable salary for them to live decently on. We work tirelessly for our keiki. We really

do deserve to keep the differential money.

Yvonne Urbas-Leboeuf

Middle School Teacher

Lanai High & Elementary School

This is a staff email account managed by Hawaii Department Of Education School District. This email and any files

transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are

addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.

Testimony BOE

From: carol esquibel <[email protected]> on behalf of carol esquibel

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 7:55 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I have been working at Ewa Makai Middle School for just about two years now. I started out as a resource

Math teacher however I found my love and passion of teaching in the Fully Self Contained classroom. I love it,

I’m really thankful I had a Principal that saw my gifts before I saw them.

Even through the Covid 19 pandemic I have been teaching Med-Frag students in person everyday. I also teach

two students online with my class for social studies and science. We are a active and fun class where students

learn that most would think were incapable. My class is very careful and I feel very safe!

When I first heard about the differential cuts and hiring tutors, furloughing teachers and not hiring support

staff. It really scared me especially since my husband and I just bought a house. I started to pay off small

credit card debt but it still difficult to maintain my salary and what I use from it to do things in a Med Frag

class. Let’s face the sacrifices I and my colleagues make on a daily basis. I purchase everything from cooking

supplies to curriculum, to reproduce for my students. I have purchased a wheelchair, gait belt, walker and

buttons to help my students to be able to function in the world they live in. You may say “She didn’t have to do

that.” Oh yes I do because I see as a former nurse and special education teacher what they are capable of if

given the tools and opportunity.

I’m unsure without that differential or my EA how everything I do will be possible. I rely on that extra

income to help my students not just to add to my income. I am sure that each of my colleagues feel the

same. There are several things we purchase for our students on a weekly basis without asking to be reimbursed

because we love our students.

On top of making our students suffer because they will not have the professional help that they need to

succeed in the educational pathway they are given. You as a Board of Education will rid a differential that

teachers and families have come to rely on just to make it in a economic climate that is well above there take

home pay. God forbid that I see young teachers living on a beach in a tent.

But as much as you think that would never be possible. Did you know that 59 percent of Americans

are one paycheck from being homeless.

So you are going to force a lot of individuals to take two jobs, go back to the mainland or lose what they

thought they could afford a house or a new car. Think about not only the student that will be affected but those

whom sacrifice to teach those students. Once you have given something you cannot take it away.

I know you are facing a dilemma but do not punish those whom have delivered a education to students in a

difficult time. May I make a suggestion cut individuals that are not in the trenches. Your essential workers,

special education and general education teachers please let them keep their salaries, they deserve it.

Helping Struggling Students Succeed

Carol Esquibel

FSC MED FRAG

Sent hfrom Yahoo Mail for iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Sherrilyn Sampaia <[email protected]> on behalf of Sherrilyn Sampaia

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 7:58 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I’mwritingonbehalfofmyfelloweducatorswhoworkinhardtostaffareasandspecialeducationteachers(especially

FSC).Pleasedonottakeawaytheirpaydifferential.Weneedqualityeffectiveteachersforthefutureofourchildren,

especiallyforatriskchildrenlivinginhighpovertyruralhardtostaffschoolsandchildrenwhowerebornwith

disabilities!Hawaii’sfuturealsodependsonqualityeffectiveteacherswhowillbepartofthevillagethatimpactour

childrenwhowillcontributetothefutureofHawaii’ssociety.Let’sberealhere...toattractandretainqualityand

effectiveeducators,theyneedtobepaidwell.Nursesaroundthestatewantapayraise,alivablewage,andmostget

paidmorethanteachers.Bothcareersrequireabachelor’sdegree(atleastforanRN)andlicenseatminimum.I’mnot

sayingteachersshouldgetpaidasmuchassomenursesasI’mnotanurseforareason.Mypointis,ifnurseswantmore

payandalivablewage,whatdoesthattellyouaboutthewagesofteachers?AsamemeIcameacrosssays...

Thereisn’ta“teachershortage”.

There’sa“master’slevelprofessionalswhowillworkfor$45,000shortage”.



SentfrommyiPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Ronson Sahut <ronsonkealii@hotmail.com> on behalf of Ronson Sahut

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 8:23 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha members of the Board of Education,

My name is Ronson Sahut and I am writing to testify in support of Action Item A for the Special

Meeting, regarding Superintendent Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for

classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language

programs.

At this time, I am a special education teacher at Elsie H. Wilcox elementary school on Kauai but it

hasn’t always been this way I graduated with a bachelors degree in Elementary Education and

Special Education from the University of Hawaii 15 years ago my first job was as a special education

teacher. Because I was so overworked, undervalued and unsupported I quit my position as a special

education teacher and switched to teaching general education kindergarteners. Anything was better

than what I had experienced.

After switching into different roles at my school I finally decided to go back to being a special

education teacher. I watched as special education teachers came to our school and left because of

the difficulty of the position. Year after year, we’d have to fill our sped positions with long term subs,

emergency hires or people who was there to collect a pay check but it never lasted long because not

many people want the position because of the stress and the amount of extra hours you put in. It just

isn’t worth it!.

The only reason I took the special education position is because of the pay differential. The extra

compensation allowed me to buy a house and not have to work a second job. If the pay differential is

taken away, I along with many of my colleagues will leave these “hard to fill positions” and the State

of Hawaii will once again not be able to find licensed and certified teachers to take these jobs. The

pay differentials was successful at serving its purpose, filling teaching positions that are extremely

difficult to fill.

I would like to end by thanking you for serving the people of Hawaii and I beg and plead that you

support Action Item A for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent Kishimoto’s discontinuance

of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical

locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

Sincerely, Ronson Sahut

Testimony BOE

From: Richard Franco <[email protected]> on behalf of Richard Franco

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 8:33 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

TESTIMONY

Dear Governor Ige,

I LOVE being a teacher. Probably because I'm a Band Director and I truly do what I love. However, on Maui,

those positions are few and far between, so having come from the private sector, I took whatever the DOE

would give me in hopes of landing the "band gig" whenever the current guy retires. Consequently, I've been

teaching Social Studies, and herein lies my issue: Hawaii's keiki got some serious problems. So many of these

kids can't even read let alone make sense of their social environment. Couple that with Covid and kids not

coming to school and the students who weren't bright to begin with, have become even dumber. It's so sad. But

YOU allow it to happen. And then you wanna cut OUR pay?!

If we're already in a fiscal dilemma, what's the point of making our keiki suffer more by continuing them out of

school, yet allow tourists to flock here from all over, contaminate us with more Covid, and continue to make us

suffer. I can understand tourism is a big industry, but that's only because government officials like you

allowed it to happen. We've everything we need here in our state to be self-sufficient; but like an opium-

epidemic, you've got us hooked on anything that comes in a Matson container. How dumb is that? My students

have hundreds of ideas of making us self-sufficient, but it makes more sense to shut them down so tourism can

thrive. And what happens when they're too dumb to get into college? What kind of job will they be afforded?

Let us teach and educate the future of our 'aina, so we can perpetuate in righteousness what we know has

worked all along: Aloha. Let's spread a lot of Aloha with OUR state first and foremost. Then, when we're

educated and ready, we can afford to let some people visit.

Keep hawaiian lands in Hawaiian hands. WE are slaves to the 'aina. We're selling out to corporate America and

the Jeff Bezos of the world. What are YOU trying to teach our keiki? Stay dumb and move to the mainland?

Remain uneducated and get 3 jobs in tourism so you can afford your rent, as it's impossible to afford a

mortgage unless you're Oprah. Help US Governor! Be a man FOR the people not for the money. Don't sell us

out. HELP US OUT!!!

Respectfully,

Mr. R. Franco, Jr.

Kalama Intermediate

This is a staff email account managed by Hawaii Department Of Education School District. This email and any files

transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are

addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.

Testimony BOE

From: Heather Carll <[email protected]om> on behalf of Heather Carll

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 8:46 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

We MUST continue to support our special education teachers in Hawaii

My name is Heather Carll. I am a Special Education Teacher at Momilani Elementary on Oahu. I am

submitting testimony in support of continuation of the differential for special education teachers.

My husband and I are both dedicated, hardworking, and trustworthy educators who have served Hawaii's keiki

for over 15 years on the island of Oahu. Barely surviving furloughs, living with roommates until we were both

in our 40s to save money to FINALLY purchase a home - this would be the final nail in the coffin leading to

our ultimate need to leave Oahu. My husband already works a second job (in addition to being a full time

teacher), in order to give us a small cushion each month in order to be able to afford our bills. Be assured, our

living standards are far from extravagant. The bills we pay barely cover the basic necessities for our small

family of three.

My husband and I bring a combined total of over 40 years of experience in education. We possess the

experience and professionalism that is desperately needed in our classrooms. Hawaii cannot afford to lose

teachers like us. It's hard enough seeing colleagues in other states making close to twice what we make while

enjoying a lower cost of living - but we always said that with hard work, it will pay off. I'm not sure I believe

this anymore. We have sacrificed so much, and we have lived in such frugality that I don't know where we

could possibly cut corners to not lose everything we have worked so hard for if our salaries should be cut.

Bottom line? We don't feel valued and our sacrifices are not appreciated.

Please, I beg that you fight hard to protect us. Our teachers are already responsible for so much. We fight every

day of our professional lives for what is right when serving our children. When will Hawaii show teachers that

they are valued? We cannot expect teachers to carry the burden of balancing the budget. We are already

carrying too much.

Mahalo,

Heather Carll

Momilani Elementary

713-345-7583

Testimony BOE

From: Ashley Harris <ashley.harris@k12.hi.us> on behalf of Ashley Harris

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 8:48 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Differentials Testimony

Hello,

My name is Ashley Harris. I am a Special Education teacher in the Mililani District. I have been teaching

Special Education in Hawaii for about 5 years now. Throughout the years I began to notice the amount of work

that needs to go into being a special education teacher (especially paperwork). I love my job and will continue

to do the best I can to support my students in their needs and strength. The differential pay allows me to see

that my extra work (that Gen Ed teachers don't need to do) isn't going unnoticed. Please keep the differential

pay for the hard to staff areas (especially for SpEd Teachers). We work hard and it costs a lot to live in

Hawaii. With the bills we all have to pay, the pay increase really helps. Thanks for taking the time to read my

testimony.

Thank you,

Ashley Harris :)

This is a staff email account managed by Hawaii Department Of Education School District. This email and any files

transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are

addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.

Testimony BOE

From: Mandy Kinores <[email protected]> on behalf of Mandy Kinores

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 8:49 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Please take this into consideration

To whom it may concern,

My name is Mandy Kinores and I am a K/1 special education teacher at Makawao Elementary School on Maui.

I’m writing today to speak out against differentials being cut. I’ve been a special education teacher for 8 years

now and I love my job; although as the years go by I’m finding more and more families unsatisfied with the

DOE and more law suit happy. This not only puts more stress on me, but it also becomes a burden/ burn out.

Our paper work has to be thoroughly looked at and finding the time to do so is difficult. Between teaching,

writing ieps, doing reveals, making individualized materials, constantly communicating with parents, and fellow

teachers I’m exhausted when I go home to my 2 kids. I take my work home with me so often it’s to the point

where I’m using my personal items to get things done and feel like I’m working around the clock. With the

differentials we’ve been receiving, it has helped me feel financially stable and actually made me feel

appreciated for all my hard work. Special education teachers barely get acknowledged for the work we do alone

within the schools, and this increase has had a huge shout out for us. I was more than appreciative for the DOE

and HSTA for making this happen.

Bring us to the now... This 2020/2021 year was the first time I questioned if I wanted to remain in a career

where fighting to keep a decent income was worth it. My husband is also a state worker, and with cuts to us

both we will struggle financially. I’m already stressed with how we can pay our mortgage, childcare, food, car

payments, cell phones, and utilities if this were to happen to us! Hawaii isn’t cheap,

ut it’s where we were born

and raised and would like to remain. Please don’t take this away from us.

I just can’t wrap my brain around how the state would want to cut pay in an area that’s so difficult to maintain

staff members in. Would the state rather lose millions more to due process law suits because they don’t have

enough teachers to keep up with services or provide an IEP with fidelity? Do you not realize that taking away a

differential which helped Hawaii staff a good percentage of special education vacancies, will take us

ackwards? You’ll once again burn out teachers with heavy caseloads and cause more vacancies to arise. Please

be Akamai and don’t take this away from us. I understand we are struggling as a state, but we could negotiate a

decrease in the differential rather than a complete cut. I want to remain a special education teacher since I love

my job, but if Hawaii is unable to maintain finances I will have to reconsider another career.

Once again please take this all into consideration. As a state we have to remain strong. I honestly don’t want to

see our students suffer when you take so much away from teachers and the schools.

Thank you for your time,

Mandy Kinores

Mandy Kinores Send from Gmail Mobile

Testimony BOE

From: Joanna Lee <[email protected]> on behalf of Joanna Lee

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:13 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

My written testimony is twofold. One testimony is for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A:

Board Action on Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for

classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language

programs. As a 34 year veteran teacher, I started off on the island of Lanai using reel to reel film

recordings to teach remotely. There were no differentials for teachers back then but teachers

graduated thinking one job salary would provide enough income for a decent lifestyle. Such is not the

case today with Hawaii's high cost of living and the increased number of teachers who see teaching

as only one of their needed incomes. The differentials are needed to keep and entice qualified

teachers to enter AND stay in teaching. I urge the Superintendent to keep students first in mind to

have committed and qualified teachers stay with some sort of financial incentive so they don't have to

wait tables on the side to make ends meet. Over the years, I have observed "great" teachers leave

because it's "just not enough" to stay. Some move, others leave the profession and some stay but

suffer because they have to spend time away from their families so they can "moonlight" at another

job.

My second testimony is for BOE General Business Meeting Action Item V, B: Board Action on the

Department of Education’s plan for use of federal funds in the new COVID-19 relief package and

annual federal spending bill. At our school, we would lose special education position(s) and/or

special programs like art and physical education. Since we are a Title 1 school, our students benefit

greatly from hands-on learning and small classes especially with our special needs and ESL

populations. These types of students need continuity and routines set by their regular teachers, not a

brand new tutor who lacks the training to understand the different types of student categories in each

vulnerable population. It takes a lot of training to understand our students and our teachers are

working very hard with distance learning. They spend countless hours on virtual and in person

meetings with each other as well as follow up academically with their students AND their families.

This pandemic has brought out the best in our teachers who had a very steep learning curve and

adapted in a very short period of time. It is certainly NOT possible for a tutor or academic coach to

establish a relationship with our students let alone, teach them without first knowing their needs and

understanding their background. Obviously, our students' regular teachers know our students best so

they should be the FIRST to teach our students.

Although I have 34 years of teaching experience, I will still confer with the special education and ESL

teachers for their expertise in dealing with certain students.

It would be a great idea for administrators or board members who make decisions about teaching

positions to spend a week (not simply a day) IN the classroom, (not virtually) since our teachers have

been teaching hybrid with students in their classroom and online at home at the same time. They are

super teachers and eliminating just one of them would be a downfall for our students.

It has already been challenging for my department as two teachers have left this school year (for

personal reasons) . This pandemic has made teachers choose between their family and their job. It

isn't only about losing key teaching positions, but it's also about filling in newly vacated positions

midway through the school year. As a department chair, I have found myself in new leadership

positions and also in charge of training and transitioning other teachers. Teachers are doing great

things with the pandemic but unfortunately, it isn't understood by some. I hope that you hear my voice

and the need to have qualified, knowledgeable, trained teachers in the classroom, rather than a

"quick to hire" tutor or academic coach. Our students deserve more.

Testimony BOE

From: Karen Kramer <[email protected]> on behalf of Karen Kramer

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:32 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Dear BOE,

My name is Karen Kramer and I and testifying in support of Action Item A. I am extremely grateful to be

receiving the differential in pay and I thank you for that. I am a special education teacher at Hahaione

Elementary School. I have been teaching special education for over 15 years in Hawaii. From day one I have

always worked a second job. I have to have two jobs to live and support myself in Hawaii. The average cost for

rent on Oahu is $1,700-2,100, not to mention other expenses. I cannot stress how much the supplemental

income has helped me. I still have a second job but with Covid it has been difficult to make it without the

second income. The differential made such a difference for me in my expenses.

The demands placed on special education teachers can be overwhelming. From after school meetings, the

collation of student data, and writing IEP and IEP related reports goes beyond the normal teaching/school day

and checking work student work samples. Our case loads of students with IEPs is rising. Some of us have the

same number of students on our case load as general education teachers, however the demands for special

educators is so much more. Without qualified special education teachers you run into compliance and lawsuits.

Something else the state cannot afford.

Without this differential in pay I will have to consider a mainland teaching job. How do you really expect

teachers to continue to work under these conditions? Do you know how exhausting it is to teach all day and

then work a second job at night? It’s insane. Please consider continuing Action Item A.

Thank you for your consideration,

Karen Kramer

Special Education Teacher

Testimony BOE

From: Ryan, Jamie <[email protected]> on behalf of Ryan, Jamie

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 9:39 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

HawaiiStateBoardofEducation,



PleasereconsidertheuseofthefederalfundsfromtheCOVID‐19reliefpackage.Hiringtutorsandacademic

coachesisnotwhatisneededinourschools.Whiletutorsandacademiccoachesmaybeabletoprovide

somestudentswithsupportnow,thequalityoftheeducationforallstudentswillbediminishedthrough

teachercuts,increasingclassroomsizes,anddecreasedsupportforhard‐to‐staffpositions.



IworkinaninclusionsettinginmyschoolandIknowhowimportantitisthatweareabletokeepourSPED

teacherswheretheyare.TheshortagedifferentialshelpedtostaffSPEDpositionsacrossHawaii,helpingour

mostvulnerablepopulationofstudents.Thisisincreasinglyimportantasweworktowardsincreasingthe

numberofgen‐edclassesthatstudentsareenrolledinandprovidethemwiththesupportstheyneedtobe

successful.



I'malsoafraidthatwithteacherpaycutsandlayoffsteacherswilleitherleavetheteachingprofessionorwill

moveoutofHawaiisothattheycanbettersupportthemselves.Havingateachershortagedoesmoredamage

toourstudentsandtheireducationthancanbemadeupforbyprivatetutorsandacademiccoaches.Please

revisethecurrentbudgetfortheuseoftheCOVID‐19relieffunds.Weneedtothinkofwhatwillhelpour

studentsthemostinthelongrun,notjustsomethingthatwillhelpmomentarily.



JamieRyan

Algebra1Teacher

MoanaluaHighSchool



Testimony BOE

From: Rockwell Bounos <bounosr@knights.k12.hi.us> on behalf of Rockwell Bounos

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:03 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I am testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

I am a special education teacher, IEP coordinator, and both online and in-class teacher. The shortage

differential pay that I started collecting last January has helped my family and I with maintaining a

lifestyle in the Windward side of Oahu. As we all know, Oahu is one of the most expensive places to

live in the country and finding affordable rent is just as scarce as finding a career that affords it. With

the shortage differentials, my family and I have been able to weather the storm of my wife going on

furlough (she works in hospitality) for over 5 months. If these differentials are taken away, it makes

finding the means to make ends meet that much more stressful in a world that is already as stressed

as it can be. With the shortage differential, I have been able to avoid working a second job as a pizza

delivery driver, a second job that carried me through my first year in the DOE as a rookie teacher in

2015. Salary notwithstanding, I must also mention the emotional toll of having to take on an additional

part time job after my already 50-60 hour work week with our keiki has taken out of me.

Mahalo for your time

Rockwell Bounos

Special Education Teacher & IEP Coordinator

James B. Castle High School

45-386 Kaneohe Bay Drive

Kaneohe, HI 96744

(808) 305-0895

[email protected]

Testimony BOE

From: Melissa Keenan <[email protected]> on behalf of Melissa Keenan

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 10:43 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Re: Testimony

Apologies, I forgot to sign my name and school:

Melissa Keenan

Honokaa High and Intermediate School

See testimony below

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 15, 2021, at 10:34 PM, Melissa Keenan <melissaannkeenan@yahoo.com> wrote:

I am submitting testimony for the BOE Special Meeting Action Item A: Board Action

on Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for

classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and

Hawaiian language programs.

Here is my testimony:

Shortage differentials are critical to recruiting and retaining qualified teachers in hard to staff

positions and locations (for which we still have a shortage in our state). In a rural school, such as

where I teach in Honokaa, teacher turnover has been an issue historically. The differential pay

allows a single mom like myself to earn a living wage without a second and third and fourth job

(many teachers must work multiple jobs to afford to live in Hawaii). Hawaii teachers are very

underpaid compared to the rest of the country.... now we are being asked to return to the

workplace in person every day with zero reduction in our possible exposure to a very dangerous

and very contagious virus that has infected millions and has already killed over 600,000 people

this year with no signs of slowing its rate of infection in our country. We are asked to find

childcare for our school-aged children for three out of five days while we continue to be on the

front lines- providing both in-person instruction AND online instruction AT THE SAME TIME.

This is getting two teachers for the price of one- we are doing our jobs and going over and above

what’s normally required of us- yet our salaries are first on the chopping block!

In January, when we first began receiving our differential pay, I could finally breathe. I wasn’t

living paycheck to paycheck, going further into debt every month. I thought, maybe I can keep

teaching as my career. My salary isn’t so embarrassing now. Prior to that news, I knew I needed

to change careers because my salary was just not enough to keep house and home as a single

mother of two young children. Either that or move to the mainland where the cost of living is

lower. Hawaii has one of the highest costs of living in the country and relative to that high cost

of living, we are the lowest paid teachers in the country. How can we attract and retain good

teachers in our state, you ask? There is only one answer: pay them a livable wage. Teachers in

Hawaii are paid, on average just over $61,000 a year, which means teachers are typically taking

home approximately $3500 (net) a month. In this area, housing costs are on average $1700 a

month, childcare for one child is already $1800 a month (so as a single mother-if these are

averages, then you have zero dollars remaining for food and essentials, electric, internet, phone,

etc., after paying for just housing and childcare). Additionally, now many teachers will have

increased childcare costs because we are required to report to a worksite daily and our children

will need to be cared for since they are attending school only two days a week now. This is a

significant increase in many teachers’ cost of living, and the last thing any teacher needs right

now is a pay cut. Discontinuing our pay differentials is a pay cut. I urge the Board to direct

Kishimoto to continue the already-approved critical payments many of us need in order to

continue in the profession without going into personal debt. Cutting these payments will

significantly negatively impact the retention of our teachers in hard-to-staff positions and

locations.

Hawaii’s keiki CANNOT AFFORD to lose more good teachers. You may think that Hawaii

cannot afford to continue the shortage differentials but the opposite is true: Hawaii can not afford

to discontinue shortage differentials. The consequences to our teachers, our keiki, and our rural

communities are too high.

Sent from my iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Lisa shi <[email protected]om> on behalf of Lisa shi

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:15 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Dear board of Education

I am writing in support of Action Item A regarding Superintendent Kidhimoto’s discontinuance of extra

compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations and Hawaiian

language programs.

As a special education teacher, I was glad to receive the shortage differential in the past year feeling

finally recognized and paid for the overtime work we sped teachers have done, in my case over the

past 10 years, and the heavy responsibility that go along with this job. It has not only made me feel

appreciated, but made it possible for me to make ends meet and help my family. To think that it would

be taken away feels like a slap in the face. It was given to retain special Ed teachers and help recruit

new ones to a field that is while extremely rewarding emotionally taxing, stressful and time

consuming. When I say time consuming, I mean that it takes a lot of our free time in preparation work,

after school meetings, documentation, etc. especially during this time of Covid-19.

What I found I dislike most about those in the upper echelon of this department is the insincere and

effusive manner of thanking us sped teachers for our hard work, but when the chips are down and we

really need them to support us and our efforts, they are so ready to take away what they promised.

Please do not let this happen. I thank you in advance for your support!

Lisa Shimabukuro

Sent from my iPhone

Testimony BOE

From: Erin G <[email protected]> on behalf of Erin G

Sent:

Monday, February 15, 2021 11:23 PM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha Board Members,

I am testifying in support of Action Item A. for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent

Christina Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

This is my eleventh year teaching in Hawaii. This is the first year that my daughter and I am not living

paycheck to paycheck and can begin to pay off debt and create an emergency fund. The differential

pay has given me the boost in pay to afford to stay in Hawaii and continue working. Prior to this I was

considering moving back to the East Coast to teach, where housing is affordable. I am a better

teacher Because I am not carrying the stress of not having enough money to provide for myself and

my daughter I am able to be a better educator. For the first time I am able to purchase incentives and

prizes for my students. I also wake up each day eager to teach because I feel valued and appreciated

for my work with students. It is not an easy position here in Kona, the majority of my students are

from low socioeconomic homes and are second language learners. These both bring an increased

need for qualified, strong teachers who care.

Teachers become good teachers through their experience teaching. Hawaii needs to pay a living

salary to their teachers to ensure they retain qualified educators to provide students with a quality

education. It is not fair to our children to not have the education they deserve.

We all know the difference an education will make in each child's life. The more resources and

support you provide teachers the more teachers will give that support directly to their students.

Educated children become educated adults. These children will be working in our communities. It's a

win-win situation!

I am a third generation, highly qualified teacher from Kahakai Elementary School on the Big Island. I

have a Master's degree in Childhood Education. I hold a Hawaii State teacher lisence in Elementary,

Middle School and Special Education. I also hold a certificate of completion for teaching English to

second language learner's. I have gone thru the pay cuts and increased insurance premiums and do

not believe I deserve to do this again. You will surely loose teachers such as myself if you cut the

current differentials. Please vote to continue hard to fill differentials for teachers.

I wish you could meet some of my students and see their struggles and know that it is the relationship

with their teachers and a good education that will help them succeed, possibly being the first person

in their families to one day go to college. We need to keep teachers in our Hawaii classrooms!

Thank you for your time. Erin Graig

Testimony BOE

From: Pamela North <northinukshuk@gmail.com> on behalf of Pamela North

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 5:59 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Please support teacher shortage differentials

Towhomitmayconcern,



Pleasesupportteachershortagedifferentials.Asitstands,ourschoolislettinggoofasmanyasthreeSpecialEducation

positions.WhatthatdoestomeisonceagainIhavetobetwoteachers‐oneforstudentswhoareselfcontainedand

anotherforawholeothergradelevel.ThatmeansthatIvirtuallystartworkeverymorningaround4:30AMtostartor

finishpaperwork.Ihavetomeetmystudentsoncampusearlyinthemorning,orasmyviceprincipalsays,Ihavetosign

on10minutesbeforea7:30meetingtobesurethatIcanproperlyconnectat7:30.IgetanhourofPREPtimeperweek

(ifIdon’thavetocollectkidsat7:30).Idoonlineteachingaswell,becauseIhavetomonitormystudentswhoare100%

onlineandstillprovideaprogressreport,orIhavetodohybrid.OtherwiseIhavenoideahowtheyarereallydoingin

ordertofillouttheirquarterlyprogressreports.Theschoolcompensatesbyhiringpeoplewithnoteachingexperience

asEducationalAssistants(saveforone‐butthatpersonnolongerworkswithme).Thenitbecomesmyjobtotrain

themaswell.SoIpayfortheirtrainingasIdon’thavetimetositwiththem.Alsonotallwhoareassignedaresuitedto

beinaclassroomsuchasmine,andwhentheydon’twanttobeamongmultipledisabilities,thestudentscanfeelit.I

don’tgetabreakwhenwedon’thaveadequatesupportandtheeducationalassistantpositionspayissopoor,and

thereisalotofturnover.ThismeansIhavetoworkthroughmylunchbreakaswell.AndwhenIdropmystudentsoffat

thebusnowat11:30(some)duetoCOVID,Ibetterhopetheparentsshowupontime,becauseIneedtogettoa

bathroombadly.Ihavebeeninpersonteachingsincethiswholebusinessbegan.Ihaveaheartconditionandhada

reactiontothefirstvaccine.Onlysomeofmystudentscansocialdistance.Ihavetoworkincloseproximitywithall

students.ThePPEislimitedinthattheycan’talwayskeeptheirmaskon.ButIshowupanddothebestIcando.Why?

BecauseIamateacherfirstandIcare.Pleasesupportthedifferential.Ithasmadeahugedifferenceinmylife,andit

makesmefeellikeImatter.



Mahaloforyoursupport!

Testimony BOE

From: David Brown <[email protected].us> on behalf of David Brown

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 6:02 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

BOE,

Please don't cut teacher pay in any way, shape or form for the 2021-22 school year.

Thank you,

David Brown

Lahaina

This is a staff email account managed by Hawaii Department Of Education School District. This email and any files

transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are

addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.

Testimony BOE

From: David Brown <[email protected].us> on behalf of David Brown

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 6:04 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Dear BOE,

Please don't cut teacher pay at all. We don't get paid enough to live in Hawaii as it is.

Thank you,

David Brown

This is a staff email account managed by Hawaii Department Of Education School District. This email and any files

transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are

addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.

Testimony BOE

From: Kati Hedden <[email protected]om> on behalf of Kati Hedden

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 7:13 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Dear Hawai'i Board of Education,

I am testifying on BOE General Business Meeting action item V. B: Board Action on Department of

Education’s plan for use of federal funds in the new COVID-19 relief package and annual federal

spending bill.

Please do not cut funding for differentials or cut teaching positions. Regardless of the state of the

economy, our keiki deserve a quality education. Cutting funding means losing teachers and larger

class sizes. Cutting funds will affect the students the most. Our students, the future of Hawaii,

deserve a quality education.

Thanks for your consideration,

Kati Hedden

Testimony BOE

From: Jennifer Steele <steelej@knights.k12.hi.us> on behalf of Jennifer Steele

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 7:30 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

TESTIMONY

Greetings,

Education is a key to a healthy society.

In Hawaii's public school system, students learn how to process

information, think about the long term effects of

their decisions, learn about the world through the eyes of

others (teachers, mentors, characters in literature, fellow

students, etc), make goals while discovering their ability to

achieve those goals: These experiences and many others are a

product of a healthy public school "eco-system".

PLEASE do not cut funding to Hawaii public schools. Especially

in a time in history when there are so many media influences in

a child's life that are not beneficial.

Think ahead - the long-term effects of your choice to cut

funding to public schools. Think ahead - to the long-term

EXPENSES we will have to pay as a state when we do not

properly prepare our young people for the future.

Hey, if you need to find places or ideas for distributing limited

funds and saving money - why not include our BRILLIANT

students somehow. Given the opportunity, I would bet that

Engineer/Math Departments in High Schools state-wide could

engineer some ideas about how to tackle this very perplexing

problem.

With sincere thanks for your listening ears,

Jenny Steele

Testimony BOE

From: Leona Watson <lpwright@hawaii.edu> on behalf of Leona Watson

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 7:36 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha BOE Board Members,

I am writing regarding testimony for the BOE special meeting action item A. Currently, as a new Special

education teacher working in my hometown of Nānākuli the differential has been a blessing for myself and

‘ohana. Both my husband and I are teachers at the same school our Keiki attends. Having the differential

allowed our ‘ohana to pay for our student loans, mortgage, and keeps a sense of

Security for our ‘ohana. We appreciate all the blessings the differential provided especially during this

pandemic in which I lost my second job. The differential really helped me spend more time with my ‘ohana

ecause I didn’t need to depend on having a second or third job. Please consider supporting continue differential

funding.

Malama a me Iesu Pu,

Leona Watson

Testimony BOE

From: Brett Mccardle <brett.mccardle@k12.hi.us> on behalf of Brett Mccardle

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 7:48 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Hello,

MynameisBrettMcCardle.IamaspecialeducationteacherworkingatKealakeheElementarySchoolontheBigIsland.

I’vetaughtfifthgradeforthreeyears,andKindergartenforthelasttwoyears.IamsubmittingtestimonyfortheBOE

specialmeetingactionitemA.ThisisinregardstotheBoardActiononSuperintendantKishimoto’sdiscontinuanceof

extracompensationforclassroomteachersinspecialeducation,hard‐to‐staffgeographicallocationsandHawaiian

languageprograms.

Iamwritingtotellyouthatthelossofshortagedifferentialswouldbedevastatingatthistime.Theyaremakingit

possibleformetobeabletoliveandworkasafull‐timeteacher.

Ihavelivedheresince2016andhaveworkedinspecialeducationtheentiretime.ThemoneythatIhavemadefromthis

jobwasnotenoughtolivecomfortablyintheKonaareawhereIteach.Tomakeendsmeet,Ihadtoworkasecondjob

inthetourismhospitalitybusinesstheentiretimeI’velivedhere.I’vefollowedanexhaustingroutine:Ihadtowork

duringtheschoolweekhelpingstudentsachievetheirtruepotentialandthenspendweekendssellingtourismtripsto

islandvisitors.Bothofthesejobsrequiremetobe100%presentatalltimestodothemwell.Afterallissaidanddone,I

thenusewhatevertimeIhaveleftontheweekendtoplanandpreparefortheupcomingweekatschool.

ThemoneyIearnedasaresultofonecareerandonejoballowedmethe“opportunity”tolivewithfourotherpeople.

ThisbeingtheonlyoptionIcouldaffordwithbothsalaries.Essentiallybeforethedifferentials,Iwasforcedtolivein

communalhousingbecauseitwastheonlyoption.I’malmost40.Mydaysofwantingtoliveinthismannerareveryfar

behindme.Thesedifferentialsallowedmetofinallyexperiencealifethatshouldbeavailabletopeoplethathavebeen

teachingforyears.

InJanuary2020,differentialswereputinplacethatallowedmetofinallyfeelIcouldbeateacher.Afterfouryearsof

prayingforsummersoIcouldhavesomeweekdaysoff(maintainingmyweekendjobyearround),Iwasfinallylooking

forwardtothiscomingsummer.Thedifferentialsallowedmetoquitmyweekendjobandfocusontakingsomeclasses

andgettingbetteratmyonefull‐timecareer.Theyarenecessary,andtheycannotbetakenaway.Thedecisiontoalso

planforasalaryreductioninadditiontonotcontinuingdifferentialsisgoingtotakehopefromeducatorsacrossthe

islands.Thiscareerdoesn’tgowellwhenyouarelowonhope.

Thedifferentialshelpedmakeitpossibleformetoaffordaplacetolivehere,payonmylargestudentloans,andeven

consideracarpayment.Forthefirsttimeinmylife,Ididnothavetochoosetodoonlyoneoftheseatatime.Tofeel

valuedenoughtoliveasanadultshouldiswhatyouarethinkingoftakingaway.Imovedherewithnofamilyandno

support.Youwillbetakingawaymyabilitytosupportmyselfwithtakingawaydifferentials.Proposedpaycutsfurther

compoundthedamagethatcanbeinflictedonthepeoplethataretryingdesperatelytolivehereandhelpthestudents

achieve.Itishardtodothatwhileyou,yourselfarenotachieving.

TherealityoftheCOVID‐19situationisnotsomethinganyoneistakinglightly.Thisisacrisis.Theteachershortagewasa

crisistoo,anditexistedpriortoanyonetalkingaboutforcingpaycuts.Thestudentsofthisislandalreadyhaddifficulty

beingtaughtbyprofessionalsbeforethissituationandrightnow,theyarebeingtaughtthroughoutthepandemicby

innovativeanddeterminedteachers.Whentheboarddiscussesslashingpartsofoursalaries,Iremindyouthatweare

currentlyrevolutionizinganentireeducationalmodelinrealtimewhilecontinuingtoservethechildrenofourislands.

Wearedoingtwojobsforthepriceofonealready‐andwearedoingitat100%,becausethat’sallweknowhowtodo.

Teachingisnotajobthatstopswhenthebellrings.Caringforthestudentsdoesn’tstopattheendofourday.Tryingto

bethebestwecanpossiblybeforthemisinthejobdescriptionandinthepeoplethatchoosethiswork.

Icameintoteachingtotrytohelpmakethisworldabetterplace.IthasbeenthehardestthingthatIhaveeverdoneby

far,butIloveit.IloveitsomuchthatIwillworksevendaysaweektodoit.That’sthekindofjobitis.It’sacareerthat

requiresapassionandafervorthatisverytimeandeffortconsuming.Itisalsoacareerthatdrawsinpeoplethatdon’t

mindtheextrawork.Itisacareerfullofpeoplethatwilldoanythingintheirpowertohelptheirstudents.Thisisa

groupofpeoplethatwillworkuntoldhours(mostofthemunpaid)tryingeverythingtheycantohelpchildrenhave

momentswheretheysuddenly“getit”.

Rememberthatsomewherealongthelines,youhadateacherthatbelievedinyoumorethananyoneelsedid.

Somewheretherewasaneducatorthatheldyouuptogetyoutowhereyouarerightnow.Peopleriseorfalltothe

expectationsofthosethataretheirsupportsystemandtogetwhereyouare,youhavehaditbetterthansome.Keep

thateducatorinyourmindwhileyoudeliberateoverthebudget.Thoseeducatorsweretheretosupportyoubecause

theywereinaplacethatvaluedandtreasuredthemenoughtokeepthemworkinginthisextremelydemanding

calling.

Pleaseexhaustallotheroptionsbeforethinkingthatgettingridofshortagedifferntialsissomethingthisworkforce

shouldhavetoweather.Wouldyoudoittotheteacherthathelpedyou?Andifyoudid,wouldyouexpectthemto

stay?

Thankyouforyourtime.

Regards,



Brett McCardle

Special Education Teacher

Kealakehe Elementary

(808) 327-4308

Big Island

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Testimony BOE

From: Christina Hill <collegeinclusion@gmail.com> on behalf of Christina Hill

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 8:18 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

testimony regarding differentials

Aloha,mynameisChristinaHill,IworkatWaipahuIntermediateasanFSCspecialeducator.Iamwritinginregardsto

SuperintendentKishimoto’sdiscontinuanceofextracompensationforclassroomteachersinspecialeducation,hard‐to‐

staffgeographicallocations,andHawaiianlanguageimmersionprogramsforthe2021‐2022schoolyear.Myhusband

andIarebothspecialeducatorsandforthelast6yearswehadlivedpaychecktopaycheck,thatisuntilwegotthe

differentialbonus.Thepastyearwehavebeenabletocontributetothelocaleconomybuyingthingswewouldnothave

beenabletobuyotherwise,sendingouroldesttoLCCandwehavebeenabletosave,withthehopesofbuyingahome

(furthercementingourcommitmenttoHawaiipublicschoolsandthekeikiweserve).Wehavethreegrowingchildren

andwithoutthisdifferentialwewillbarelymakeendsmeetonceagain.Nopublicschoolteachershouldhavetolive

paychecktopaycheck.IaskyoutopleaseadvocateforteachersregardingKishimoto’splantodiscontinuedifferential

payforspecialeducation,hard‐to‐staffgeographicallocations,andHawaiianlanguageimmersionprograms.

Testimony BOE

From: Jonathan Silva <jonathan.silva@k12.hi.us> on behalf of Jonathan Silva

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 8:21 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Aloha Chair Payne and members of the Hawaii Board of Education,

Thursday, February 17, 2020 11:00 a.m.

Testimony on action item A:

A. Board Action on Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special

education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

My name is Jonathan Silva and I'm a school counselor at King Kamehameha 3rd Elementary. I've been here for 11 years. During my

time here, I've seen the turnover rate kill the momentum and growth of our school. Our kids don't experience deep relationships, and

the administration knows they won't get much done since they will have to retrain again in 2-3 years.

Every year we also have awesome teachers transferring out of our district because of the high cost of living. I was almost one of them 2

years ago. I live 40 minutes away and commute everyday. As traffic has been increasing, it has put a strain on my family and my wife

wanted me to transfer to a school closer to home. With the bonus, not only did it pay for my gas, but it made it beneficial for me to

continue at my school.

Please consider keeping the Hard to staff Bonus to help our community thrive with teachers who are invested in their community as well

as build deeper relationships with their students and their families.

Mahalo,

Jonathan Silva

King Kamehameha III Elementary

School Counselor

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Testimony BOE

From: Alison Cameron <alialoha125@yahoo.com> on behalf of Alison Cameron

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 8:29 AM

To:

[email protected]; Alison Cameron

Subject:

TESTIMONY

Aloha. My name is Alison Cameron and I and a School Based Behavioral Health Specialist V and have been with the DOE for 19

years this July. I am also the parent of an 8th grader who attends Ilima Intermediate School in Ewa Beach.

The Department of Education needs to spend the Covid federal money to keep education going at the current level with NO layoffs or

pay cuts. The law specifically states this with the intent of making sure that our students are receiving the education that they deserve

and that educators are compensated fairly for the work that they do! Restore all school level funding! Our children are suffering lack

of education and socialization right now. The social emotional impacts as well as the lack of in person learning is going to have dire

lasting impacts. And layoffs and pay cuts will be devastating to those of us serving our youth as educators and support staff.

I am strongly opposed to pay cuts and furloughs for teachers and other DOE employees. The Federal Covid money must be used as it

was intended to support education!! Our education system was already in dire straits without enough teachers and related service

providers. With a pay cut and furloughs, our student's will not get educated at all. We need to think about our future and we don't

have one without educating our youth. Pay cuts and furloughs will drive teachers and other staff either into retirement if they are

eligible or out of the system all together. We need more, not less. Additionally, the impact of pay cuts and furloughs will drive me, (a

single income, single parent) into poverty. And obviously I am not the only one. We barely get paid enough to survive living in

Hawaii, losing any of my pay would be absolutely devastating. I am a 48 year old single mom, supporting myself fully on my DOE

salary. Pay cuts or layoffs for me would put my and my son in jeopardy of not having enough to pay for housing, transportation and

maybe food!! I live pay check to pay check as it is, even after 19 years working in the DOE. I already rent a room in my rental home

in order to make ends meet for the rent! Any reduction in salary would be devastating for my family!! I also have elderly parents on

the Big Island that require help and I would not be able to afford to get there to help them. If this is the case for me, then it only

makes sense that lay offs and pay cuts in the DOE will leave many more families requiring state assistance to survive...how is that

helping the economy? We need to keep our educators and support staff at school with full pay to support our Keiki and our greater

economy! Schools count!

Students need to be in school. The idea of having students do a percentage of their learning via distance learning is a very bad

idea. The DOE's proposal of hiring tutors is absurd. Students need to be educated by qualified teachers! Parents have to

work. Students need to be in school to receive instruction, feedback and interaction with their teacher's and peers. Distance learning

puts students in a vacuum, and as we know, nothing grows in a vacuum. Additionally, having our Intermediate and High School age

students at home will result in massive social impacts. There will be more technology addictions, more drug and alcohol use, more

teen pregnancy, more crime, more depression, more suicide. The s

ocia

l health ramifications of keeping students out of school is

immense. Additionally, most students are not self-motivated and driven enough to initiate their tasks and keep at their work while

home alone. It is a ridiculous notion!! Students need to be IN SCHOOL learning!!

Keeping students at school in small groups is detrimental! Students need to be able to find their own way with peers. They need to be

able to select their peer group and be with friends at lunch and recess. These are essential activities, almost as important as the

education itself! Think about how important these activities are in learning to navigate life. Keeping students in small groups, not

letting them mix with a broad range of peers throughout the day is stunting their growth. What if a student is in a group where they

don't get along with someone? They will be forced to be with that person all day? How will the make new friends?

I implore you to please make sure that the Covid funds are used as the law intended, to keep education going with no layoffs and no

furloughs. The money needs to be used properly to educate our Keiki, our future! No pay cuts for DOE employees! No

furloughs! Put students back in school to learn with their teachers, counselors, support staff!!! This is essential.

Thank you for considering my testimony.

Alison Cameron

Testimony BOE

From: Sandra Davis <[email protected]> on behalf of Sandra Davis

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 8:31 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Differential Testimony

Re: 11 am Special Meeting (Shortage Differentials)

Are you willing to force teachers to sell-up, find additional work or leave

teaching altogether?

The shortage differentials were intended to increase the number of SPED teachers, hard-

to-staff geographical locations, and Hawaiian language immersion programs in Hawai'i.

The idea of taking this differential away is completely ludicrous due to the

following reasons:

1. With the pay increase, some teachers have been able to improve their standard of

living by purchasing a home.

My story is just this. I am a single fifty-something female who just divorced in October

2020. I am so grateful to currently have a "liveable" wage that has allowed me to

purchase a tiny apartment on the West-Side. It was the only apartment I could afford,

but I am grateful. Taking the differential away could risk my ability to pay my new

mortgage payments. I could be at risk of selling up.

2. To maintain their standard of living and support their families, some teachers may

need to find ADDITIONAL employment.

Surely, we need our teachers to be fully invested in their careers by putting in 100% of

their efforts to educate students. Since Covid-19 and with district compliance

regulations, teachers already have an INCREASED WORKLOAD. They are having

additional meetings, producing additional reports while also teaching students with

disabilities in very difficult virtual situations. What is the incentive for teachers to

continue doing more work for less pay?

3. Some teachers are frankly becoming 'fed-up' with this back and forth wage yoyo-ing

that has a huge impact on their ability to provide food, clothing and, shelter for

themselves and their families. Are you willing to risk an exodus of teachers out of the

profession?

When I meet new people, I am proud to share that I am a teacher. Every single person

that I meet will tell me how grateful they are for my 'service' as a teacher. When they

know that I am a SPED teacher these sentiments are always amplified. The general

public knows, that teachers ALREADY RECEIVE LITTLE PAY FOR THE WORK THEY DO. To

know that 'the powers at being' are willing to strip away the pay for teachers who are

not only expected to be at the frontline but, who are teaching and inspiring the new

enerations that will ultimately be producers, movers, and shakers in our futures is quite

frankly insanity. Why should teachers continue to stay in teaching when they are

undervalued?

I can only pray that the correct decision is made. Happy teachers make, happy and

successful students. Please remember that we are mothers, fathers, grandparents,

divorcees (and humans) first and teachers next. We want to continue to DO WHAT WE

LOVE with the PAY THAT WE DESERVE.

Sincerely,

Sandra Davis

Hawaii Technology Academy

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Testimony BOE

From: Joshua Joggerst <joshua.joggerst@k12.hi.us> on behalf of Joshua Joggerst

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 8:31 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

I am testifying in support of Action Item A for the Special meeting, regarding Superintendent Christina

Kishimoto's discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff

geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

As a teacher in a hard to staff school on Lanai, it has been a great help with various bills to have a differential

that raises my pay by $8000. If this was to go away then this makes my life harder to live on Lanai. I can't go

ahead and buy a used vehicle, I can't support local small businesses with my income, and I will have less money

to spend in the classroom. This differential has made it easier for me to think of Lanai as a long term plan for

me as a teacher. I know that these differentials have attracted SPED teachers to come to Lanai and work and

have kept high quality teachers from leaving. If they were to all be cut then we will face severe financial

hardship. Please keep these differentials in place so our island does not become devastated by vacancies.

Thank you for your consideration,

Joshua Joggerst

Social Studies teacher at Lanai High School

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transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are

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Testimony BOE

From: Michelle Debaldo <michelle.debal[email protected]> on behalf of Michelle Debaldo

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 8:34 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony for Action Item A

To Whom It May Concern:

This is my testimony in support of Action Item A for the Special Meeting regarding Superintendent Christina

Kishimoto’s discontinuance of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff

geographical locations, and Hawaiian language programs.

My name is Michelle DeBaldo and I’m a 2nd grade SPED teacher at King Kamehameha III Elementary in

Lahaina on Maui. In January 2020, The BOE approved differentials for areas of teacher shortages and it made a

huge difference. I qualified for the hard-to-staff and special ed areas, raising my salary by $15,000. Prior to

teaching in Hawaii, I was an elementary special ed teacher in NYC with 12 years experience and a dual masters

degree, making $30,000 less than the base salary of Hawaii (sadly, the same as the starting salary of a teacher

with a bachelors in NYC) and yet the cost of living is comparable. After a few years of teaching here, my base

salary didn’t allow me to live a proper life: I wasn’t able to save money, I wasn’t able to spend much on

groceries, I had to rent a room in a house because an apt costs too much, and start carpooling to save money on

gas, to name a few. It’s hard to depend on others when a teacher’s salary should be adequate enough to live

independently. The differentials have now allowed me to save money and live independently enough that I’d

rather stay teaching in Hawaii instead of returning back to NYC. Everyone knows the importance of having

qualified teachers especially in special ed. These are the students who need the most support in school.

I ask for the BOE to continue the differentials for the sake of me and all the other educators that it has finally

helped to stay teaching in Hawaii. Data has shown it has made a big difference and there is no reason to

discontinue this, a 66% reduction in vacancies in the shortage areas. We need to retain these teachers. Please

stop Superintendent Christina Kishimoto’s from ending the differentials.

Thank you for your consideration.

Michelle DeBaldo, M.Ed.

2nd Grade Special Educ Teacher

King Kamehameha III Elementary School

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Testimony BOE

From: Suzanne Goodrich <suza[email protected]> on behalf of Suzanne Goodrich

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 8:51 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony for Action Item A in Thursday's "special meeting" on Shortage Differentials

Dear Board of Education,

My name is Suzanne Goodrich, and I am a special educator in my 9th year at Radford High

School who would like to testify on Action Item A: Superintendent's proposal to discontinuance

shortage differentials for special educators for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year.

I am writing to ask you not to approve Superintendent Kishimoto's proposal to terminate the shortage

differentials as this initiative decreased vacancies in place for hard to staff areas during such a

challenging school year. As a special education teacher for the past 16 years, the stress and

expectations put on us this year have been intense to say the least. Within the first quarter, IEP meeting had to

be held for all of our special needs students in order to address potential regression caused by the 4th

quarter school closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic and to articulate individualized distance learning

plans. As obstacles popped up with regards to distance learning, we were contacting parents, modifying our

curriculum to support students' social and emotional needs, and arranging ways to bring our most

vulnerable students back on campus. The additional pay we are currently receiving is a welcome compensation

for the countless hours spent gathering and analyzing student work samples, coordinating

participation in IEP meetings, and tailoring goals and objectives to meet students at their current

levels of ability. The valuable work that we do with our most vulnerable students doesn't stop at the

end of the school day despite the current restraints caused by social distancing.

Personally, the additional pay afforded by the shortage differential has enabled me to take two

professional development courses as I work towards increasing my salary range and step. In the fall I

took a Digital Citizenship course which provided me with great instructional practices and resources

to help my struggling readers become more knowledgeable about their responsibilities in the digital

world and potential dangers to avoid with regards to social media and unreliable sources of fake news

online. I am currently taking a Pacific Poetry course which is equipping me with techniques to help

students develop their poetic voices to use spoken word as a way to inspire audiences and speak out

about social injustices. The additional take-home pay from the $10,000 shortage differential also

allowed me to be able to fly to Virginia over the holidays to be with my 77 year old father who

suffered seizures in Nov. and was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor. Lastly, it has also

enabled me to begin saving money for my 10 year old's college education. There's only $2,000 in her

account, however, it's a start that eases my worries about her future.

I fear that discontinuing the funding of shortage differentials that was promised to thousands of

teachers who are working hard in their current positions is very under-handed. There are special

educators who were teaching in the general education setting but chose to return to the demands of

special education in order to help fill important hard-to-staff positions. This mid-year change

may cause professionals like myself to have to look for additional income elsewhere - which could

impact the quality of education they are able to provide their keiki with on a daily basis. The proposed

salary cuts for next year will only compound problems in schools as many seasoned teachers may

have to leave the state. Having to train new teachers and put inexperienced educators in special

education classrooms will take a toll on the learning community and further impact students who are

trying hard to remain optimistic while their sense of normalcy has been turned upside-down.

Mahalo for taking the time to read my testimony and considering it in your decision making. I truly

hope you will choose to continue to fund the much-needed and well deserved compensation for

classroom teachers in special education and hard-to-staff geographical locations for the 2020-2021

school year.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Goodrich, M. Ed.

This is a staff email account managed by Hawaii Department Of Education School District. This email and any files

transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are

addressed. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender.

Testimony BOE

From: Melissa Montoya <[email protected]> on behalf of Melissa Montoya

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 8:59 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Melissa Montoya

Instructional Coach

Kamaile Academy PCS

re: Shortage Differentials and Use of Federal funds

Aloha mai kākou,

Mahalo for everything you do for our keiki. I’m writing now to ask for you to keep shortage differentials in

place and fully use Federal funds for our haumāna. I have seen first hand the impact of the revolving door of

kumu that come through our campus. As an instructional coach, I have the opportunity to get to know the

students AND the teachers quite well and the common thread is inequities in education, where they cannot stay

due to finances or fulfill every educational need for all their students. The students often talk about how long a

kumu will stay or leave, unable to form a bond with them. We know it is a problem; we see that the differentials

effectively help to solve the problem; we know cutting jobs is not the answer; we know creating larger class

rosters is not the answer. Please ensure the differentials will remain and we will fully fund public education.

Mahalo for your time.

Testimony BOE

From: Ani Van Eps <[email protected]> on behalf of Ani Van Eps

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 9:00 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony from Molokai

Aloha,IhaveaSpecialNeedschildthathasbenefitedtremendouslyfromtheProgramatMolokaiHigh.Iseethese

teachersandEA’sgoingtheextramileforthesekids.PLEASEDONOTREMOVETHEDIFFERENTIALS.Theseteachers

spendextratimeandinmanycasestheirownmoneyonsupplies.WeneedhomegrownteachersandEA’sandifyou

removethedifferentials,wewilllosepeopleandhavetodrawonoutsideHawaiiforpeoplewhowillnotstay!!!Iam

surethereareotherplacestocutthebudget,butourchildren’sfutureisnottherightplace.Mahalo,Ani

Testimony BOE

From: Beth Conroy-Humphrey <ebchump@gmail.com> on behalf of Beth Conroy-Humphrey

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 9:11 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

Dear Board of Education,

I want you all to know how important it is for the differentials to continue and that I am testifying in support of

Action Item A.This is for the Special Meeting, regarding Superintendent Christina Kishimoto's discontinuance

of extra compensation for classroom teachers in special education, hard-to-staff geographical locations, and

Hawaiian language programs. I urge ALL board members to STOP the superintendent's plan to discontinue

shortage differentials. I live on the island of Lana'i and am an academic guidance counselor at Lanai High &

Elementary School. I have been an educator here since 1995. Being an educator on a neighbor island is

amazing yet challenging. The cost of groceries and gas is outrageous. I try hard to support local stores yet

when I grocery shop and pay $50 for a half bag of groceries it is challenging to support myself and my family o

four. The differentials for being an educator on a neighbor island provide me the ability to pay my mortgage,

buy food, and basics for my family. Also, when the cost of living is so high I am continually considering

leaving Hawaii to the mainland where the cost of living is less. I know that Hawaii has a shortage of educators

and the shortage differential helps keep educators in Hawaii.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Conroy-Humphrey

Testimony BOE

From: Bob Lehardy <[email protected]> on behalf of Bob Lehardy

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 9:12 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony for Action Item A, Hawaii Board of Education Special Meeting scheduled for

Thursday, February 18, 2021

Aloha,

My name is Bob Lehardy. I am a special education teacher at Kapa’a High School on the island of

Kaua’i.

I come today to ask you to reject our Superintendent’s plan to discontinue the shortage differentials

as outlined in her memo of February 9th, 2021.

My rationale is based on the following:

 Hawaii continues to have teacher shortages in certain fields

 The HI DOE and the Board of Education developed the shortage differential pay program to

address those shortages

 In one year, based on the data provided in the Superintendent’s Feb 9 2021 memo, the

program appears to be working across all three shortage areas (special education, hard to

staff locations and Hawaiian Language)

So, the program appears to be working.

I am aware of the State’s budget issues at the moment. With the Legislature in session, and with the

expectation for more Federal funding, I am hopeful that the DOE and the Board can find a way to

continue funding for this program.

I am also fearful that if these differentials are discontinued, the progress that we have made in these

shortage areas will be undone.

Respectfully

Robert A. Lehardy

Testimony BOE

From: shelby Cruz <shelbycruz@kapaahs.k12.hi.us> on behalf of shelby Cruz

Sent:

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 9:14 AM

To:

[email protected]

Subject:

Testimony

My name is Shelby Cruz. I live on the island of Kauai and work at Kapaa High School. I work in a

Special Education/ Life Skills / Community Based Instruction classroom. I have worked as an

Educational Assistant for the last 20 years.

I am testifying in support of Action Item A.

I work under one of the best S

ecial Education teachers I have ever met. The effort and dedication she

puts into her classroom and students every day is unbelievable. Day in and day out she makes sure

her students have everything they need to be successful in her classroom. These students are so lucky

to have her as their teacher. She not only puts in the effort but spends her OWN money week after

week. She is a single mother of 3 who worked 2 jobs to make ends meet. She lost her second

ob due to

Covid. She is barely hanging on each month to pay her bills. She was so excited and proud to receive

the differential. Taking it away she won't make it. She will have to leave the job that she truly loves.

The students that are in her class are the ones that will suffer the most b

not havin

a hi

ualified

teacher lead them. To think what this will do not only to our sped program but every sped program in

our state is absolutely disgusting. My brother in law is a highly qualified sped teacher on Maui. He

packed up his family and sold everything to move to Hawaii from Alaska. He will now have to once

again sell everything and move back to the mainland. He and his family love it here. It is the best job

he has never had. But they can not make it with the differential and pay cuts. They are sadly planning

on moving. My daughter graduates this year from the University of Hawaii. All she's ever wanted was

to be a teacher. She is graduating from the College of Education. She is so excited to graduate and be

in her own classroom. What does this sa

to her? That the DOE does not care about educators? That it

as a waste of time to become a teacher? I am an educational assistant. What will ha

en to m

ob? I

am proud of the work that I do. I am proud to go to work everyday. I work for my love of the students

not for the little pay that I get. And now I will take a pay cut? And what basically work for free?

ill I

lose my job as well?

I can't express enough on what this will do to schools in Hawaii. Do you not care at all about the keiki

of Hawaii? Do you not want the best highly qualified teachers to teach these students? Our students

deserve the very best education possible. You are looking for law suits from smart parents that know

the IDEA law. Parents are going to be furious and rightfully so.

I hope and pray the right thing is done. To show teachers, students and parents that the job teachers

due is valuable, respected and appreciated in the state of Hawaii.