With only five days left until Hawaii’s 13,000 public-school teachers are scheduled to strike, the state’s Department of Education has finalized several contingency plans if the walk-out does occur. In a press conference Friday morning, state schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu
With only five days left until Hawaii’s 13,000 public-school teachers are scheduled to strike, the state’s Department of Education has finalized several contingency plans if the walk-out does occur.
In a press conference Friday morning, state schools Superintendent Paul LeMahieu — flanked by several members of the Board of Education — fielded questions about the possible strike, and presented an open letter to the public about the department’s plans for the first several days after the strike.
The main steps to be taken include:
– Ceasing all classes to students for at least April 5 and 6, during which students cannot enter school grounds and parents are being encouraged to find childcare.
– Expecting all DOE employees, except for the striking members of the Hawai’i State Teachers Association, to report to their respective schools for work.
– Spending the first two days of the strike assessing the school’s “capacity to care for and provide instructional services to students.”
– Incrementally opening schools as early as April 9 based on adult support.
LeMahieu said certain grades may be reopened earlier than others, with younger students and eighth and 12th graders given priority.
– Announcing school openings no later than the day before at 4:30 p.m.
Such information will be released by the DOE’s “Strike Information” Web site at www.doe.k12.hi.us/strike and local “hot line” telephone number at 274-3141.
The teacher’s union — which has been without a contract since January 1999 — has been requesting a 22 percent increase over four years, while the state has offered 9 percent raises.
