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State school Superintendent Paul LeMahieu says it "looks like we're headed to the brink" of a schoolteachers' strike. Schools chief:
Strike could happenLeMahieu says it appears 'we're
headed to the brink' in AprilStar-Bulletin staff
But "my responsibility is keeping the schools open, and the kids safe and educated," he said in comments made before The Organization of Women Leaders yesterday at the Pacific Club.
LeMahieu said if a strike occurs, it will probably start April 5, following the spring break, when schools are closed.
"Most likely, the teachers will return the first two days of April to qualify for health benefits," then start the strike, he said.
Once a strike is under way, the schools will be closed for a day or two to assess "how many people have come to work" and be available to supervise the students. Then on a school by school basis, it will be decided which ones have enough adults to stay open, LeMahieu said.
"The safety of the children is my first concern," he said.
Teachers are scheduled to take a strike vote tomorrow.
The Hawaii Labor Relations Board can decide as early as March 14 whether special education teachers and aides are "essential workers" and are required to go to work. LeMahieu said he is optimistic the labor board will allow this to happen.