[ TEACHER STRIKE ]
Rep. David Pendleton got a visit from his son's teacher last month -- not for anything his son did, but for actions the teacher wanted the Windward Oahu lawmaker to take as thousands of striking teachers converged on the state Capitol to lobby the Legislature. Striking teachers
took center stageCayetano OKs $43
million for Felix decreeBy Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin"I thought that was a good exercise of the legislative process," said Pendleton (R, Enchanted Lake).
Whether it was a temporary distraction or a glaring reminder of unfixed problems, the strike by teachers and professors which shut down public education walked hand in hand with the Legislature's session this spring, driving the work of lawmakers and leaving an impression for years to come.
"I think the fact the Legislature and the strike were moving simultaneously made the Legislature aware of the fact that the teachers were committed to getting their salaries increased," said Joan Husted, executive director of the Hawaii State Teachers Association. "I think legislators were reintroduced to teachers as a significant political force."
The HSTA and the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly went on strike April 5, paralyzing public education from kindergarten through graduate school.
The impact on the Legislature could be seen in many ways.
The political mobilization of teachers was a surprise to union leaders because teachers appeared disillusioned following broken political promises since the 1998 election.
But the strike was a rallying cry and thousands of teachers headed to the Capitol carrying a torch of optimism with change in mind, Husted said. "That's good for everybody. Apathy is the downfall of democracy."
While Gov. Ben Cayetano called for more money for textbooks and computers early on in the session, the teachers union wanted the money saved for salary hikes.
Not knowing what the magical salary number would end up being, funding for other things remained in limbo until near the end of session, after the strike was settled.
"I think because of the uncertainty over the amount of money for the salaries, it can't help but to practically paralyze the Legislature," said John Friedman, president of the Hawaii State Parent Teacher Student Association.
"I think from my point the strike was definitely a distraction," said Carl Takamura, executive director of the Hawaii Business Roundtable, who tracks education bills.
Takamura said while lawmakers were dealing with bills on salaries, professional development, working conditions, teacher recruitment and retention, teachers were bringing those issues to life on the picket line and in their lobbying speeches.
For example, a package of teacher quality bills that passed this session may not have fared well had there been no strike, Takamura said.
"Going into the session, there was a concern whether the Legislature would understand the issue and give it priority. The strike helped with that," Takamura said.
The strike may have hit home for lawmakers still struggling to reform Hawaii's public school system, Pendleton said.
"You could say (the strike) was a reminder. It's a reminder of textbooks, classroom supplies. It reminds all of us of the other things involved in public education," he said.
"Now that we've solved the immediate crisis, what will we do to make education work?"
Cayetano OKs $43 million for Felix decree
Star-Bulletin staff
Gov. Ben Cayetano has signed into law two bills providing more than $43 million to two state departments to meet the demands of the Felix consent decree.
Senate Bill 1127 adds $42 million to the emergency appropriation for services provided by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division so the state Department of Health can fulfill its consent decree requirements.
Senate Bill 1106 makes a $1.8 million emergency appropriation enabling the Department of Human Services to fulfill consent decree requirements. The money will be used to:
>> Hire interagency case coordinators and case aides to deliver direct and support services to children.Other bills signed by Cayetano include:>> Hire foster parents and social workers involved with court-ordered benchmarks.
>> Recruit and support foster parents for special-needs children.
>> Expand child welfare services.
>> Senate Bill 630, Senate Draft 1, permitting local wineries to ship up to two cases of their wines for personal use directly to customers 21 and older in a state with a reciprocal shipping law. It also allows Hawaii residents to purchase up to two cases of wine from mainland wineries and have them shipped to Hawaii. Wines may not be used for resale. Out-of-state wine manufacturers that are authorized to ship wine are required to submit a shipping invoice to the liquor commission for each delivery into Hawaii. The act becomes effective July 1.>> Gulf war veterans will be able to receive special veteran license plates starting Oct. 1. Senate Bill 205, Senate Draft 1, added those involved in the Gulf war along with veterans who served in Vietnam or Korea to obtain special license plates.
>> In Senate Bill 1406, Admission Day, recognized on the third Friday of August, has been renamed Statehood Day.
Gov. Ben Cayetano has signed into law two bills providing more than $43 million to two state departments to meet the demands of the Felix consent decree. Cayetano OKs $43
million for Felix decreeStar-Bulletin staff
Senate Bill 1127 adds $42 million to the emergency appropriation for services provided by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Division so the state Department of Health can fulfill its consent decree requirements.
Senate Bill 1106 makes a $1.8 million emergency appropriation enabling the Department of Human Services to fulfill consent decree requirements. The money will be used to:
>> Hire interagency case coordinators and case aides to deliver direct and support services to children.
>> Hire foster parents and social workers involved with court-ordered benchmarks.
>> Recruit and support foster parents for special-needs children.
>> Expand child welfare services.
Other bills signed by Cayetano include:
>> Senate Bill 630, Senate Draft 1, permitting local wineries to ship up to two cases of their wines for personal use directly to customers 21 and older in a state with a reciprocal shipping law. It also allows Hawaii residents to purchase up to two cases of wine from mainland wineries and have them shipped to Hawaii. Wines may not be used for resale. Out-of-state wine manufacturers that are authorized to ship wine are required to submit a shipping invoice to the liquor commission for each delivery into Hawaii. The act becomes effective July 1.
>> Gulf war veterans will be able to receive special veteran license plates starting Oct. 1. Senate Bill 205, Senate Draft 1, added those involved in the Gulf war along with veterans who served in Vietnam or Korea to obtain special license plates.
>> In Senate Bill 1406, Admission Day, recognized on the third Friday of August, has been renamed Statehood Day.
>> HSTA Web site
>> State Web site
>> Governor's strike Web site
>> DOE Web site
>> UHPA Web site
