I hope that the people of Hawaii realize what the governor is doing. She is not negotiating in good faith with the HSTA. It is an egregious breach of conduct for the governor and her staff to speak to the media during these negotiations. Even going so far as her negotiators publishing an opinion piece on an alternate media site.

It seems deceitful to tell the people of Hawaii that the negotiation with the HSTA on furloughs is a simple task to accomplish. For her proposed solution it would be necessary to negate a contract that is currently in force. It would involve calling in the legislature and the cost that that entails. By the governor requesting a vote by HSTA members and addressing them and the public is a violation of HRS Chapter 89.

How can Eric Seitz be speaking to the media about the negotiations? Is he a party to the negotiations? If he is a party, why is he? He is not a party to the contract. Is he in the room? For that matter is the governor in the room? Is he now saying that the support staff involved with special needs students is no longer needed?

What should be happening is answering these questions. Will there be any unintended consequences? What about the requirements for compliance to NCLB? What about test scores? What about the schools under restructuring?

A few years ago the governor stated her staff had a hard time with the 5th grade HSA test. So here is a little math problem that has bothered me. If teachers give up 15 planning days and they are to replace the 15 furlough days. What then happens to the original planning days? Do teachers now teach on those days also for a total of 30 more days or do the furlough days simply be moved and you still have furlough days and teachers now have no planning time? Or do teachers now work 15 additional days for free?

But there is a simple solution furloughs go away. To paraphrase Ronald Reagan; Governor restore the 14% budget restriction to education.

Rep Marcus Oshiro

Watching Marcus on the Hot Seat. Will be printed Sunday Advertiser. Worth reading.

The governor is pointing fingers at the HSTA?

A reminder is necessary that it was the governor who brought up furlough days. A reminder is necessary that it was the governor who restricted the funds to the DOE by 14% to equal furlough day savings. This should imply that she wanted furlough days. Her statement that she and the legislature have consensus on a solution ignores the fact that there is a contract that she agreed to, in force. She further ignores the fact that the employer requested those professional development days.

What are the consequences of asking teachers to give up their planning and professional development days? Will other state departments give up their planning days? Will the DOT, DOH, DAGS and B&F do their planning outside the workday? Will they give up their professional development and not be responsible for knowledge of new technology or research in their fields? Does the governor believe things can improve without planning or improving? Does her administration recommend not planning or improving? I believe that is how we got to where we are.

Entering the last year of her administration the governor’s recent scorecard is the recent audit of DBEDT, Furlough Fridays, state government layoffs, a projected tenfold increase in unemployment insurance taxes and the closing of 97 voting precincts. A proud set of accomplishments. Remember when pointing a finger at someone else there are three pointing back at you.

Does the governor know government?

The governor displays a lack of knowledge on the process of government. She announces a solution to furloughs without acknowledging that the HSTA must look at it and give back further rights that they had bargained for. She neglects the fact that there is a contract that provides these rights in effect. She neglects the fact that HGEA has a contract that remains with furloughs and there is no contract with UPW. She neglects the fact that what she proposes does not solve the problem.

And how can a republican senator keep saying that the DOE has $2.7 billion when he should know that the governor has imposed spending restrictions. That portion of that amount is for debt service. That portion of that amount is for CIP projects. The DOE may have been allocated that amount but has never received it.

It seems that members of the republican party are more concerned with the governor’s office than public education. They are more concerned with announcing who is to blame if it fails than solving the problem. They are more concerned of finding fault with the HSTA, the BOE and the DOE than taking responsibility and solving the problem.


Egan Kawamoto

From the Advertiser

Dear Editor,

It seems interesting how the public is reacting to furloughs in the department of education. The governor presented the issue of furloughs months ago. It was the primary reason for public worker contracts taking so long to be resolved. It was interesting that the state’s chief negotiator has said that furloughs were the product of the DOE, BOE and HSTA.

Public sentiment at the time backed furloughs. Furloughs were a requirement. The budget for education was restricted by an additional 14%. Which is the amount of furlough savings the governor demanded. While the teachers would like no furloughs it is unreasonable to ask them to work for less pay and less resources. At a time when the economy is weak and teachers are spending more of their personal income for supplies does less pay and less resources make sense?

Teachers have done more with less for years. Spending their own money, fundraising for necessities and getting very little respect.

If the governor is really concerned about the budget deficit do it like the teachers. I would suggest Portuguese Sausage, Chili or maybe Chicken.

Egan Kawamoto

Ewa Beach

808-292-4986

From the Advertiser

Dear Editor,

It seems interesting how the public is reacting to furloughs in the department of education. The governor presented the issue of furloughs months ago. It was the primary reason for public worker contracts taking so long to be resolved. It was interesting that the state’s chief negotiator has said that furloughs were the product of the DOE, BOE and HSTA.

Public sentiment at the time backed furloughs. Furloughs were a requirement. The budget for education was restricted by an additional 14%. Which is the amount of furlough savings the governor demanded. While the teachers would like no furloughs it is unreasonable to ask them to work for less pay and less resources. At a time when the economy is weak and teachers are spending more of their personal income for supplies does less pay and less resources make sense?

Teachers have done more with less for years. Spending their own money, fundraising for necessities and getting very little respect.

If the governor is really concerned about the budget deficit do it like the teachers. I would suggest Portuguese Sausage, Chili or maybe Chicken.

Egan Kawamoto

Ewa Beach

808-292-4986

Furlough Fridays

This will be the first Furlough Friday coming up. A few things you can do:

1. Don't spend money. Try not to spend money on Furlough Fridays. While the governor insists she needs to save money, wht she needs to do is build consumer confidence. Furloughs do the exact opposite.
2. Do not extend Wednesdays. You are not responsible for the furloughs. Your assistance to this only reinforces her position. You are overpaid!!!
3. Answer any questions about the furloughs by referring them to the governor. Remind people that that is what she wanted.