Random drug testing for teachers approved in Hawii.
May 3, 2007 - Teachers in Hawaii approved a new contract that includes random drug testing. The union had waited to announce the vote reporting that it was too close to call. However, The Hawaii State Teachers Association announced that 63 percent of 13,000 teachers participated in the ratification vote, with 61.3 percent approving and 38.2 percent disapproving.
Education Week [subscription] reported that Roger Takabayashi, the president of HSTA, said his members “feel disrespected” by the way in which the testing provision was tied to the pay raise, which brings a starting teacher’s salary in the state to $43,157 a year, from $39,901. [If so, they were in a minority.]
The details of the drug testing have yet to be worked out, but principals will not be allowed to suggest drug testing for a teacher nor will a principal see the results.
TT BACKGROUND: After several drug arrests for possession and distribution by teachers in Hawaii in the last six months, there is a tentative agreement in the new union contracts for random drug testing.
But at an enormous cost to taxpayers.
An 8% raise in salary for all members. If approved by teachers, the settlement could bring salaries of a newly hired certified teacher - just out of college - with a bachelor's degree and up to six years' experience to $44,451 per year by the end of the contract in June 2009.
Teachers who serve as band directors, drama coaches, chorus directors, grade level chairpersons and agricultural teachers also would see their supplementary pay increase by 25 percent each year under the agreement.
In exchange, the union "agreed" to random drug testing. Sorta.
As part of a new contract, HSTA agreed to work with the Department of Education to develop a random drug and alcohol testing program for all teachers that would be implemented by June 2008.There's the loophole, and you knew there had to be one if the union agreed to drug testing. The union will help develop the drug testing policy.
And indication of how the union will make sure how ineffectual the policy will be is how teachers will be selected for testing. The teachers won't be selected for testing by their direct supervisor -- the principal.
Officials declined to say how the testing would be done, but the contract says "principals will not select teachers for random drug testing, nor will they or the DOE administer or read the results of the testing."Nor will the principal be informed of the results.
You can also bet that the teacher will not be fired for drug abuse. They will receive disability while they get treatment, probably paid for by taxpayers, and with continued salary -- at least enough to continue union dues.
A sample of how to elude accountabilityis a bill before the Legislature would subject all public school employees who work close to children to drug testing if there is reasonable suspicion they are intoxicated. Not if they are suspected of long-time drug abuse. They have to be on drugs or drunk to form "reasonable suspicion."
This is how unions make sure there is no reform in schools.
