(ED NOTE: No details of the proposed settlement are yet available.  Stay tuned.)

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle issued the following statement today regarding a preliminary settlement with the Hawai‘i State Teachers Association (HSTA):

“I appreciate the Department and Board of Education taking the lead in these negotiations, in coordination with my negotiation team, to work toward reaching an agreement with the HSTA that is in the best interest of teachers, our students and the general public, and that recognizes our growing budget shortfall.

“My negotiation team, including the budget director and the attorney general, are currently reviewing the proposed contract and I hope to reach a decision soon.

“I appreciate the public’s patience as we continue dealing with a widening budget deficit while trying to make certain we maintain the highest quality education possible under the circumstances.”

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SB: HSTA announces preliminary deal for contract

The announcement is the first sign of any movement in the contentious talks between the state and the unions representing public employees that have been going for more than nine months.

On Friday, Lingle met with Randy Perreira, executive director of the state’s largest public worker union, the Hawaii Government Employees Association. Neither side would comment after last week’s talks, although earlier in the week, Lingle had said she thought the sides were coming together.

Lingle does not have the legal authority to impose either layoffs or furloughs on the teachers, so she had restricted the state’s school budget by the same amount as would be saved by three-day per month furloughs.

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Hon Adv: Lingle reviewing proposed contract deal between state, teachers union

Earlier, Wil Okabe, the HSTA's president, said the union, educators and the state have made "significant strides" toward a new contract.

"HSTA, the Department of Education (DOE) and Board of Education (BOE) have made significant strides in negotiating a contract for public school teachers," Okabe said in a statement.

"HSTA shared a preliminary settlement with its board on Sunday; however, the contract is pending as HSTA, the DOE and BOE await the governor's approval. We will share details of the tentative settlement as soon as there are further substantive developments."

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PBN: State, HSTA reach contract agreement

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