Aloha,

Last month, Hawai'i’s inaugural appointed Board of Education (BOE) released its first-year Report on Public Education, outlining innovative action designed to improve student achievement, service support and staff development. The report shows that this dedicated volunteer board has not hesitated to make necessary changes and, in just one year, has succeeded in making bold strides in transforming education in Hawai'i so that we are better investing in our keiki's future.

I invite you to watch this video to learn more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls1TkNyUAmw

Afterward, I encourage you to read the BOE’s report at: www.HawaiiBOE.net

Warmest Regards,

Governor Neil Abercrombie
hawaii.gov/gov

  *   *   *   *   *

REALITY:

What $300M? Abercrombie Suddenly Admits Surplus Does Not Exist

HNN: …in May, teachers voted to accept the same contract they turned down in January even though the governor said that the agreement was no longer valid.

"Since then, the economy has gotten better, the governor has said there's a surplus of about $300-million, so we are very perplexed as to why the agreement cannot be accepted," said Okabe.

A statement from the governor's office says:

"Mr. Okabe is mistaken to characterize the administration's news of good fiscal management as a "surplus." There remain many financial obligations and unfunded liabilities which we are working to get a handle on instead of pretending they're not there."

According to the state, the Attorney General says an offer terminated by rejection cannot be later revived by a subsequent purported acceptance.

In a letter dated July 25th, the governor's chief negotiator tells HSTA President Wil Okabe:

"The employer and HSTA must resume bargaining in order to reach a new tentative agreement. Nothing precludes the parties from considering the provisions of prior tentative agreements."

That's something Okabe was pleased to hear and says that will be discussed with the board of directors in a meeting this week.

"HSTA is always willing to talk; I believe that the last tentative agreement is a message from our members to look at this situation about how the economy has improved, with the access of $300-million."

·       Abercrombie was lying: “Governor: Hawaii ends fiscal year $300M in black”

·       HFP was right: “Abercrombie's $306M Claim Relies on Financial Sleight-of-Hand”

read … Abercrombie Admits he made the whole thing up

MORE REALITY:

·       Failing, DoE Asks Feds for Permission to Scrap AYP Testing

·       Coverup: DoE changes tests, surveys to create illusion of progress

·       DoE Boosts Test Scores by Giving Answers to Students

·       Hawaii DoE Cheating Scandal: Teachers blocked from Prompting Answers, Proficiency drops from 62% to 4%