STATEMENT BY GOVERNOR LINDA LINGLE ON HSTA SETTLEMENT

For Immediate Release: September 18, 2009

“I am pleased that the State has reached a settlement with the Hawai‘i State Teachers Association.  This was a collaborative effort with the Department of Education and Board of Education taking the lead in the negotiations, in coordination with the Administration’s negotiating team. I appreciate the hard work and commitment of all the parties involved in the negotiations. 

“This has not been a normal or easy process given the unprecedented economic and fiscal challenges, and there are things that none of us necessarily wanted to do, but that we had to do in order to address the growing budget shortfall, and live within our means.

“We greatly value our teachers and respect the work they do every day to teach our children.  I appreciate the patience they have demonstrated throughout this process. 

“It is important now that we all move forward so that our teachers can focus on their students to ensure they get the best possible education.”

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For more information, contact:
Lenny Klompus 
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043