TEACHERS CONTRACT HINGES ON LAST BALLOTS

Hawai'i teachers will have to wait for absentee ballots to be turned
in by Wednesday before they'll know whether they have a new contract
that calls for pay raises and random drug testing.

Some 60 percent of Hawai'i's teachers -- or nearly 8,000 people --
cast ballots at 25 polling places on all islands yesterday on whether
to accept a new two-year contract.

But 1,900 absentee ballots are still outstanding and "could sway the
outcome of the vote," the union's president, Roger Takabayashi, said
last night.

Teachers have until Wednesday to turn in their absentee ballots, when
the results of the votes will be announced, he said.

If approved, the contract would allow mandatory random drug testing
of teachers and drug tests for cause.

The proposal also would give the more than 13,000 members of the
Hawai'i State Teachers Association a 4 percent raise at the start of
the next school year, a step movement in the second semester and
another 4 percent raise at the start of the second semester in 2008.

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 per year
under the agreement.

But the issue of teacher drug testing divided the HSTA, which decided
not to endorse the latest offer.

Takabayashi believes this is the first time the union's board of
directors has sent a tentative contract to its members without a
recommendation either for or against a contract proposal.

Delegates to the HSTA's annual convention this month were divided
over the Lingle administration's drug-testing proposal.

Yesterday, Ai Curt and Rita Kalaukoa, both social studies teachers at
Kalani High School, voted against the proposed contract because of
the drug-testing provision.

"Our arms are being twisted by the governor," Kalaukoa said. "It's
basically take it or leave it."

Kalaukoa believes that the 13,000 unionized teachers are "being used
as political pawns in this game. That's what's angering so many teachers."

"I'm a parent, too, and I understand what they're trying to get at
with drug testing," she said. "But I'm not playing this game."

Debbie Nishihira, a computer teacher at Kuhio Elementary School,
voted for the contract proposal but wants to see clear procedures for
addressing the issue of false-positive test results among teachers.

"I'm hoping they work out the kinks for false positives," Nishihira said.

If ratified, the agreement will require the HSTA to work with the
state to design drug testing procedures by June 30, 2008. Takabayashi
said the union would press for safeguards in the program.

HSTA officials have been working to debunk false information that the
proposal requires retirees to pay for their own medical coverage.

But Nolan Nakashima, a second-grade teacher at Wilson Elementary,
still voted against the contract proposal "just to get some more
time" to ensure the contract does not jeopardize retirees' medical coverage.

The contract would raise starting pay for new teachers from $39,901
to $43,157. For teachers with about 15 years of experience, a
master's degree and some additional credit hours, annual pay would
increase from $59,566 to $66,359 at the end of the contract.

Pay for the most experienced teachers with more than 33 years
experience would rise from $73,197 to $79,170.

Sharon Kunihisa, a third-grade teacher at Wilson Elementary, voted
for the contract, even though she would have preferred a bigger pay raise.

The issue of drug testing didn't factor into her vote, because
Kunihisa understands that "it gives parents peace of mind."

Mark Brilhante, a peer education teacher at Kalani High School, also
voted for the contract and has no issue with the drug-testing provision.

"I'm drug-free so they can test me any day of the week, any day of
the month," Brilhante said.

He understands that other teachers have concerns over false results.
But overall, Brilhante decided, "It's a pretty fair contract so I voted yes."

Brilhante served as a strike captain during the the statewide teacher
strike that paralyzed public schools for three weeks in 2001.

Like other teachers, Brilhante said he voted for the contract rather
than risk another strike.

Yesterday's 60 percent teacher turnout surprised Takabayashi.

"We thought it would be higher," Takabayashi said, considering how
controversial the contract has been.