GOP: 3% PROFESSIONAL DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED NOW

SHOULD BE FOR TWO YEARS

The House Republicans released the following statement:

We feel strongly that settlement of the teachers' contract is long overdue. All 19 of us strongly support making the provision for a 3% differential to teachers with master's degrees and professional diplomas for each year of the two-year contract. Everyone could see the teacher shortage coming and lack of action by the administration has only worsened the situation.

The present crisis is twofold. Qualified teachers are leaving the system and we haven't enough incentives to attract other qualified teachers currently not teaching. The professional certificate differential will serve both goals. But it should be for two years, not one.

The State of Hawaii should be embarrassed to see its State Superintendent go begging on television and in print for qualified teachers. With meaningful incentives we should find them. It's time to settle the contract and the two-year differential issue now.

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