They still have a long way to go toward reaching Hawaii’s Race to the Top goals, but this could be a step in the right direction:

The Hawaii State Teachers Association and state reached a tentative agreement that would mean teachers in the state’s two Zones of School Innovation work longer days and get 12 more days of training per year.

They would get paid almost 20 percent more for the extra time. They will vote Feb. 27.

A message from President Wil Okabe posted to the union’s website is optimistic:

Dear Colleagues:

The HSTA Board of Directors, Negotiations Committee, and I are pleased to announce that we have a tentative agreement for extended learning time in the Race to the Top Zone schools and the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind. These schools have been working collaboratively with the DOE for over a year and are looking forward to this settlement.

Details of the one-year agreement will be shared with the affected teachers in the coming days. Teachers in these schools will have a ratification vote on Monday, February 27, 2012. If you would like to see the tentative agreement highlights, please see the link below:

We believe that this milestone is an opportunity for all our members. It recognizes the true value of a teacher’s extended time with fair compensation for longer 8 hour days and 12 additional days for professional development. We know there are more challenges and opportunities that we face with other elements of RTTT, including teacher evaluations. This agreement for the Zone teachers is a straightforward pact covering extended learning time. We are hopeful this collaborative momentum gives us a good foundation for the HSTA and the State to build upon in a master agreement for all teachers.

Teachers, students, and schools need the tools and resources to be successful. We regard this agreement as a win for students who will get much needed additional learning time and a win for teachers who will have the essential added time needed to plan and collaborate in schools that have been identified as critically needing added supports.

Please be assured that the teacher representatives on your Negotiations Team and the HSTA Board of Directors are actively working on the master agreement. We will continue to keep you apprised of developments and progress on the collective bargaining agreement settlement.

Sincerely, 
Wil Okabe,
President

The Associated Press also reports.