HIDOE Employees to Begin Remote Work March 19, School Closure Extended

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education will close its offices except for essential functions effective Thursday, March 19.

Schools will close March 30 following the extension of spring break. Employee return dates will be staggered. Students are anticipated to return to school April 7, pending any additional developments.

HIDOE employees will be working remotely and those who need to perform duties at a campus or office during this period will be limited to those tasks before returning to their telework arrangement.

The Department will be meeting internally and with key stakeholders today to finalize logistics.

Additional details will be made public at a press conference on Thursday, March 19 at 3 p.m.

The information comes on the heels of a prohibited practice complaint filed by the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association with the Hawaiʻi Labor Relations Board over Governor David Ige’s plan directing teachers to return to public schools on March 23, while all other non-essential government employees are being asked to stay home for 15 days.

Further the HSTA claimed the previously planned resumption of instruction for students on March 30th contradicts federal and state guidance that people should not gather in groups of 10 or more.