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Keith Hayashi has been running the statewide school system for nearly a year, dealing with a pandemic, staffing shortages and other problems.

Public school students have been eligible for free breakfast and lunch during the pandemic through a program that is set to expire in June.

The resistance makes the road to passage more difficult for Senate Bill 2819, which proposes a one-time salary adjustment for veteran teachers whose pay does not reflect their years of experience.

A veteran deaf educator — hired to lead the Hawaii School for the Deaf and the Blind in 2016 — was demoted by the area superintendent in 2019 without proper cause.

Lawmakers are considering programs to boost the pay of child care workers and offer stipends to early childhood educators.

The appointed board approved a revised job description on Thursday after lengthy debate over whether to require a master’s degree for eligibility.

Many families could use financial assistance to help defray the cost of extra educational support during the pandemic, according to a local nonprofit.

Lawmakers are debating whether to fund pay increases for veteran teachers and hard-to-staff positions.

While stressing the importance of in-person instruction, the DOE said it needs to offer an array of learning opportunities, including a virtual option.