After weeks of discussion, the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board has approved the district’s 2026 spending plan totaling more than $340 million.
The district’s share of the property tax rate will rise slightly to 1.1476, up from 1.1433 in 2025. HSE Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown told board members the small increase is due to changes in assessed property valuations.
State funding for local school districts is based on enrollment, and HSE saw a decline of 409 students this school year. The district reported an enrollment of 20,289 students to the state this month, compared to 20,698 a year ago.
As part of the new budget, HSE will replace 15 school buses out of its 320-vehicle fleet at a cost of $3 million, financed through general obligation bonds.
Brown also outlined details of a tentative agreement with the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association, the local teachers union. The proposed contract includes no base salary increases, but the district will make a one-time contribution to teachers’ Health Savings Accounts to help offset significant health insurance premium increases.
The agreement also revises the district’s leave policy. Previously, teachers received seven sick days and seven paid time off (PTO) days annually. Under the new arrangement, that will be consolidated into 14 PTO days per year.
The presentation on the tentative teacher contract can be viewed at this link.
In other business, the board received an update on the ongoing redistricting process. Consultant Andrew Bishop of Woolpert told members that a final redistricting map recommendation will be presented at the November 12 board meeting, with a final vote expected in December.
Bishop noted that an early proposal to repurpose one elementary school into a preschool was removed from consideration following negative community feedback.
The district and Woolpert hosted two community meetings this week to present three sets of proposed maps and gather public input. Residents can continue to submit comments online through November 6.