The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) has notified teachers that contract negotiations with the school district will move into mediation next week.

In a message to members Thursday afternoon, the union said its bargaining team will return to the table Tuesday, Dec. 9, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the first mediation session with district administrators. A second full-day session is set for Tuesday, Dec. 16, if additional time is needed.

HSEA said it enters mediation “hopeful and fully prepared to reach a fair, just, and ratifiable agreement,” and reaffirmed its commitment to representing approximately 1,300 bargaining-unit teachers.

The union reiterated that its opening proposal remains unchanged: that the district cover an additional $1.6 million in health-insurance cost increases to hold teachers harmless for the year. HSEA indicated it would be willing to consider compromise if that point cannot be fully met but maintained that any alternative must be an improvement over the agreement members rejected earlier this fall.

The message emphasized that the union is seeking a deal that reflects “the collective good of our teachers” and said it remains committed to good-faith negotiation.

HSEA also outlined steps for members as talks progress. Teachers were encouraged to continue wearing black on Wednesdays, attend the Dec. 10 school board meeting if mediation does not produce a settlement on Dec. 9, and be prepared for potential building-level ratification votes during the week of Dec. 15.

Negotiations between HSEA and the Hamilton Southeastern Schools administration have been under state oversight since the district and union entered mediation following the failed ratification vote on the previous tentative agreement and subsequent talks have not produced a new agreement by the deadline to avoid mediation.