Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools and the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) will enter state-mediated contract negotiations on Tuesday, December 9, as the two sides remain at an impasse over pay and rising health insurance costs.
The talks follow weeks of difficult exchanges between the district and the teachers union. HSE administrators have maintained the district cannot offer more than what is currently on the table, citing budget constraints. HSEA leaders argue the proposal would leave many educators with less take-home pay once substantial increases in health insurance premiums are factored in.
As the mediation date approaches, HSEA President Tyler Zerbe issued a message to teachers Saturday morning on social media, praising their resilience during what he called one of the most difficult semesters in recent memory.
Zerbe thanked teachers for their work in classrooms and for supporting the union’s bargaining efforts. He also acknowledged the emotional toll of the stalled negotiations, saying many educators feel “drained,” “disheartened,” and at times “hopeless.”
“It is hard to reckon with leaders who seemingly (or obviously) do not care about the people they are meant to support,” Zerbe wrote, adding that many teachers are struggling to reconcile the current climate with “the HSE that we once knew and loved.”
Despite that frustration, Zerbe sought to reassure members, emphasizing that the strength of the district comes from its educators. “That HSE still exists,” he wrote. “Why? Because of you. Because you show up every day. Because you stand up for what is right.”
Zerbe framed the union’s efforts as “small acts of resistance” motivated by care for students and colleagues. He urged teachers to remain united ahead of mediation, calling solidarity “an act of love for a place that, right now, does not feel like home.”
“Our fight is far from over; in many ways, it is just beginning,” Zerbe told members.
Monday’s mediated bargaining session will mark the latest attempt to reach agreement on a contract for the district’s approximately 1,400 teachers.
Both sides have acknowledged that significant disagreements remain, particularly as educators cite increased costs of living and the district points to long-term financial pressures.
Zerbe closed his message by wishing teachers a “warm weekend” and encouraging them to “hold onto joy” as the semester winds down.