Hamilton Southeastern Schools and the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) have reached a tentative one-year contract agreement following mediation, hopefully bringing an end to weeks of negotiations between the district and its teachers.

Under the proposed agreement, teachers in Hamilton Southeastern Schools will receive no pay increase for the current school year. District officials and union leaders said the agreement reflects a shared effort to move the process forward while maintaining stability for students and staff.

“We appreciate the work that went into reaching this tentative agreement and the opportunity to come back together,” said HSE Superintendent Pat Mapes in a statement. “Our focus remains on our students, our staff, and the work ahead.”

Details of the agreement are available at this link. Both the school district and HSEA will now begin their respective ratification processes in the coming days. The agreement must be approved by the HSEA membership and the Hamilton Southeastern School Board before it can take effect.

“HSEA is proud to have accomplished its goal in gaining more funds for our teachers to put towards issues caused by rising insurance increases,” HSEA said in a written statement. “At this time, HSEA remains focused on ratification.”

The school board will hold a 7:30am meeting December 23 to present the terms of the pact to the board and allow a public hearing.  If teachers ratify, the board will vote to ratify at a meeting  December 30, also at 7:30am.