The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board is scheduled to take a ratification vote Tuesday morning on a new teacher contract with the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA), a move that would formally finalize the agreement.
HSEA members have ratified the one-year contract after rejecting an earlier version of a tentative agreement.
The agreement includes no base salary increases and no step increases tied to years of service. During last Tuesday’s public hearing, HSE Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown said teachers’ take-home pay will vary depending on which of the district’s three health insurance plans they choose.
Former HSE School Board member Michelle Fullhart criticized the agreement during the public hearing, saying teachers “feel disrespected, voiceless and defeated.”
“Other districts have found a way to give their teachers a raise, or at the very least, a step increase, while also dealing with the same issues with state funding,” Fullhart said. “This is the first contract in the history of HSE where teachers will not get raises and many will take home less pay.”
Board member Dawn Lang offered a different perspective, emphasizing the district’s long-term financial stability. She cited rising operational costs, relatively low per-student funding under the state’s funding formula, and a slightly declining student population as significant budgetary pressures facing the district.
Comparisons with nearby school districts show a wide range of outcomes in recent teacher contracts, although complete details are not always publicly available, here is what I was able to find from various sources.
Noblesville Schools approved a contract with no base salary increase, but teachers will receive step increases and benefit costs will remain unchanged. Lawrence Township’s agreement provides a 2 percent salary increase, though teachers will see a 9.5 percent increase in health insurance premiums.
Hamilton Heights approved a contract that includes a minimum 5 percent salary increase, with an average increase of 7.66 percent across all staff positions. Teachers in the Mount Vernon Community School District in Hancock County are in the second year of a two-year contract providing an average raise of approximately $2,235 per teacher, or about a 3.75 percent increase.
Carmel Clay Schools’ 2025–26 agreement includes an approximate 2 percent base salary increase, along with standard step increases based on experience. Westfield Washington Schools approved a contract with no base salary increase, but teachers will continue to receive step increases.
Fullhart said HSE, one of the largest school districts in Indiana, could have identified $1.7 million—about one-half of one percent of the district’s annual budget—to offset rising health insurance costs and prevent reductions in teachers’ take-home pay. Lang maintains the agreement reflects responsible planning to protect the district’s financial health over the long term.
That’s where we are at this point in the Hamilton Southeastern School District, encompassing all of Delaware, Fall Creek and Wayne Townships, including the entire City of Fishers.