The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association is publicly criticizing HSE Schools’ decision to issue 18 reduction-in-force notices to teachers, arguing the district had alternatives that could have avoided the layoffs.

In a social media statement posted Wednesday, the union said it worked collaboratively with district leadership during recent discussions surrounding the RIF process, but contends school administrators chose not to pursue options such as retirement buyouts for veteran educators.

According to the statement, HSEA proposed buyouts during negotiations that union leaders believe would have saved money while preventing the loss of experienced teachers.

“We know many veteran teachers are delaying retirement because of the rising cost of health insurance and the gap before Medicare eligibility,” the union wrote.

The union said the 18 teachers affected represented more than 100 combined years of classroom experience. HSEA described the educators as respected building leaders, second-career teachers who felt “called to teach,” and instructors who had all received “effective” evaluations in what the union called one of Indiana’s highest-performing school districts.

HSEA’s statement emphasized the emotional impact of the layoffs on those educators.

“18 teachers left wondering what they did wrong,” the statement said. “18 teachers forced to watch the careers and futures they built suddenly disappear.”

The district has previously indicated the staffing reductions are tied to ongoing financial pressures and enrollment-related adjustments. HSE Schools officials have warned in recent months that state funding challenges could force difficult financial decisions, including staffing reductions and possible consideration of a future operating referendum.

Indiana law governing teacher reduction-in-force decisions places priority on teacher performance evaluations rather than seniority alone when districts eliminate positions.

The union acknowledged district and union leaders had worked together during the process but urged school administrators to “exhaust every possible alternative before resorting to RIFs in the future.”

“Teachers are not line items in a budget that can simply be cut,” the statement said. “They are human beings. They are mentors, leaders, neighbors, and caregivers.”

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board is scheduled to meet Wednesday night.