Hamilton Southeastern Schools will reorganize its administrative leadership under changes approved by the school board Wednesday night, with Superintendent Matt Kegley projecting $15,000 in annual savings despite a pay increase for one administrator.
Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown will become assistant superintendent for finance, with an increase in his annual salary to $164,471. Ryan Taylor will move from assistant superintendent of human resources to chief operations officer, with no change in pay.
The board also hired Tammy Harwood as executive director of human resources. She plans to begin September 21. Under the new organizational chart, both Harwood and Taylor will report to Brown.
The restructuring follows Assistant Superintendent for Operations Bryan Rausch’s departure from the district. In a podcast interview with me after Rausch left, Kegley said he expected to make changes in administrative staffing. Wednesday’s approvals put those plans into place.
Board member Latrica Schooley sought to postpone Brown’s promotion, questioning the timing of an administrator’s pay increase with a school funding referendum on the November ballot.
Kegley responded that the administrative changes following Rausch’s departure would collectively save the district $15,000 over a year. Schooley’s motion died for lack of a second.
The discussion comes as HSE prepares to ask voters on November 3 to replace the operating referendum approved in 2023. The district says changes to Indiana’s property tax system are reducing anticipated revenue. Referendum funding primarily supports teacher salaries and benefits, along with school safety and security. HSE’s referendum information outlines the proposal.
Harwood joins HSE from Indiana University Bloomington’s Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, where she serves as human resources director. Her responsibilities include employee relations, compensation planning, recruitment and performance management, according to her IU staff profile.
Her new position also marks a return to a community where her children attended school.
“It’s great to be home back here in Fishers, as my children did attend Brooks School a few years ago, now they are in college,” Harwood told the board. She thanked board members for their “vote of confidence.”