Hamilton Southeastern Schools reported an official enrollment of 19,849 students to the state of Indiana, the count that determines how much state tuition support the district will receive.
Tim Brown told the HSE School Board on Wednesday night that the official count landed within a few students of the district’s projection of 19,850.
The figure is down 440 students from last year’s official count of 20,289. It is the district’s seventh consecutive year of declining enrollment and the first time in a decade that HSE has dropped below 20,000 students. Enrollment peaked in 2019.
Because Indiana funds schools on a per-student basis, fewer students means less state money. Brown told the board’s finance committee in September that even with a roughly 1.46% increase in the per-student rate for 2027, the enrollment loss would leave HSE with about $582,000 less than this year.
No public comment on 2027 budget
No one spoke at the legally required public hearing on the proposed 2027 budget. The plan is unchanged at $323.9 million, with a tax rate of $1.1912 per $100 of assessed value. The 2026 rate is $1.1476.
The legally advertised budget is higher, at $325.9 million with a tax rate of $1.2517. Districts routinely advertise numbers above their expected spending because the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance can lower a budget during its review but cannot raise it.
New health insurance options
The board approved 2027 health insurance rates for certified staff (teachers), support staff and administrators.
Employees will choose from six plans during open enrollment in November. Three are new plans tied to the Community Health Network provider system. These plans will cost employees less, while the more traditional, higher-cost plans remain available.
Brown projects about half of employees will choose one of the Community plans.
Health insurance costs have been a major issue at HSE. Last year’s teacher contract included no base salary increase but provided a one-time district contribution to teachers’ health savings accounts to help offset steep premium increases.
HSE is now bargaining a new contract with the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association, the local teachers union. Brown said the union has certified its support for the health insurance changes.