The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools will be hiring teachers for the coming school year, with a newly-approved voter referendum.  School officials expected a crowd of anywhere from 100-150 at the most for a May 10th Job Fair.  800 people came to inquire about jobs at HSE Schools.  Let’s just say there will be far fewer than 800 job openings.

This is part of the local school corporation’s efforts to move forward on promises made in the referendum campaign.  For example, the board approved a bid for $469,000 to provide portable classrooms, allowing space for smaller Kindergarten through 4th grade classrooms.

The promised World Language programs, including at the elementary level, will start, but not until the 2017-2018 school year.  It will take time to put that program in place.

A mental health initiative is in the works to provide more counselors, with a specific proposal in progress.

There will be more supplies available with the additional referendum funds, but not until January, 2017.

The Pay-to-Play fees enacted as part of recent budget cuts will be eliminated, but not all local school fees will be cut.  Textbook fees and technology fees will be reduced.

Technologists will be hired to staff all school buildings.

Professional development will be enhanced for the teaching staff with the addition of assistant principals in the elementary buildings.

Teacher compensation will be enhanced, but that won’t be decided until formal bargaining is held with the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association.   Indiana state law does not allow such bargaining to begin until August.

All these items were outlined for the school board by Superintendent Allen Bourff at the May 11th meeting.

Also, Advance HSE PAC Chair Sneha Shah and her committee members were recognized by the board for conducting the successful campaign to pass the school funding referendum in the May primary election.