The student count for HSE Schools was down 660 students on February 1st, 2021, lowering the total count to 21,339.  The state funds school districts based on the number of students enrolled, so HSE Schools has lost $3.3 million in financial support from the state of Indiana with fewer students.  That requires the local schools to cut spending.

An internal committee has been meeting since December and provided a list of recommendations to the school board Wednesday night.

The total revenue loss is set at roughly $5 million because HSE lost revenue to lower interest rates and a large reduction in rental fees due to COVID.

HSE Chief Financial Officer Cecillie Nunn and Human Resource Director Kim Lippe told the board they are “optimistic” no Reduction in Force (RIF) of staff will be necessary.  But some staff may need to be moved and transferred to accomplish that goal.

Nunn said the largest chunk of savings comes from adjusting class sizes to levels called for in the most recent operating referendum, kindergarten through grade 6 .  Those grade levels are currently overstaffed by 33 teaching positions.  Resignations and retirements will reduce that number.  Plus, the American Recovery Fund recently passed by the congress and signed by the president will fund programs dealing with pandemic-related learning loss by students.  The savings from adjusting class sizes, plus the federal funds, amount to more than $3.3 million.

Savings of over $1.3 million will come from freezing incremental pay increases for support staff and school administrators, plus not filling several currently open positions.  Several other line items will create savings that total $5.045 million in the coming school year.

Janet Chandler, President of the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association, expressed concern that any RIF of teachers could come down to evaluation numbers separated by no more than decimal points determining which teachers are laid-off and which teachers remain, in tie-breaker situations.  She equated that system as no better than throwing darts at a dart board.

The board is scheduled to vote on the list of cost-saving recommendations at the April 28 session.

For more details on the proposed budget cuts, use this link.