We have had a lot of local school news in recent days involving Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools, the district that encompasses all of Fishers and other areas outside the city limits.

First, after a lively meeting where no board action was taken on the $5.7 million mental health grant from the federal government, the school board announced an agreement to allow the grant to go into effect.  The board did not need to approve the grant, but apparently could have refused the federal money of it chose to do so.

So, the mental health grant will be implemented in the HSE Schools.  However, there is another issue looming that the school board must address, and is expected to discuss at a 7:30am work session Tuesday.

The current operating referendum is expiring at the end of 2023.  The board must decide a number of issues.  First, should the district request the same tax rate as currently in place, ask for a lower rate or a higher rate of the taxpaying public?  The current property tax referendum rate generates approximately $26 million per year.

It would also appear that it is too late to place this referendum before the voters in the May primary, so any referendum request would be before the voters in the November general election this year.

The work session may provide an idea what the majority of the board members are thinking about the referendum, but work sessions are not for taking action.  The next regular board meeting where a decision could be made is March 8.