Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Katy Dowling asked the school board Budget & Finance Committee Tuesday what they are seeking from a contract with Bondry Consulting that she is not already providing.  Ben Orr says he wants to learn more about school finance.

Dowling pointed out that the HSE District already has the highest debt rating possible.  She also voiced concerns that the Vice President of Bondry had done campaign work for a current member of the HSE School Board.

Committee Chair Orr did provide a vote of confidence in Dowling as the meeting was preparing to end.

“I want to say very publicly that I have full faith…in our CFO,” Orr said.  “Katy has been outstanding.”

Dowling also said current numbers indicate a loss of about 231 students in the district compared to September of 2022.  This will mean a loss of state support, because the state provides local school corporations with per-student funding.  Although Dowling reminded committee members there are many variables in computing the revenue loss due to fewer students, Dawn Lang and Orr estimate this will mean a loss of about $1.5 million in state funding.

Orr announced at the beginning of the session that school board member Tiffany Pascoe is stepping down from the Budget & Finance Committee, with a replacement to be named by Board President Lang.  Suzanne Thomas attended the Tuesday afternoon session.

(NOTE:  A previous version of this story stated Dowling said a vice president of Bondry had raised money for a current school board member….Ms. Dowling actually said the Bondry VP had done campaign work for a current school board member.)