HSE Schools announces tentative agreement on 2024-2025 teacher contract

Submitted by HSE Schools

Hamilton Southeastern Schools announced last Friday that it has reached a tentative agreement for the 2024-2025 teacher contract, reflecting the district’s commitment to supporting its educators and securing a bright future for the entire school community.

Over the past several weeks, HSE Schools’ Bargaining Team worked closely with the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association to develop a fair and balanced agreement.

Notwithstanding declining State revenue and growing healthcare costs, HSE Schools presents a financial package to its teachers valued at over six times the amount of new State revenue received. The tentative agreement includes a base salary increase of $1,400 for returning teachers, recognition of advanced degrees for those who have obtained them since the last contract, and up to a $2,000 employer contribution towards a Health Savings Account for qualifying members.

Facing an 8.5 percent increase to its traditional health insurance plan, the district is transitioning to a new High-Deductible Plan and corresponding Health Savings Account (HSA) to minimize the overall financial impact on both the district and its employees, while allowing teachers to become consumers of their own healthcare costs. The district will contribute between $1,000 and $2,000 to an HSA for members who elect this plan.

“From the onset, our administration has been focused on providing a strong financial package to our teachers while responsibly planning for the future,” Superintendent Pat Mapes said. “Our teachers are at the heart of our schools, impacting students and families daily, and we are committed to supporting them.”

The full tentative agreement is available here. Both parties will now take steps to ratify the contract in the coming days, which includes, among other items, a mutually agreed upon public hearing to be conducted by the Board of School Trustees at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 and a special School Board meeting to ratify the tentative agreement at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26.