Editor,
On May 3, you have the opportunity to maintain the high standards of our school district by voting “YES” on the HSE Schools referendum. We cannot continue to invest in the future of our 21,000 students and help them to reach their full potential without your help.
In 1988, my family moved to the Indianapolis area and one of our top reasons for choosing Fishers was the fine reputation of Hamilton Southeastern Schools. Over the last 28 years, thousands of families have made the same decision to move to Fishers and for much the same reason. A vibrant and inviting community begins with high quality schools. Interestingly, realtors assign a 20 percent increase in value to homes in desirable school districts.
With the dollars generated from this new referendum, HSE Schools will be able to reduce class sizes, attract and keep quality teachers and better prepare our students for their future. As a former teacher, I can speak to the difference even a few less children in a classroom can make in the time and energy a teacher has to focus on your children’s education. And if we don’t address our salary schedule, we have and will continue to risk losing quality teachers that you and your children have come to expect.
Having served for 20 years on the HSE School Board, I can speak to the tireless efforts of our board and administration to reduce the school district’s budget. We have frozen salaries, cut supplies and outsourced services all in an effort to save money without sacrificing quality. We have even utilized energy audits, saving approximately $1 million per year.
Our fiscal discipline has allowed us to avoid laying off teachers, but we have not been able to hire desperately needed new teachers to keep up with our growing student population. Our administrator to pupil ratio is nearly the lowest in the state.
Our cuts have required an increased reliance on our parents, PTOs and Foundation to pay for essentials rather than extras. The cuts have been deep and have hurt. But for all our belt-tightening, we still are facing a shortfall and must stop the financial hemorrhaging if we are to maintain the health of our district.
If you have further questions as to other measures the board has taken to cut costs, please feel free to contact me at [email protected].
So please, vote “YES” May 3 for the HSE Schools Referendum. We NEED your support!
Karen Harmer
HSE School Board President