HSEA Teachers

The Human Side of RIFs

Although HSE and HSEA have worked collaboratively over the last few months to address the current Reduction in Force (RIF), HSE Schools had other options besides cutting effective educators.

At the bargaining table, HSEA proposed retirement buyouts that would have saved the district money while also preventing the loss of dedicated, effective teachers. We know many veteran teachers are delaying retirement because of the rising cost of health insurance and the gap before Medicare eligibility.

Instead, HSE lost more than 100 years of combined teaching experience in these 18 educators.

Teachers with just a few years left until retirement.
Teachers who entered education as a second career because they felt called to teach — and fell in love with it.
Teachers who were leaders in their buildings.
Teachers deeply respected by colleagues, parents, and students.
Teachers who were all rated effective in one of the highest-performing districts in the state.

And yet, these were among the stories of 18 teachers who were told they no longer had jobs.

18 teachers left wondering what they did wrong.

18 teachers forced to watch the careers and futures they built suddenly disappear.

18 teachers carrying the embarrassment and heartbreak of being RIF’d.

But those teachers have nothing to be ashamed of. Those teachers did nothing wrong. To us, these teachers are not numbers on a spreadsheet. We know their stories.
We have seen the devastation in their eyes and heard the fear in their voices as they ask, “What now?”

We hope district leadership will continue to work collaboratively with the union to exhaust every possible alternative before resorting to RIFs in the future because teachers are not line items in a budget that can simply be cut.

They are human beings.

They are mentors, leaders, neighbors, and caregivers.

They have devoted their lives to students and to this community.

They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.

HSE teachers and HSE Schools community,

Today was a hard day. 18 teachers ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade were informed they would be part of the Reduction in Force (RIF) and would not be teaching at HSE Schools next year. While this is a process no one wanted to happen, HSEA and HSE administration worked together to ensure the RIF process was followed as listed in the Teacher Handbook. Again, no one, including administration, wanted this process to happen.

Contrary to public belief, the RIF process is not solely based on seniority. The factors in determining a RIF are listed in the following order:

1. Average teacher evaluation category over the previous three evaluation cycles
2. Academic needs of students (licensure and attendance at PLCs)
3. Average teacher evaluation rating scores over the previous three evaluation cycles
4. Years of experience (length of service in HSE Schools)

According to the RIF process, teachers whose jobs were eliminated are placed on a two-year recall list. If positions become available, they would be recalled to the district in the process laid out in the Teacher Handbook.

HSEA is committed to meeting with each teacher who was RIFed. During these meetings, HSEA will discuss due process rights, unemployment benefits, and insurance coverage. We understand the upheaval this process brings to these teachers, and we are steadfast in our belief that these teachers’ needs must be met.

The elimination of these jobs is a result of several factors. HSE’s student enrollment is declining, resulting in a loss of funding each year; however, make no mistake, these cuts are also a direct result of SEA 1, a law passed by the Indiana General Assembly, signed by Governor Mike Braun, and supported by Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith that decimates funding for public schools and first responders. Every public school district in Indiana is facing budget cuts, and, as the sixth lowest per student funded district in the state, HSE is among those feeling the worst of it. We must stand against such laws that have detrimental effects on the cornerstone of Hoosier communities, because, at the end of the day, eliminating teaching positions directly impacts student learning environments.

HSEA remains committed to our teachers, our students, and our communities. We are with you today, tomorrow, and every day after that.

HSEA Members,

Tomorrow, Monday, May 4,
is a day that none of us in HSE wants. Please join us in wearing black to support our colleagues who will be faced with learning they no longer having a position for next school year. This is a result of the state’s negligent funding of public schools and our own district’s declining enrollment. We know that tomorrow is going to be a tough day — please check in on each other and let your HSEA Leadership team know if there is anything you may need.

HSEA would like to cordially invite all potential HSE school board candidates to join us from 5:30-6:30 on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, to learn more about the benefits of an HSEA endorsement, the timeline for the HSEA/ISTA endorsement process, and the expectations HSEA has for any endorsed candidates. We will host this meeting via Zoom. Potential candidates should email [email protected] with their name and the district they will potentially be running for. After an email is received potential candidates will receive a Zoom link for May 6th.
Please share with anyone who may have interest in joining us!
Thank you!

HSEA would like to cordially invite all potential HSE school board candidates to join us from 5:30-6:30 on Thursday, March 19th 2026, to learn more about the benefits of an HSEA endorsement, the timeline for the HSEA/ISTA endorsement process, and the expectations HSEA has for any endorsed candidates. We will host at the Noblesville Public Library in room A.

Please share with anyone who may have interest in joining us!
Thank you!

Good evening, HSEA,

HSEA has ratified the Tentative Agreement. While it may not be everything we hoped for, we are proud that we were able to secure additional money for our teachers to help with the recent increase in insurance premiums—our primary focus throughout bargaining.

We are incredibly grateful to our teachers, students, parents, and community members who stood with us every step of the way. Your support, your presence, and your words truly mean more than we can express.

As we head into winter break, we hope each of you takes time to step back, rest, and enjoy your family, friends, and whatever brings you joy. Thank you for your continued solidarity and strength. We will see you in 2026.

Happy Holidays and a Cheerful New Year to everyone

Good evening. . .

Day One of mediation has come to an end. While there were high hopes that we would be able to come to an agreement on day one, we have not been able to finalize
anything to bring back to our bargaining unit at the present time.

Currently, the mediator has asked that today’s mediation remain confidential.
We hope that in the coming days, we will have concrete details that we can share.

Your bargaining team is committed to pursuing a fair contract and we thank you for your continued support.

Please see the image below for a few extra clarifying questions surrounding the mediation and bargaining process.

In solidarity,
HSEA Bargaining Team

Hi everyone,

A quick update: tomorrow our Bargaining Team returns to the table to begin mediation. The team is fully committed and ready to fight on all of our behalf.

We ask that you please wear black tomorrow as a show of solidarity.

An update will be sent at the end of the mediation session.

Thank you for your continued support.

A Message from HSEA President Tyler Zerbe

Dear HSEA,

Another week is behind us—one week closer to a much-needed extended break. I know that the time you spend in your classrooms, with your students and colleagues, is what makes this work worth doing. It is what brings purpose to your mornings and meaning to your days. And especially during this season of winter festivities, it is hard not to feel grateful for the people who truly stand in our corner and bring us joy. With that in mind, it would be remiss of me not to pause and thank you.

Thank you for the work that you put in each day with your kids.
Thank you for the collaboration you inspire amongst your fellow teachers.
Thank you for the support you have provided to the bargaining and executive HSEA teams.
And thank you for trusting me as your new leader.


I know this semester has been one of the most challenging—emotionally draining, disheartening, and at times even hopeless. It is hard to reckon with leaders who seemingly (or obviously) do not care about the people they are meant to support. Please understand that we have all been grappling with the fallout -- it is hard to comprehend that this is the HSE that we once knew and loved.

But here’s the truth: that HSE still exists.
Why? Because of you.
Because you show up every day.
Because you stand up for what is right.
Because you choose integrity over convenience.
Because you believe in the promise this district still holds.


And that is what we have demonstrated to an administration that hopes we will step back, quiet down, or simply move on. Our small acts of resistance -- the empathetic teaching of our students, the firm standing together with each other – are, at their core, acts of love for a place that, right now, does not feel like home. Resistance is always an act of love.

This is what it means to be a union, to be a community of people who hold onto hope even when the world as we know it is crumbling all around us. Our fight is far from over; in many ways, it is just beginning. And for that reason, I am truly grateful for all of you who are standing beside me.

I wish you all a warm weekend and soft ending to the semester. Do not forget, joy!
Solidarity and gratitude,
Tyler (aka Mr. President)

Good evening, HSEA, and happy Friday-eve!

We hope this message finds you warm, well, and holding strong as we close out an undeniably bitter week. Thanksgiving may be behind us, and Winter Break may be whispering—or let’s be honest, shouting—our names, but as we’ve said before: our moment and our momentum are right now.

With that in mind, your bargaining team would like to share that we will officially return to the table on Tuesday, December 9th, from 9 AM–6 PM, for the first round of mediation. We are entering that room sincerely hopeful and fully prepared to reach a fair, just, and ratifiable agreement with administration. Should further time be needed, we have also secured Tuesday, December 16th, at the same time.

Your bargaining team remains steadfast in its commitment to all 1,300 bargaining-unit members, and we are ready to work tirelessly to secure the deal you deserve. We hope district administration comes equally prepared to do what is right.

Our opening proposal remains firm: administration must hold every teacher harmless this year by covering the additional $1.6 million in insurance increases. If an agreement cannot be reached on that point, we will work to find a middle ground. While we know this will not completely hold our teachers harmless, we also know that it will be better than what was previously brought to ratification.

Let this reaffirm what has always been true: HSEA comes to the table prepared, collaborative, and committed to good-faith negotiation—every single time. Does that require compromise at moments? Yes. But does it mean that we settling for less than what our educators deserve? Absolutely not.

This year more than ever, your bargaining team is guided by one principle: the collective good of our teachers comes first. Even when it means tension. Even when it means mediation. Even when it means fighting harder than we ever have before. We believe in our collective power—because time and again, we’ve proven that when we fight, we win.

How can you continue to support?
Wear BLACK every Wednesday for the remainder of the semester.
Attend the Board Meeting on December 10th if mediation on December 9th does not result in a settlement.
Prepare for building-level ratification the week of December 15th—details coming soon.
Keep showing up for each other. Our strength is in our solidarity, and when we take care of one another, we show up stronger for our students, too.

Enjoy these final two weeks, HSEA. It may be freezing outside, but our fire is blazing.

In solidarity,
HSEA Bargaining Team & Officers