The Fiscal Year 2027 School Budget for the South Hamilton district was adopted at this week’s meeting of the school board. The projected revenues will be $22,953,969. With the prior year carryover, the total available resources are estimated at $35,249,224. The property tax rate for the South Hamilton Community School District was set at $13.60 per $1000 taxable valuation, which will generate $5,620,665. The expenditures for the South Hamilton district will total $24,620,872.
The South Hamilton School board approved the master contract this week. The tentative two-year agreement focuses on increasing starting salaries and transitioning to a more sustainable, compressed salary schedule to support recruitment, retention and long-term financial stability for the school district. The total package increase for the Fiscal Year 2027 is 3.18% with salary only 3.03%. The salary only increase for Fiscal Year 2028 will be at 2.2% with the total package pending insurance costs. The board approved the certified staff contracts and extracurricular contracts for the 2026-27. The total package increase for the Fiscal Year 2027 is 3.18% with salary only 3.03%
Another issue addressed by the South Hamilton School board was on the anticipated class size and staffing. The board approved three sections of kindergarten for the 2026-27 school year. Due to low projected Transitional Kindergarten (6 students) and higher kindergarten enrollment with 42 students, the Transitional Kindergarten program will not be offered. The decision reflects an unusually small preschool “feeder” class this year, which appears to be an anomaly, as preschool enrollment is projected to increase again for the 2027-28 school year. Board members say this is not a budget reduction strategy, but rather an effort to allocate resources in a way to best support all students. Kindergarten staff and the intervention team will provide individualized supports to meet student needs, A second year of kindergarten, with a different teacher if requested, may be considered to support first grade readiness. The Transitional Kindergarten will be revisited for the 2027-28 school year.
South Hamilton High School will see 58 seniors graduate on Sunday,May 17th at the school gym in Jewell. The commencement ceremony is set for 2:00 p.m. for the Class of 2026.
In other matters,the South Hamilton board set the event admission price increase from $6 to $8 for high school athletic events beginning with the 2026-27 year. The admission for all junior high events would remain $5 and pass options will still be available. A new phone system will be installed soon in all South Hamilton school offices. The board accepted the low quote from Access Systems for the new internet-based phone system for $81,689.83 for the next three years.
In personnel matters,the South Hamilton school board accepted the resignations from Amy Klemp as an assistant volleyball coach and from Corey Klemp as junior high football coach pending suitable replacements are found.Contracts were approved for Sandy Friest as TK/Kindergarten teacher, Kelli McAfee as a first-grade teacher and Austin Schott as a second-grade teacher for the 2026-27 school year. There will be a 3.03% salary increase for the administrative staff for the 2026-27 school year as approved by the South Hamilton board.