Dr. Matt Kegley stood before the Hamilton Southeastern School Board for the first time as the district’s superintendent, reflecting on a journey that began roughly two decades ago when he first applied for a principal position at Hamilton Southeastern High School.

He got that job and spent several years leading the building — the start of a long tenure in the district that has included roles as a teacher, coach, building administrator and central office leader.

Kegley thanked his family for their support throughout his career in education.

“I continue to want to make this a destination district — a place where people want to come and raise their kids, where they want their kids to be challenged academically, where future educators want to come and teach alongside some of the best teachers around, and administrators want to be here to be challenged by the folks around them,” Kegley told the board and a large audience. “I look forward to what lies ahead for us as a district, and I again thank you for your support.”

Board members who spoke before the vote offered strong praise for Kegley. Having covered numerous superintendent hires, I can say it is rare to see what could best be described as a near-unanimous show of enthusiasm from both the board and the community as trustees voted unanimously to approve his contract.

Public comment during the required hearing was limited to one speaker — Hamilton Southeastern Education Association President Tyler Zerbe — who noted Kegley’s long history within the district and described the relationship between district leadership and the teachers union as one of “collaboration and collegiality.”

“That being said, it is difficult to overlook the last 26 months here at HSE,” Zerbe said. “However, we are optimistic that we can continue to move forward together.”

Zerbe also urged the board to conduct an open search process in future superintendent hires to allow for broader stakeholder involvement.

In other action, the board confirmed that Kegley’s former role as deputy superintendent will not be filled as part of a cost-saving measure.

School attorney Chris Greisl also outlined minor corrections to the superintendent’s contract as originally posted online, including increasing the monthly car allowance to $750 and fixing an error in the life insurance example. The board approved those changes as part of its final vote.

Kegley now takes over at a time of significant challenges for the district. State lawmakers have introduced a new funding framework, while enrollment declines due to demographic changes — a key factor in determining state support — are expected to impact future budgets.

Drivers in Fishers who rely on Interstate 69 should prepare for a series of weekend closures and a major traffic shift tied to a long-running construction project.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says a new ramp connecting southbound I-69 to southbound Binford Boulevard is expected to open on or after Sunday, May 3. The change is part of the Clear Path project, which has been reshaping the busy northeast side interchange for several years.

Weekend closures and restrictions

To prepare for the new ramp, multiple closures and lane reductions will be in place beginning Friday night:

• Friday, May 1 (around 9 p.m.) to Sunday, May 3 (by 6 a.m.):
  • Ramp from southbound I-69 to southbound Binford Boulevard closed
  • Ramp from 96th Street to southbound I-69 closed
  • Ramp from 82nd Street to southbound I-465 closed
• Friday, May 1 (around 11 p.m.) to Saturday, May 2 (by 6 a.m.):
  • Ramp from southbound I-69 to southbound I-465 closed
  • Detour: Drivers will be directed to westbound I-465 and turn around at Michigan Road (U.S. 421)
  • Southbound I-69 reduced to one lane between 116th Street and the I-465/I-69 interchange
• Saturday, May 2 (around 6 a.m.) to Sunday, May 3 (by 6 a.m.):
  • Ramp from southbound I-69 to westbound I-465 closed
  • Detour: Drivers will be directed to eastbound I-465 and turn around at Pendleton Pike (U.S. 36)
  • Southbound I-69 reduced to two lanes between 116th Street and the interchange

New traffic pattern begins May 3

Once the new ramp opens, drivers will need to adjust to a different lane configuration on southbound I-69 approaching the 96th Street area:

• Drivers heading to southbound Binford Boulevard or westbound I-465 should move to the right lanes before reaching 96th Street.
• Drivers heading to southbound I-465 should stay to the left lanes.

Currently, the Binford Boulevard exit is located on the far left, but that will change with the new configuration.

INDOT officials say the work includes restriping pavement, moving barrier walls and updating overhead signs to guide drivers through the new pattern.

Motorists are urged to allow extra travel time, watch for changing traffic conditions and follow posted detours during the transition period.

Northwest Bank has added a veteran commercial banker to its Central Indiana team, with a focus on serving businesses in the Fishers area.

Northwest Bank announced that Chad Brandenburg has joined the company as a Commercial Relationship Manager. Based in Fishers, Brandenburg will work with commercial and industrial clients across the Indianapolis region, offering banking services tailored to growing businesses.

In his new role, Brandenburg will develop and manage client relationships while providing customized credit solutions, deposit services and treasury management tools designed to support long-term financial growth.

Brandenburg brings nearly 20 years of financial and operational experience, including more than a decade in commercial banking leadership positions. Most recently, he served as Vice President and Commercial Relationship Manager at 1st Source Bank, where he helped establish and expand the bank’s Indianapolis market presence.

His previous experience also includes senior commercial and business banking roles with Wells Fargo, Huntington National Bank, PNC and JPMorgan Chase.

Fishers High School is expected to officially name Miles Wayer as its next boys varsity basketball coach during Wednesday night’s school board meeting.

Wayer returns to Fishers after serving one season as head coach at Greenfield-Central, where he posted a 12-12 record during the 2025-26 campaign. His hiring would bring him back to a program he knows well, having previously spent three seasons as an assistant under former head coach Garrett Winegar.

Wayer takes over one of the top programs in Indiana high school basketball. Winegar stepped down earlier this year after six seasons leading the Tigers, compiling a 132-25 record. That run included a Class 4A state championship in 2024 and a state runner-up finish in 2025.

A Mt. Vernon High School graduate, Wayer played college basketball at the University of Indianapolis, where he was a guard and a three-time Academic All-GLVC selection. During his high school career, he was an all-conference and all-county player and helped lead Mt. Vernon to a 24-2 season and a regional championship.

In addition to his coaching experience, Wayer has been involved in player development through training programs in central Indiana, working with youth and high school athletes.

His familiarity with the Fishers program is expected to provide continuity for a team that has been among the state’s elite in recent years.

The Hamilton Southeastern School Board is scheduled to vote on Wayer’s hiring during its  meeting Wednesday evening.

(NOTE:  I had an incorrect photo of Miles Wayer earlier, and have replaced it.  My apologies for the error)

For those of you receiving e-mail updates on my posts to this Web site, you received a message with an error shortly after midnight Wednesday.  The ribbon cutting ceremony at the Delaware Township office on 131st Street is not today, April 29, but is Thursday, April 30, 4-7pm.  I apologize for the error.  That’s what I get for posting late at night after a long day.

The Indy Fuel delivered a much-needed response Tuesday night, defeating the Fort Wayne Komets 6-3 at Fishers Event Center to get back into their first-round playoff series.

After struggling in the opening two games in Fort Wayne, the Fuel played a more disciplined, aggressive game—limiting penalties and applying steady offensive pressure. The result keeps Indy from falling into a 3-0 hole and trims the Komets’ lead to 2-1 in the best-of-seven series.

Indy set the tone early. Tyler Paquette opened the scoring just three minutes into the game. Midway through the first period, Matt Petgrave capitalized on a brief two-man advantage following back-to-back Fort Wayne penalties. Less than a minute later, Chase DeFoe added another goal, giving the Fuel a commanding 3-1 lead at the first intermission.

The momentum carried into the second period, where Jordan Martin scored twice for Indy. Fort Wayne managed one goal in the period, but the Fuel still held a comfortable 5-2 lead heading into the final frame.

Tyler Weiss extended the advantage to 6-2 early in the third period. The Komets answered with a goal from William Dufour and added another late score after pulling goaltender Nathaniel Day for an extra attacker, but the comeback fell short.

The win marks a significant shift for the Fuel against the Central Division champions and gives Indy a chance to even the series on home ice.

Game 4 is set for Wednesday night at Fishers Event Center. A victory would send the series back to Fort Wayne tied at two games apiece.