Hamilton Southeastern Schools will use “Children Experiencing Homelessness” in its policy addressing students without stable housing, following a unanimous school board vote Wednesday night.

The decision concluded several weeks of debate and two reviews by the board’s Policy Committee. Before approving the change 7-0, the board rejected a motion by member Ben Orr to retain “Homeless Children.” That motion failed 5-2, with Orr and Tiffany Pascoe voting in favor.

Orr read a lengthy statement opposing the change. He argued that some young people become homeless because of their own actions and cited laws that use the term “Homeless Children.”

The discussion followed an earlier disagreement over whether the wording should change throughout the policy. At a previous meeting, board member Sarah Parks Reese questioned why the proposed revision changed the title but retained older terminology in the body. The board returned the proposal to the committee for further review.

Both forms of language appear in official education materials. The federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act uses “homeless children and youths,” while Indiana Department of Education guidance also uses phrases such as “children experiencing homelessness.” The latter is person-first wording, placing the child before the housing circumstance.

The federal definition extends beyond children living on the streets or in shelters. It includes students who lack a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, including those sharing housing because of eviction, economic hardship or similar circumstances, and those staying in motels because adequate alternatives are unavailable. Eligibility is assessed individually based on living arrangements.

Whatever terminology a district uses, its obligations under federal law remain. McKinney-Vento provides enrollment protections, the right to remain in a school of origin when that is in the student’s best interest, and transportation to that school upon the required request. Every district must also designate a liaison to help eligible students access services.

Families seeking assistance can find information and resources through HSE’s Student Services webpage.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools will reorganize its administrative leadership under changes approved by the school board Wednesday night, with Superintendent Matt Kegley projecting $15,000 in annual savings despite a pay increase for one administrator.

Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown will become assistant superintendent for finance, with an increase in his annual salary to $164,471. Ryan Taylor will move from assistant superintendent of human resources to chief operations officer, with no change in pay.

The board also hired Tammy Harwood as executive director of human resources. She plans to begin September 21. Under the new organizational chart, both Harwood and Taylor will report to Brown.

The restructuring follows Assistant Superintendent for Operations Bryan Rausch’s departure from the district. In a podcast interview with me after Rausch left, Kegley said he expected to make changes in administrative staffing. Wednesday’s approvals put those plans into place.

Board member Latrica Schooley sought to postpone Brown’s promotion, questioning the timing of an administrator’s pay increase with a school funding referendum on the November ballot.

Kegley responded that the administrative changes following Rausch’s departure would collectively save the district $15,000 over a year. Schooley’s motion died for lack of a second.

The discussion comes as HSE prepares to ask voters on November 3 to replace the operating referendum approved in 2023. The district says changes to Indiana’s property tax system are reducing anticipated revenue. Referendum funding primarily supports teacher salaries and benefits, along with school safety and security. HSE’s referendum information outlines the proposal.

Harwood joins HSE from Indiana University Bloomington’s Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, where she serves as human resources director. Her responsibilities include employee relations, compensation planning, recruitment and performance management, according to her IU staff profile.

Her new position also marks a return to a community where her children attended school.

“It’s great to be home back here in Fishers, as my children did attend Brooks School a few years ago, now they are in college,” Harwood told the board. She thanked board members for their “vote of confidence.”

Hamilton Southeastern High School students will help community members with fall projects Sunday, Sept. 20, while raising money for a scholarship honoring former HSE student Carrie Colglazier.

The annual Carrie Colglazier Scholarship Community Service Workday offers an eight-hour workday for a minimum donation of $25 per student worker, according to HSE Schools. Community members must sign up by Sept. 14.

Students can help with mulching, washing windows, painting, yard work, planting flowers, trimming bushes, raking leaves, cleaning gutters, cleaning garages and other fall projects.

All proceeds benefit the Carrie Colglazier Scholarship Fund, which provides a $16,000 scholarship distributed over four years to an HSE senior who has participated in girls soccer, girls track, FFA or National Honor Society.

Colglazier competed in soccer and track at HSE and was involved in FFA, 4-H and National Honor Society. The annual workday honors her involvement in school and community activities while helping another HSE student pursue further education.

Community members can sign up to hire student workers at carriecolglazier.org. The workday is Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, and registration closes Monday, Sept. 14.

Tickets are still available to watch Friday’s Mudsock football game as a VIP while supporting students in Hamilton Southeastern Schools, according to the Hamilton Southeastern Education Foundation.

Hamilton Southeastern and Fishers high schools will renew their annual rivalry Friday, September 11, at Reynolds Royals Stadium at HSE. The game is expected to draw a large crowd as the Royals and Tigers compete for local bragging rights.

For those not schooled in Fishers history, “Mudsock” is a nickname rooted in the community’s muddy early days. A history account shared by Fishers High School describes residents sinking into mud around their ankles and horses with mud caked around their feet like brown socks.

The foundation’s Mudsock VIP event, presented by Braden Business Systems, gives fans a way to enjoy the rivalry while helping fund classroom innovation grants across every grade level and student scholarships.

The foundation says VIP seats are going fast. All attendees at the VIP event must be at least 18 years old.

Get your tickets using this link.

The Hamilton County Health Department is seeking seven additional staff positions, saying population growth has pushed demand for services back to — and in some cases beyond — levels before Fishers established its own health department in 2020.

In a Sept. 8 news release, the county department said increased workloads have strained staffing and filled its primary building to capacity.

“Many people assumed we would become a smaller organization,” said Jason LeMaster, the department’s administrator. “What we’ve experienced instead is tremendous growth that has stretched our staff, our building, and our resources.”

The department cited countywide population growth of nearly 9% since 2020, from approximately 349,000 residents to nearly 380,000. It also cited projections that the county will exceed 500,000 residents by 2050.

Demand has increased across environmental inspections, water quality programs, mosquito surveillance, vital records and community health services, according to the department.

Its Food Safety Program is handling its highest workload on record, the department said, as more restaurants, temporary food vendors and community events generate additional inspections and compliance responsibilities.

Space is another challenge. The department said seasonal employees, interns, public education programs and expanding services routinely exceed available workspace. Its Vector Control Program continues to operate from temporary facilities.

The seven positions were requested for the upcoming budget cycle. The release did not specify their cost or whether they have been approved.

The department is also pursuing state and federal grants to help cover rising costs for supplies, equipment and services. LeMaster said the department is prioritizing staffing requests while considering financial pressures on taxpayers and local government.

Fishers-based Spokenote has named Steve Johns, former CEO of Carmel-based fundraising technology company OneCause, as executive adviser to its board of directors.

Johns will work with founder John Wechsler and the board to strengthen operations and guide long-term growth, according to a company announcement.

Spokenote’s platform allows nonprofits, colleges, associations and consumer brands to create and distribute personalized video messages. Organizations use the technology for donor communications, fundraising, student recruitment, membership engagement and customer outreach.

“We’re now entering a new chapter focused on scale,” Wechsler said in the announcement. “Bringing Steve into the organization shows our commitment to building a leadership team capable of realizing the significant opportunity ahead of us.”

Johns led OneCause before its acquisition by Bonterra in 2025, according to the release. He also serves as board chairman of Indianapolis-based Boardable, which provides nonprofit board management software, and wrote the book “Fearless: Leadership Lessons at the Crossroads.”

“I see a tremendous opportunity to expand that success and help more organizations take advantage of the next generation of personalized communication,” Johns said.

Spokenote said its technology has powered engagement campaigns for organizations including the Indiana Pacers, Anheuser-Busch and Berkshire Hathaway.

As part of the company’s growth strategy, Wechsler will devote more attention to strategic partnerships, market expansion, enterprise customer relationships and long-term innovation while working alongside Johns on execution.

Hamilton East Public Library is asking residents to help shape its planned third branch, and one of two public input sessions will be held at the Fishers Library.

The new branch is planned for Noblesville’s Wayne Township, off Olio Road between 146th and 156th streets. HEPL expects to break ground in 2027.

Before that happens, library officials want to hear what residents want inside the building. HEPL is asking for ideas on the branch’s design, atmosphere, spaces, services and amenities — everything from meeting rooms and cozy seating areas to gathering spaces and a coffee shop.

Two open house-style focus groups are scheduled:

• Tuesday, Sept. 22, 5-7 p.m., Fishers Library
• Wednesday, Sept. 23, 5-7 p.m., Noblesville Library

No registration is required. Residents can stop in anytime during those two-hour windows.

“We’re excited to take the next step toward bringing a third HEPL location to the community, and we want residents to have a voice in what that library becomes,” Library Director Melissa Loiselle said in a written statement. “This is an opportunity for our community to help us imagine what this branch can look like and what it can offer to the people who will use it.”

Hamilton East Public Library serves both Fishers and Noblesville, and Fishers cardholders would be able to use the third branch the same as the two existing locations.

More information on the project is available at hamiltoneastpl.org.

The Fishers Board of Public Works & Safety approved a notice of award Tuesday for the Lynnwood Hills sewer project, with construction expected to begin in about a month.

TSW Utility Solutions, LLC submitted the lowest construction bid at $2,788,140. The award is contingent on the city receiving project funding from the Indiana Finance Authority.

The project will provide sewer service to 160 lots in the neighborhood, with owners of 150 lots signed up to participate.

Mayor Scott Fadness described the pricing as “some pretty good news” during the Sept. 8 meeting.

Sanitary Engineer Jeremy Schmitt said “the numbers came in very good, right at what we expected.”

TSW’s bid was the lowest of three received Aug. 31. Daystar submitted a bid of $2,839,651.08, while Morphey’s bid was $7.7 million. BF&S reviewed the bids and recommended awarding the work to TSW.

The construction bid, combined with $1,061,250 for grinder equipment, brings the total construction cost to $3,849,390. Fishers is receiving a $1.4 million grant and financing the remainder through a 20-year loan at zero interest through the Indiana Finance Authority.

Schmitt said the contractor has 11 months to complete the work, though he hopes it will be finished sooner. Most of the installation will involve boring, which he expects to limit disruption in the neighborhood. Existing septic tanks must be removed or crushed as part of the conversion.

Cunningham restaurant planned for The Union

The board also approved a Riverfront District Designation Permit application for a Cunningham Restaurant Group location planned at The Union development.

The application was filed by CRG Unit 61, LLC for 9302 Union Place Drive, Unit 100. The agenda materials did not identify the restaurant’s name or an opening date.  Cunningham has a number of eatery brands, including (but not limited to) BRU Burger Bar, Livery, RIZE and Stone Creek Dining Company.

Fishers established the riverfront development project area in September 2023. The designation allows qualifying businesses within the district to seek alcohol permits without the usual limits on the number of permits in a community.

The board’s approval is one step in that process. The Indiana Alcohol & Tobacco Commission will review the company’s application and issue the actual liquor license if approved.

The permit would remain within the development if the restaurant closes in the future, according to Economic Development Director Megan Baumgartner.

Elmer Drive connection tied to Culver’s expansion and roundabout work

The board approved a right-of-way dedication and drainage easement related to a parking lot expansion at Culver’s, 13691 Olio Road.

The restaurant plans to remove its existing right-in/right-out driveway on Southeastern Parkway and construct a connector road, Elmer Drive, between the parkway and a new parking lot entrance.

The city needs Elmer Drive to extend beyond the proposed Culver’s driveway to East 136th Street to help maintain traffic during construction of the Olio Road and Southeastern Parkway roundabout.

The approved right-of-way dedication covers land on the Culver’s property. An accompanying dedication on the Hy-Vee property to the east would complete the width needed for Elmer Drive.

The drainage easement, also on the Culver’s property, will accommodate storm sewer infrastructure for the road.

Fishers residents and Hamilton County businesses have until Feb. 1, 2027, to file certain federal tax returns and make qualifying tax payments under disaster relief announced by the Internal Revenue Service.

Hamilton County is among 21 Indiana counties covered by the relief following severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began Aug. 11. The IRS announced the postponement Sept. 2 following a federal disaster declaration.

The relief generally covers eligible filing and payment deadlines falling on or after Aug. 11, 2026, and before Feb. 1, 2027. Individuals who live in Hamilton County and businesses whose principal location is in the county qualify under the geographic eligibility rules.

For residents who received a valid extension to file their 2025 federal income tax return, the filing deadline moves to Feb. 1. However, the relief does not extend the deadline for paying taxes owed on those returns. Those payments were due April 15, 2026.

Estimated income tax payments due during the postponement period also qualify. Affected taxpayers can avoid penalties for missing those installment deadlines by paying by Feb. 1.

For local employers, the extension includes quarterly payroll and certain excise tax returns normally due Nov. 2, 2026. The relief does not broadly postpone payroll tax deposits or all information returns, so businesses should check which obligations qualify.

The IRS automatically applies filing and payment relief to taxpayers it identifies within the covered disaster area. If an eligible taxpayer receives a late-filing or late-payment penalty notice for a covered deadline, the agency advises calling the telephone number on the notice to request removal of the penalty.

Taxpayers outside the designated counties may also qualify if records needed to meet a deadline are within the disaster area. They can call IRS Special Services at 866-562-5227 to request relief.

Affected taxpayers may also be able to claim eligible, unreimbursed disaster losses on their federal return for either the disaster year or the preceding year.

Details and exceptions are available in the IRS disaster relief announcement.

A renewed proposal for an Atwell Suites hotel in Fishers’ Saxony area has cleared the city’s Planned Unit Development Committee, following a prolonged dispute over an earlier design.

The committee unanimously approved the hotel’s architecture and site plan Sept. 2. The four-story, 124-room hotel is planned at the northwest corner of East 134th Street and Olio Road, according to

Atwell Suites is an IHG Hotels & Resorts brand. Senior Planner Christy Cashin identified Striving Legacy Fishers LLC as the petitioner and described the hotel as part of a larger mixed-use development.

Plans include suite-style rooms, coworking and lounge areas, a small patio and limited food and beverage service. The revised exterior includes two public art murals, limestone accents and additional lighting. Developer representative Mindy Westrick Brown told the committee that city staff helped shape those changes, including references to local railroad heritage.

The earlier proposal called for 113 rooms near Minden and Erlen drives, southeast of Saxony Lake. That differs from the location identified for the newly approved plan.

In 2024, committee members questioned whether the hotel’s appearance fit Saxony’s architectural character. Developers said they needed to balance local standards with IHG’s preferred brand design. Requested changes included an additional entrance, larger windows and more consistent ground-floor brickwork.

Residents’ objections extended beyond appearance. IBJ reported that a petition included 430 opposing signatures and 13 supporting signatures. Opponents cited proximity to homes, a daycare and a park, along with concerns about traffic, noise and trash. The developer’s representative countered that a hotel was a permitted use within the mixed-use area.

After allowing additional revisions in August 2024, the committee rejected the architecture 5-0 on Dec. 4, 2024. The Saxony Community Association also submitted an opposition letter.

The latest approval clears the committee’s design review. The site already has mixed-use zoning. Fishers’ published process says approved PUD projects may proceed, with construction dependent on applicable permits and resolution of staff review comments. Commercial site work requires an Improvement Location Permit.