It was a once-a-year gathering of the entire Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Corporation Staff, part pep rally, part informational, but mostly a kick-off to the 2018-2019 school year.  It all happened Tuesday morning at the Fishers High School Gymnasium.  Several school officials spoke and Mayor Scott Fadness talked about an internship program for HSE District students.

School Superintendent Allen Bourff told the staff that HSE 21 (an immersive educational program) allows for what he calls “deep learning,” which allows students to use the basic skills learned in the classroom.  He described a new data tool teachers can utilize this school year.

Mayor Fadness says the school system is the center of what he describes as a “race for human talent,” and the ability of students here to sustain Fishers as a growing community.  The mayor says he wants to work with local school officials to “come together collectively, toward a common goal,” which he describes as creating “an educational experience like nowhere else in the country.”

Fadness also talked about a new sofware program aimed at matching up internship opportunities with students looking for an internship.  He also is working on a way to bring the business community into the classroom and bring their expertise into the classroom.

Teachers and administrators left the kick-off event to prepare their classrooms for the beginning of classes Wednesday morning.

Here are a few pictures from the Tuesday morning event:

Continue reading HSE Schools’ Staff Kick-Off The New School Year →

School will be in session this week as summer break comes to an end for students and staff of the Hamilton Southeastern School District.  Plus, the school board will be discussing some major issues in its meeting this week.

First, school starts Wednesday, and the Fishers Police Department offers these reminders on school safety:

• Be prepared for a longer commute. School buses and teenage drivers will add to the traffic congestion in the mornings and afternoons.
• Expect the unexpected. Watch for slowing or stopped traffic and the possibility of children darting out into the street.
• Be patient and observe the law when approaching or following a school bus.Be very aware of intersections where children are waiting for the bus.

• Be mindful of reduced speed limits in designated school zones.Police officers will provide increased patrols in neighborhoods and school zones. Officers in marked and unmarked police cars will be enforcing school bus stop arm violations and speeding in school zones.Residents should report suspicious activity and dangerous drivers by calling the Hamilton County Dispatch Center at 911 or 317-773-1282.

You may see some flashing lights on signs in school zones.  This is a project the City of Fishers has been working on for several months.  When you enter a school zone, you must observe the lower school speed limit when the lights are flashing.  The city waited until federal funds were available to install the school speed limit signs with flashing lights during school hours.

The school board will hear from Dr. Bill Carnes about redistricting.  You may recall Dr. Carnes was the acting school superintendent after Brian Smith left to lead the Indiana School Boards Association as the school board went through the process of hiring Dr. Allen Bourff, our current superintendent.  Dr. Carnes will lay out the plan to redistrict later this year in planning for the new elementary school under construction along Southeastern Parkway.  No action is expected by the board, but Dr. Carnes presentation should provide a time line on how this will all be done.

Fishers High School Vice Principal Ryan Taylor is taking over as the administration point person on the district’s school safety program.  Mike Beresford had that responsibility before moving on as Carmel Schools Superintendent.  Taylor will talk with the board about security plans for the school year.

Matt Kegley, until recently HSE High School Principal and now Director for Secondary Education in the school district’s central office, along with Danielle Chastain, Riverside Intermediate School Principal, will brief the board on the Teacher Development System.

And, last but not least, the HSE High School State Champion Girls’ Track Team will be honored by the board.

The school administration building is still under renovation, so the board meeting will be held at Riverside Intermediate School, 11014 Eller Road, starting at 7:00pm

One of the highlights of the year in Fishers is the Mudsock Game, the annual rivalry contest between Fishers High School and Hamilton Southeastern on the gridiron.  This year’s game will be played at Hamilton Southeastern on September 7th.

It pits the veteran Fishers Coach Rick Wimmer against the newcomer to Hamilton Southeastern High School, new football Coach Adam Morris.

The crowd is normally huge and there is one way you can watch the game behind an end zone, right on the field…..you can buy a VIP ticket to the game in advance.  It’s a fund-raiser for the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Foundation.

Tickets are $50.00 each.  Don’t wait too long….these VIP tickets normally sell out well before the day of the game.

Here is what you get with your VIP pass:

·         Front row seat to all the action with adult-only (18 and over), end-zone seating.

·         A chance to win the Best Seat in the House Contest courtesy of The National Bank of Indianapolis!

·         Reception in the covered Citizens State Bank Hospitality Tent.

·         Complimentary snacks and drinks before and during the game.

·         Join Teachers Credit Union in recognizing all 21 teacher of the year recipients.

·         Free entry into the Ed Martin of Fishers drawing for a premium, VIP event parking spot.

·         VIP ticket pick up on game day at the Edward Jones Will Call tent.

The foundation funds innovative teacher led projects that benefit local schools and students.  Some of the money raised will go to student scholarships and district-wide projects.  The Mudsock Game also provides the perfect stage to recognize each Teacher of the Year from all of the 21 schools within the Hamilton Southeastern school district during halftime of the game.

Another unique element of the Mudsock football game is fans get to see the culmination of the annual PastaBowl.  This yearly food drive supports local food pantries and families in need within Hamilton County.

Order your tickets online at this link.

Adam Morris starts his first season as Hamilton Southeastern High School football coach.  Richie Hall, Sports Editor of the Hamilton County Reporter, joins me in the discussion with Coach Morris in this podcast.

Rick Wimmer is the only varsity football coach Fishers High School has ever had….Hamilton County Reporter Sports Editor Richie Hall joins me in this podcast with Coach Wimmer…

This week’s Fishers road construction report is important, mostly for two items not on it any longer.  The Brooks School Road bridge over I-69 is open, as is the new roundabout at 113th Street & Cumberland Road.  This Monday, be on the lookout for lane restrictions on 116th Street at the Depot.

Below is the full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers, for the work week beginning Monday, August 6th:

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116TH STREET

On Monday, August 6, there will be a temporary lane restriction on 116th Street in front of The Depot for the removal of a sign. Traffic control will be in place.

113TH STREET & FLORIDA ROAD 

The intersection of 113th Street and Florida Road is closed for the realignment and construction of a new roundabout at the intersection. The closure is expected to last appropriately 90 days. See the Detour Map.

SOUTHEASTERN PARKWAY 

Southeastern Parkway is closed from 136th Street to Isle of Man Way (Avalon subdivision) for approximately 30 days to complete a roundabout. Traffic to detour up Prairie Baptist Road to 136th Street. See the Detour Map.

ALLISONVILLE ROAD

Allisonville Road construction is in full swing. Traffic has been shifted to the east to allow for widening on the west side. Restrictions may be in place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. and flaggers will be on site directing traffic, as necessary. Through September, all southbound left turns from Allisonville Road onto 126th Street will be prohibited. This is an active construction site with reduced speed limits. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

131ST STREET   

Expect lane restrictions, weather permitting, along 131st Street between Allisonville Road and Lantern Road for the construction of the Conner Trail from Conner Prairie to the Municipal Complex. Lane restrictions will also take place on Lantern Road between 131st Street and Municipal Drive.

BROOKS SCHOOL ROAD  

Brooks School Road is closed for 30 days south of 116th Street between Desert Glen Drive and Club Point Drive. The detour route is Hoosier Road and Fall Creek Road. View the Detour Map.

106TH STREET   

106th Street is closed to through traffic from Eller Road to Allisonville Road and from Allisonville Road to Hague Road for the 106th Street Infrastructure Project. Closures for through traffic will also take place from Hague Road to the Crosspoint Boulevard/Lantern Road roundabout. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

I-69   

As part of a $92 million design-build contract, Milestone has added a third lane in each direction to the median, repaired and resurfaced existing pavement, and rehabilitated bridges and drainage structures on 15 miles of I-69 in Hamilton and Madison counties. Construction of an additional auxiliary lane between the 116th Street entrance ramp to I-69 South and the I-69 South Exit 204 ramp to 106th Street will continue through next spring.

I-69 South will be temporarily reduced to two lanes to allow space for the State Road 37 and 116th Street entrance ramps to safely merge while construction continues on the southbound auxiliary lane between the 116th Street and 106th Street ramps.

Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT via email or at 1-855-463-6848.

STATE ROAD 37

A public meeting was held on Tuesday, May 15at the Delaware Township Trustee Office. The meeting presentation and updated information is available on the project’s new website. The State Road 37 improvement project is a $124 million joint project between Fishers, Hamilton County, Noblesville, and INDOT. Questions or concerns may be directed to SR37@rqaw.com. 
OUTSIDE OF FISHERS   

The City of Carmel has closed 116th Street between Towne Road and Ditch Road, and between Clay Center Road and Spring Mill Road, until August 8.

I was out of pocket for a time this past week, so here is an update on what has been happening in Fishers lately:

–When $63,000 was raised in less than a month to fund an additional pair of Pickleball courts at Cyntheanne Park, one person’s large contributions made that happen.  The benefactor was revealed this week as Steve Cage, who wrote a check for $63,000 to make the two additional courts a reality.  Steve Cage is the founder and former owner of Stratosphere Quality, based in Fishers, Indiana, and also is behind Cage Campus, a real estate venture.  The park now will have a total of 8 Pickleball courts once construction is complete, and will reduce the wait times on good weather days to play Pickleball.  The park could also host regional tournaments in the future.

–Janet Pritchett has filed as a candidate for Hamilton Southeastern School Board in District 2.  Frank Whelan has already filed in that district as a candidate.  Michelle Fullhart fixed her filing glitch and is now a certified candidate for re-election in District 3.  Brad Banks has filed in District 4.  No filings yet in District 1.

–Both the Indianapolis Star and Indianapolis Business Journal have published stories that U.S Rail Holdings has filed a petition before the federal Transportation Safety Board to use the Nickel Plate rail line for transporting grain by rail.  The board has not acted on the petition, and the city says this is the equivalent of a football “Hail Mary” pass.  Fishers is moving forward with plans to convert the rail line to a trail.  I will keep on eye on this.

–Former Fishers Police Chief Mitch Thompson has been formally charged with OWI (operating while intoxicated) and endangering a person, according to several Indy-area media outlets.  The former chief is allowed to ask for a hearing before the local Merit Board if he wishes to continue as an officer with Fishers at a lower rank.  In the meantime, he is on paid administrative leave.  Thompson stepped down as chief in a letter to Mayor Fadness the day after the traffic accident that resulted in his arrest.

The Hamilton County Leadership Academy (HCLA) is a highly-respected program to allow county citizens to learn more about how the county works, and allows teams a chance to work on important projects.

Liz Tate will assume the role of Curriculum Dean for the Class of 2019. Mrs. Tate is the retired Vice President for Community Investment of the Central Indiana Community Foundation (CICF). The position of dean exists to help participants focus on timely topics within Hamilton County, see the connections and common themes within each program day and build strong, lifelong relationships with fellow participants, alumni and community leaders.

“As an alumni of HCLA and past President of the Board of Directors, I understand the power of HCLA and the incredible impact it makes within our community,” said Tate. “This program has a rich history and tradition. I am honored to be able to serve as dean this year. This new group of participants brings a wealth of knowledge and diversity of experience to the program. It is with great enthusiasm that I get to help them see Hamilton County from a different perspective, understand the issues confronting our communities and identify opportunities to make the county better for all people.”

Here is the listing of the 36 people selected for the 10-month program, starting this month:

Continue reading HCLA Names The Class of 2019 →

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There are 4 district seats up for grabs on the Hamilton Southeastern School Board in November, but the candidate filings have been slow in the early going.

So far, only three candidates have officially filed with the Hamilton County Election office in Noblesville – Frank Whelan in District 2, Brad  Banks in District 4 and incumbent Michelle Fullhart in District 3. (NOTE: Ms. Fullhart had a glitch in her paperwork filing, but should be officially filed soon)

Districts 2 & 4 are open seats.  John Delucia says he will not seek re-election in District 2 and in District 4, the incumbent Terry Tolle has says he has no plans to seek another term.

In District 1, incumbent Matt Burke cannot run for another term in that district because has has since moved to District 4, and had indicated he leans toward not seeking another term.

Matt Molter has announced plans to run for the board in District 2.

Voters living in the HSE School District cast their ballots for the candidate running within their district in this year’s balloting for school board.

The deadline to file a school board candidacy is noon, Friday, August 24th.