As Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools school board is set to meet in a special session Thursday, September 3rd, at 6pm.

The board decided it would be the entity making the call on how to handle decisions about virtual vs. in-person classes.

The Fishers Health Department announced Friday that although the COVID-19 Community Risk Rating remains at a Level 3 (Significant) the risk is moving downward.

Members of the public will be allowed to speak if signing-up per the board policies, on any agenda item.  The only agenda item for Thursday’s session is “operation report,” which will feature an update from Superintendent Allen Bourff on plans for virtual vs. in-person learning.

The Phase 1 construction manager contract for Geist Waterfront Park has been awarded to a local firm, Meyer-Najem.  The company announced Monday the City of Fishers has an agreement with city for the build – operate – transfer agreement.

“We are proud to work on this innovative and leading-edge project in our own community. It’s exciting for Fishers residents and visitors,” said Dan Lawson, Vice President of Business Development at Meyer Najem, in the company news release.

The first phase of Geist Park will include a 3,000 square foot community building with a multipurpose room, a beach-side playscape, picnic shelters, food truck parking and more. The site is a former mining operation, and will provide the first ever public access point to Geist Reservoir for the public.

For Phase I, Meyer Najem will be responsible for project schedule, estimating, budgeting, project safety, and construction. They will work directly with the City of Fishers and the other teams awarded city contracts – Browning Day and A&F Engineering.

“The Geist Waterfront Park is a unique opportunity to open up the beautiful waters and natural landscape of the Reservoir for all residents,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness. “With Meyer Najem’s partnership, we will be able to build within the timeframe and budget we need while creating a new and unique destination for all.”

Hamilton County Reporter

Fishers dropped its home opener Friday, falling to Pike 28-14.

The Red Devils controlled the first half, leading 7-0 after scoring on a seven-yard touchdown pass. Pike added two more touchdowns in the second quarter:
A minute into the period, Isaiah Martin rushed 86 yards into the end zone. The
Red Devils then made a 25-yard pass play to score with 18 seconds left and
lead 21-0 at halftime.

Meanwhile, Fishers had multiple drives into the red zone in the first half.

“We just couldn’t execute,” said Tigers coach Curt Funk. The coach said he
would take responsibility for that. “That’s something we’re going to put
an emphasis on in practice,” said Funk.

Fishers got on the board late in the third quarter when Lucas Prewitt sent a
35-yard pass to Landon Morris, who took it into the end zone. Pike scored on a pass
play during the first minute of the fourth period, but Prewitt answered minutes later, taking the ball in from the one. Wayne Christian made both extra-point kicks.

“They came out and responded in the second half,” said Funk. “We fell short,
but we played hard till the end and lost to a good Pike football team tonight.”

Prewitt had an outstanding night, completing 23 of 41 pass attempts for
273 yards. Jeffrey Simmons made nine receptions for 133 yards, while Morris
had seven for 95 yards. Shaun Kim led the rushing with 38 yards.

The Tigers are 0-2 and host Noblesville next Friday to begin Hoosier Crossroads Conference play.

Hamilton County Reporter

Hamilton Southeastern gave North Central, the No. 7-ranked team in Class 6A, a tough test on Friday before the Panthers came back to force overtime, then make a two-point conversion in the extra period to get past the Royals 36-35.

Southeastern got on the board first, with John McCall taking the ball in from the two-yard line. North Central responded with a touchdown later in the quarter, but the Royals began the second period with Blaine Wertz punching the ball in from the two. Alex Geroulis made both extra-point kicks, and HSE led 14-6.

The Panthers went ahead 17-14, but a huge play from Martice Taylor got Southeastern back in front. Taylor caught a pass from McCall, and took it 91 yards to the end zone. That put the Royals up 21-17, and that score would stand at halftime.

A field goal got NC within 21-20, but Jack Wafford pushed Southeastern ahead
28-20 with 35.4 seconds left in the third.

Midway through the fourth, North Central blocked a Royals field goal attempt and took it in for a touchdown. The Panthers went for two, and were successful, tying the game at 28-28.

Neither team scored again in the fourth quarter, so it was on to overtime.

Southeastern went first, and Wertz got his team the lead with a two-yard run. Geroulis made the extra-point kick to put the Royals up 35-28. But the Panthers scored on fourth-and-1, then once again made a two-point conversion.

“They ran a nice little play on the goal line,” said HSE coach Michael Kelly.
Kelly said he was “really proud” of how his players responded and that his
team played “really well.”

“I thought they fought,” said Kelly.

McCall finished the game 11-of-16, totaling 190 yards. Taylor made three of those catches for 113 yards. Wertz led the rushing with 48 yards. On defense, Nate Haas made eight tackles (six solo, two assists), with Mikah Phillips and Seth Wilson both getting four solo stops; Wilson also had two assists.

The Royals are 1-1 and open Hoosier Crossroads Conference play next Friday
at Avon.

I have loved movie theaters since I was old enough to know what they were.  We had no theaters near us when growing up, so it was rare for me to visit one. It felt like magic every time I went to the movies.

I had a bit of that feeling as I walked into a movie complex for the first time since March.  And, the movie, The Personal History of David Copperfield, was one I knew little about.  I was familiar with the character created by Charles Dickens but had no idea how film maker Armando Iannucci would handle the story.

Is the film worth watching?  Here is my review.

The Fishers Health Department shared two pieces of news Friday, one on the overall community risk related to COVID-19 and the start of younger people in the community eligible for coronavirus testing.

Director Monica Heltz said in a video posted Friday that the community health risk dashboard is now moving in a downward direction, which is a good measure.  The rating is still at Level 3 – significant….but is moving downward.  Heltz says the rating may be down into Level 2 – moderate – early next week.

The department also announced that Fishers residents as young as 5 years of age are now eligible for the free COVID-19 testing program available to anyone living in the City of Fishers.  Heltz recommends parents and their children view a video that will soon be available on the health department Web site before going to a test.  You may schedule a test for people as young as 5 as of Saturday, August 29.

Access the Fishers Health Department Web site at this link.

The road construction listing for Fishers is once again a very long one.

Below is the list, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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When HSE Schools went with all-virtual classes last spring, the district said employees would remain on the payroll for as long as possible, even those not working.  After September 18, HSE District food service workers in grades 5-12 will be on unpaid furlough.

HSE Schools spokesperson Emily Abbotts tells LarryInFishers that the school corporation can no longer afford to pay these employees.  Ms Abbotts clarified that these food service workers will be working through September 4th.

“Many have been working, preparing meals for the virtual students,” Ms. Abbots said.

It is presumed the food service employees would be recalled when students return to their classrooms.

(NOTE: an earlier version of this story incorrectly gave the impression these food service workers had not been on the job, but is now clarified to show they have been working and that will end after September 4th and they will be paid through September 18)

Janie Ulmer came to the local school district from LaPorte and was running the local Academy, designed for students unable to function in a normal school setting.  After her time at the Academy, Ms. Ulmer was tapped to be the new principal at Hamilton Southeastern High School.  She talks about a number of subjects, including starting her new job during a pandemic and virtual learning, in this podcast.

The Hamilton Southeastern School Board had plenty to handle in the regularly-scheduled board meeting Monday night, including a protest outside the administration building and a presentation on the hybrid learning plan.

40-50 people chanted and carried signs close to Cumberland Road, in front of the building where the board meeting was held.  One person spoke at the board meeting advocating for the school district to bring students in all grades back to 100% in-person classes.

The meeting largely consisted of school officials reviewing building cleaning plans, plans for buses and substitute teachers.  Administrators told the board 55% of substitute teachers are willing to return.  There is a large permanent staff of substitutes, with 72 as the ideal number.  There are now 35 full-time substitute teachers in the district.

The plans for hybrid learning were unveiled to the board.  You can read more details about that at this link.

Superintendent Allen Bourff said it is the goal of administrators and the board to have students back in their regular classrooms 100% of the time.  However, the district is working with the Fishers Health Department on when that is safe for students and staff.  Bourff also said the Indiana State Department of Health issued new guidelines for schools just hours before the board meeting.

Preschool through 4th grade students are set to begin a 50-50 plan, where over a two-week period, students will spend half of their time in the school building and half of their time learning virtually.

School officials told the board an online dashboard is being developed to allow anyone to know how many new cases of COVID have been reported among students and staff, by school building.  That dashboard is expected to be available September 14.

It was also revealed at the meeting that student enrollment has dipped slightly this school year, from roughly 22,000 students down to about 21,500.  CFO Cecilie Nunn said this may be due to some parents making other arrangements due to COVID-19.

As the meeting concluded, Board President Michelle Fullhart, speaking for herself and not the board, said teachers “are not the enemy” in the debate over virtual vs. in-person classes.  The enemy is the virus, according to Fullhart.  She added the school administrators, school board and local health department are not the enemies here either.

“If we could just come together and fight against this virus, instead of each other, our community would be a much better place,” Fullhart said.