The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board has already enacted a plan to have students return for in-person classes as school begins again Wednesday, August 4th.  The board discussed a resolution that would once again allow the school administration to react to any urgent matter that would change that in-person plan.

The board had acted previously to take charge of the policy for in-person versus virtual classes as guidance from medical experts changed.  A vote on the resolution is to be taken at the next regular board meeting scheduled for July 28th.

Board member Suzanne Thomas asked that the board table the proposal, but no other board members appeared to support her.

The board also considered three changes to policies, dealing with the mission statements, board meetings and online video broadcasts of board meetings.  Public speakers discussed how to make the videos more accessible and some want the mission statement to be centered more on academics.

The policies will also be up for a vote July 28th.

The board did decide to vote on one discussion item, passing an extension of two custodial services contracts, with  ABM and Executive Management Services.  The contract with Pristine Clean will be allowed to expire at the end of July.  Existing Pristine Clean contract schools will be assigned to Executive Management Services.

The HSE Board is allowed an appointment to the Hamilton East Library Board, which runs the libraries in Noblesville and Fishers.  The current appointment is expiring soon and the board must make a decision on its appointee.  The board plans to discuss the appointment at a July 20th work session.

The board also approved a contract with Amy Selby to be the new Executive Director of Exceptional Learners.

When I last spoke to Scott Spillman on a podcast, which was June of 2020, there were no spring sports happening.  Mudsock Youth Athletics was hoping that fall sports were at least possible.

More than a year later, spring sports are underway and nearly finished for 2021 and his nonprofit group is gearing up for fall sports.

Here is my conversation with Scott.

Wednesday was the first Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board meeting with Dr. Yvonne Stokes as the new superintendent.  Dr. Stokes officially started the job on July 1st.

Her first board meeting also happened to be the same day the state of Indiana announced ILearn test results, which show a lowering of scores state-wide, and according to state education officials, is largely due to the pandemic.

She did what she described as a “data dig” on the test results released by the state.

About 345 schools were listed on the ISTEP listings for high schools.  HSE’s two high schools were in the top 3% of all the districts tested, according to Dr. Stokes, including all schools, not just the public school sector.

For the ILearn test results, the HSE District was in the top 10% in Math, English and Language Arts, including schools of all sizes, including private schools.

Stokes says the results were good, but there is always room for growth.  “I am competitive when it comes to academic excellence,” said Dr. Stokes.

The new superintendent also talked about assuming the superintendent’s job.

“I want to thank (the) HSE School Board and the community, district staff and, of course, our students, for the opportunity to serve in the role of superintendent,” Dr. Stokes said at the board meeting.

She also thanked the many people sending her cards and flowers as she starts the superintendent position.

“I’m excited about all of the words of inspiration as I started this new journey,” Stokes told the local community.

She promises to listen and try to understand, even if there is disagreement in the end.

Dr. Stokes says she is working with the district staff and a consultant in planning what she describes as a listening and learning tour, going out into the community and hearing from people in the school district, both internal and external.

As you traverse the Nickel Plate Trail in downtown Fishers, you will encounter a new work of art, in the form of a mural painted on the police headquarters building.

The mural was introduced Wednesday morning in a special ceremony honoring artist Becky Hochhalter from Terre Haute.  The mural is a collage of all that is Fishers and also honors Fishers Police Department’s late K-9 Harlej.

“Becky’s mural embodies our vision for the city to not only represent who we are today, but who we hope to be in the future—a smart, vibrant, and entrepreneurial city energized and experienced through arts, architecture, and culture,” said David Decker, Chair of the Fishers Arts & Culture Commission, in a city news release. “The mural serves as a key activation point for the Nickel Plate Trail and is the start to many exciting projects to come.”

The mural was funded by the Fishers Arts & Culture Commission (FACC).

The City of Fishers plans to buy the assets of HSE Utilities, within the municipal area of Fishers, has been approved by the Fishers Board of Works and Public Safety.  The next stop for the transaction will come when the City Council considers the issuance of sewer revenue bonds to finance the purchase.

City Attorney Chris Greisl told the board money generated by the sewer operation will to be sole source of funds to pay the sewer bonds.  He also said there will be no rate increase to finance this purchase by the city – both city and current HSE Utilities customers will continue to pay their current rate once the purchase is complete.

There were two valuations done on HSE Utilities assets, each using different systems.  Both valued the assets at more than $90 million, the announced purchase price the city is to pay for the HSE assets within Fishers.  However, Greisl also says that price could fluctuate before the closing, but if so, should be in the city’s favor.

For example, there is a cash reserve held by HSE Utilities and a group of Noblesville customers that will be brought back to HSE as part of the deal.  According to Greisl, those adjustments lower the purchase price to $88.5 million.

As a utility regulated by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), HSE has filed its intention to sell the assets to Fishers, and the city has filed paperwork with the IURC in support of the sale.

Greisl expects a state hearing on the sale sometime in the fall of this year.

For more details, you can view the entire video recording of the Board of Works meeting at this link.

In one other action by the board, Pinnacle Indoor Sports was awarded a professional services contract to consult on the planned Fishers community center currently under development.  The contract is worth an estimated $190,000, but Mayor Scott Fadness said this is a month-to-month pact that can be terminated if either side wishes to do so.

The 9th annual Blues Fest at the Fishers Amphitheater will once again feature two nights of musical talent.

The city has announced the acts set to perform:

Friday, September 3

• Agents of Redemption – 5:20 p.m.
• Lil’ Red & The Rooster – 6:50 p.m.
• Bobby Rush – 8:15/8:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 4

• Doug Henthorn – 3 p.m.
• Mr. Kinetik – 4 p.m.
• Joanna Connor – 5:45 p.m.
• Bernard Allison – 7:15 p.m.
• Brandon “Taz” Niederauer – 8:45 p.m.

This is a free show with no tickets required.  But it is first-come, first serve on setting up your chairs.  Here is more guidance from the Fishers Parks & Rec Dept.:

Patrons are encouraged to wear face masks if they are not fully vaccinated. While no outside alcohol is allowed vendors will be on-site to purchase alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, food, and refreshments. Coolers, chairs, and blankets are welcome. 

The Blues Fest is becoming a Labor Day weekend tradition in Fishers.

City officials have decided to have more than one Shop Fishers event throughout the year, and the summer version is set to launch this Friday.  The summer Shop Fishers ends Friday, July 23rd.

There are more than 60 restaurants and other businesses offering deals.

Many of the specials being offered by local businesses will be on social media accounts.

For more details, use this link.

I spoke with Mayor Scott Fadness and Stephanie Perry from the city’s PR department in a podcast recorded about a month ago, and we talked about the July Shop Fishers sale, among other things.  You can listen to the podcast at this link.

As you travel around Fishers, you may have seen signs saying “Defund HSE Schools.”  People objecting to these signs have been contacted by City Councilor at-large Jocelyn Vare, and the city councilor is asking them to use proper procedures in removing the signs.

The reason residents are taking it upon themselves to remove “Defund HSE” signs is that they appear to be within the city’s right-of-way.  The rules are spelled out in the Fishers Unified Development Ordinance, Section 6.17.5 (G).

Vare says she has spoken to City Attorney Chris Greisl, who advises residents that believe such a sign violates the city ordinance to contact the city and Fishers code enforcement staff will remove the sign if in violation of the ordinance.

Such a sign can be legally placed on private property outside the city’s right-of-way with the permission of the property owner.

Vare told LarryInFishers she doesn’t understand the messaging behind the signs, but is most concerned about reports about the placement of the signs in violation of the city ordinance.

Vare has been concerned about stories she has learned of private citizens removing the “Defund HSE Schools” signs themselves. “To me, I was kind of worried about that” said Vare.  “That could be a safety issue.”

Vare’s concern about the message the signs are projecting deals with protecting the funding for the local school corporation.

“The message is negative towards HSE Schools,” Vare said.  “I personally feel like funding for HSE Schools needs to be protected, that’s how we keep our schools strong.”

It is not known what person or group is behind the “Defund HSE Schools” signs.  There is a Facebook page and Twitter account named “Defund HSE Schools” but there is no indication on either account what person or persons are posting on those accounts or placing the signs.

There is plenty of road construction in Fishers, some continuing and other smaller projects underway.

Here is the latest rundown, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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Fishers moved to consolidate sewer services within the city limits by announcing its intention to purchase a part of Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Utilities that currently serves the city.  HSE Utilities filed a petition with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) Friday requesting approval of the sale, with the City of Fishers filing a petition in support of the move.

The city says it is paying $90 million for the assets involved, with Fishers expected to issue sewage revenue bonds financing the purchase.  City officials say in a news release it “does not anticipate raising user rates to complete the financing.”

“Through this acquisition, the City can make a strategic investment to provide its community with complete ownership over all sewer assets within Fishers,” said Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness in the city news release. “Due to strategic investments in our municipal utility and the expertise of our staff, the City is well prepared to consolidate the utilities and provide consistent service and support for all Fishers residents. To be able to finance this purchase without a single penny of increased rates while maintaining the level of service is a real win.”