There was one new filing of a candidate for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School board Tuesday in the upcoming November general election.  Jackie Howell is running in District 1.

Here is a rundown of filings for the HSE Board so far:

District 1

Jackie Howell
Tiffany Pascoe

District 2

Juanita Y. Albright
Janet Pritchett

District 3

Dawn Lang

District 4

Julie A. Chambers
Ben Orr

View the district map at this link. (see “current district lines on the right side of the page)

Voters only cast ballots for the district in which they reside for this election cycle.  The filing deadline is noon August 26.

There are a number of ways to slice and dice school test scores.  At a Tuesday morning work session, the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board received a look at various testing of students in the district from Assistant Superintendent Matt Kegley.

The report Dr. Kegley presented compared and contrasted HSE testing with the top 41 public school corporations in the state, as measured by the student population.  HSE is the fourth-largest district in Indiana by that measure.

The report was detailed, but here are a few highlights:

–The iRead-3 testing, given only to third-graders, shows HSE second in the state in 2022, although the score dropped slightly compared to 2021.  Zionsville had the highest score in that category among the 41 school districts.

–The iLearn English/Language Arts results showed improvement when measured against the 41 corporations in grades 3-7 and remained the same at grade 8.  The overall score also improved.

–The grades 3-8 iLearn math scores showed improvement in some grades, and some slightly lower by comparison.  The overall score was up slightly.

–Dr. Kegley’s data reveal improvements in every demographic breakdown.  However, he emphasized much work must be done, because even with those improvements, some group scores are much too low.  For example, black student scores in English/Language Arts and Math are both up, but are still low compared to other demographic groups.

–2022 was the first year that all juniors were required to take the SAT exam.  Before, mostly students expecting to enroll in college took that test.  In 2022, HSE had the third-best score among the 41 in reading and writing, with Zionsville and Carmel ahead and Center Grove fourth.  HSE was also third best in SAT math scores.

–Next steps listed by Dr. Kegley include implementing a new literacy curriculum, working with individual school buildings to best understand that building’s scores and talk with elementary and junior high school leaders to put the math scores into context.

You can view the entire data presentation by Dr. Kegley on the test scores at this link.

When initiating this news blog in January of 2012, local news was in trouble at that time.  My thoughts at the time were this – I would write a local news blog in Fishers until the local news drought sorts itself out, then I can go back and genuinely retire.

Anyone remotely following the local news scene is aware that nothing has been sorted out.  In fact, the local news situation, with a few notable exceptions, is much worse today compared to January of 2012.

The past week was not a good one for local news in this area,  First, Urban One, the company that is in the process of purchasing the Emmis Broadcasting stations in Indianapolis, announced that they were letting Eric Berman go.  Eric was the dean of the Statehouse press corps.  His institutional knowledge about Indiana state government is well known and his pink slip is a loss for all of us consuming news of state-wide interest.

Eric says he’s looking for his next chapter in life and I would hope more than one company would latch on to his journalistic talents.  This is a sad time for Indiana journalism if Eric is no longer reporting.

Then, there is Gannett, owner of a long list of Indiana newspapers, including the state’s largest, The Indianapolis Star.  Gannett is a profitable company with a CEO that earns at least $7 million per year, based on a number of news reports.  Yet, Gannett’s profits are down, mostly because the company is having trouble on the business side of the house.

The drop in profits wasn’t because of anything journalists did, yet they are paying the price.

The good news at the Star is that there will be no layoffs there.  But that is only because there are a number of unfilled openings on the news side of the operation and Gannett simply will not fill the open positions.  Again, that will cut into the news product you will find at the Star.

However, a number of smaller Gannett local newspapers across the state of Indiana are issuing pink slips to a number of reporters, resulting in less news coverage.

I want to repeat that I always encourage everyone to subscribe to your local media outlets.  That is because the remaining journalists at these news operations need to be supported.  Without subscribers, the situation only worsens,

I have tried to end this blog at least twice.  The first time, I made no public announcement about it and was persuaded by key people in Fishers I should continue the blog.

In 2020, I publicly announced the end of the blog.  Then, COVID hit so I promised to continue a little longer.  But I ended up with a pretty bad case of COVID.  I wasn’t hospitalized but it was so bad I couldn’t do much of anything due to a lack of energy.

That bout of COVID game me more time to think and reflect.  Once recovered, I decided to continue the blog, after all that thought and reflection.  It was not an easy decision.

I am not as young as I used to be.  I find myself making more errors.  Thanks to you, my readers, for pointing out my flubs so I can correct them.

There is some hope for local news in some corners,  For example, a nonprofit group is establishing news operations in statehouses across the nation,  The Capitol Chronicle has been in operation a few weeks, part of that nonprofit effort, and doing good work so far.

I sincerely hope a solution is found the the local news crisis.  I will soon celebrate my 71st birthday.  My health is relatively good now, but I have had a couple of health scares within the last two years.  I plan on writing this blog and producing podcasts as long as my health holds out.

I am just a volunteer that was once a newsy before changing careers and retiring.  Fishers needs an institution, for-profit or not-for-profit, that can carry on the coverage of local news in a place like Fishers.

Let’s see if the entrepreneurs of Fishers can come up with a solution.

An increase in hospital admissions has resulted in the Fishers Health Department COVID-19 Community Level remaining in the medium level.  That’s according to an update provided to the Fishers City Council in advance of the Monday council session.

Local wastewater surveillance shows fluctuating but decreasing COVID-19 rates.  Health department officials say this wastewater data appear to track cases at a 14-day average.

Vaccine and testing demand remains steady. FHD still administers roughly 390 COVID vaccines and 260 tests weekly.

As to the Monkeypox outbreak, the department says there are no confirmed cases in Fishers so far, “but is likely to occur soon. Emergency response plans are drafted and being adjusted as guidance changes.  FHD has limited testing supplies but many labs including LabCorp and Quest also have capability. FHD has received Jynneos vaccine.”:

For more local health information, go to the Fishers Health Department  Web site at this link. 

If you listened to my podcast with Jake Reardon McSoley and Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness last week, or read my story based on that podcast posted August 8, the mayor talked about some big economic development projects to be put before the City Council.

The REV mixed-use development, including some condos expected to sell for $1 million, just west of the Nickel Plate Trail along 116th Street, has been announced, projected to be a $35 million investment, and that economic development agreement will be before the City Council Monday night.

However, the mayor also said more projects were to be announced and placed before the council Monday, with a total of a quarter-of-a-billion-dollars in investment within our city.  (Note, I got the dollar amount wrong on my original story and corrected it later…dangers of journalists doing math).  Fadness described one upcoming project as “downright cool.”

City officials tell me the announcement of those, so far unannounced,  projects has been delayed.  There is no indication at this point that the projects are not going to happen, the announcement and council action on these projects have apparently been been put off.

So, it appears we will need to wait a little longer to learn of what the mayor describes as a “downright cool” plan and additional development announcements.

STATE ROAD 37 AND 146TH STREET
All left-turn lanes are currently restricted on SR 37 and on 146th Street with traffic moved to the interior lanes. Thru traffic and right turns on SR 37 and 146th Street will remain open. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes for all left turn access. View an alternate route map here.  

On Saturday, August 13 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., there will be single lane restrictions in place for westbound and eastbound 146th Street to form the curb and gutter along the pavement edge.

On Monday, August 15 and Tuesday, August 16 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., there will be single lane restrictions in place for westbound and eastbound 146th Street to pour the curb and gutter. 

On Monday, August 15 thru Friday, August 19, there will be single lane restrictions for northbound and southbound SR 37 and eastbound and westbound 146th Street for milling and resurfacing of the ramps and 146th Street. 

STATE ROAD 37 AND 131ST/135TH STREET
135th Street, west of SR 37, is currently closed as work progresses on the project. SR 37 will remain open both northbound and southbound and allow right in/right out access at 131st Street. View the detour map here.  

Please drive with caution through this area. To learn more about the State Road 37 Improvement Project and sign up to receive text updates, visit 37Thrives.com.

The inside lane of the Technology Drive is currently closed to traffic to allow for construction of new pavement in the inside lane.  One-way traffic will be in place in the outside lane as shown here.  Access to all businesses will be maintained during the construction.

On Monday, August 15 between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., there will be single lane restrictions on northbound and southbound Commercial Drive from 116th Street to Technology Way while repairs are made to business aprons. 

On Tuesday, August 16 and Wednesday, August 17 between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., Fishers Corner Blvd. will be closed for asphalt patching from Commercial Drive to the McDonalds entrance/exit.

On Sunday, August 14 between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., eastbound Fall Creek Road will be closed from Brooks School Road to Bridgewater Road for strip patching. Barricades will be in place to prevent eastbound traffic.

On Tuesday, August 16 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., there will be single lane restrictions in place for westbound 116th Street at Hague Road for installation of a wood guardrail. 

On Thursday, August 18 and Friday, August 19, the right turn lane in front of the First Internet Bank will be restricted between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for the replacement of concrete sidewalk panels. 

Comcast will have daily lane restrictions in place on westbound 116th Street between Cameron Drive and Allisonville Road and northbound Allisonville Road between 116th Street to the Kroger signal for overhead work. Restrictions will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. 

ADA ramp and curb reconstruction has started taking place in Brookston Place and Valleys at Geist as part of the 2022 Resurfacing Project. Homeowners will be notified via door hangers prior to any curb reconstruction near their home. After ADA ramp and curb reconstruction is completed, those areas will be restored with topsoil and seed. It is the responsibility of the homeowner to water the seed for the seed to germinate. Prior to road resurfacing, residents will be notified via street signage for street parking restrictions.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools released results of the 2021/2022 iRead3 testing and say third grade students at HSE were among the highest in the state for reading, evaluation and determination.

The IREAD-3 assessment was given to 1,545 third grade students across the district’s 13 elementary schools.  According to the results released on Wednesday by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), 94% of HSE students have mastered foundational reading skills by the end of third grade.

“As we continue to make strides in core academic subjects, it is important to remember our students are more than a test score,” said Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes in an HSE Schools news release. “Our teachers and staff work diligently every day to ensure our students are well-rounded, innovative thinkers capable of meeting the demands of an ever-changing world community.”

Hamilton Southeastern Schools’ IREAD-3 scores ranked second in the state among districts in the top 10% in enrollment and was the highest scoring in Hamilton County.

The school district says students in seven of the district’s 13 elementary schools scored 95% or higher in the iRead-3 testing.

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Superintendent Yvonne Stokes provided a defense of the district’s curriculum at the end of Wednesday night’s school board meeting, saying HSE Schools “have not, shall not, will not, and we do not support the teaching of Critical Race Theory, or, what some call CRT.  Public schools have been the target of such claims for several months now.  With classes back in session, unfortunately, it appears that this narrative is once again being shared. ”

Dr. Stokes described one particular course, “Ethnic Studies.”  This is a class mandated to be offered as an elective by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), according to the superintendent, and is not required for graduation.

“Part of the curriculum, mandated by the state of Indiana, for this specific course, is that students explore ways that race, and racism, have impacted people’s lives,” Dr. Stokes said.  “We do this by exposing students to different voices and authors who share their various experiences with race and students are taught the true history of world in which we live.  We encourage students to celebrate their identity and honor others’ identity as part of this upper-level elective course.  Keep in mind that not all classes are designed for every student.”

Parents are encouraged to reach out to individual teachers and school administrators with any questions about the instruction provided to their students.

“So, once again, and I just want to reiterate, that there is language out there and claims we are teaching CRT and we are not condoning any teaching of CRT,” Dr. Stokes said.

Stephanie Loane has been the central office administrator for elementary education for many years at Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools, but Dr. Loane is preparing to retire.

The HSE School Board voted to appoint Danielle Fetters Thompson to replace Dr. Loane at Wednesday night’s board meeting.

Fetters Thompson has been the principal at Lantern Road Elementary since 2004, an “A” rated school by the Indiana Department of Education. She has also served as a representative for various district-level committees and projects, such as student handbook, redistricting, enrollment and staff bargaining.

“Danielle Fetters Thompson has more than two decades of administrative experience, and she knows this district and the students we serve, said Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes in an HSE Schools news release. “I am confident she will excel in her new role and will help advance student learning and achievement.”

Fetters Thompson will assume her new role with HSE Schools once a replacement is named at Lantern Road.

I believe this is true – I’ve written this blog for over ten years and every year I have encouraged local residents to pay attention during the budget process.  I realize the numbing numbers attached can put many of us to sleep.  But city budgets provide a set of priorities established by our elected officials.  The mayor proposes and the City Council provides final approval to each year’s spending plan.

It is good to see that Fishers is making an effort to let citizens know about the major meetings involved in the 2023 budget,  The first meeting was the City Council Finance Committee session August 10th.  It is already too late for that, but the public will have plenty of opportunities ahead.

Below is a listing of budget-related meetings coming-up.  This is your city, your tax money and your local budget.  It is also your chance to get involved.

Below is the city’s list of upcoming budget meetings.  Remember City Hall is now vacated, preparing for the reconstruction.  So, check for the locations if you plan to attend any of these meetings:

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Special Finance Committee Meeting
August 24 at 1p.m.
Pavilion Conference Room (10 Municipal Dr., Fishers)
Presentation of the proposed 2023 City Budget

Special Finance Committee Meeting
September 8 at 8:30 a.m.
Pavilion Conference Room (10 Municipal Dr., Fishers)
Presentation of 2023 departmental budgets by department directors

Finance Committee Meeting
September 14 at 5 p.m.
Pavilion Conference Room (10 Municipal Dr., Fishers)
Committee and city staff discuss 2023 capital items and debt

City Council Meeting
September 19 at 7 p.m.
Launch Fishers (12175 Visionary Way, Fishers; Huston Theater)
Presentation of 2023 budget, 1^st reading, Public Hearing

City Council Meeting
October 10 at 7 p.m.
Launch Fishers (12175 Visionary Way, Fishers; Huston Theater)
City Councilmembers conduct the final vote and adoption of the 2023 budget