Bond financing took up most of the time at the Wednesday night session of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board.

First, the board voted to refinance 2 bonds issued in 2014.  Most bond debt has a call date, generally 10 years into a 20-year bond.  Both the 2014 bonds were 20-year debt instruments.  It is estimated the refinancing will save the school corporation $1.5 million in interest payments over the final 10 year life of the bond.  This debt currently carries a 5% interest rate, and experts say the current rate is 2.94%, although rates can vary daily and there is no guarantee what the interest rate will be the day the bonds are refinanced.

Secondly, the board discussed the first step in issuing general obligation bonds in the amount of up to $49 million.  There was a public hearing and no one chose to speak.  The bonds will be used to fund part of the 10-year plan to handle various needs, such as buildings, technology and school buses.  School officials said they structured this debt to not require any tax rate increase.  The board is scheduled to vote in this bond issue in May.

The school calendar for the 2025-2026 school year at Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools was approved unanimously by the school board Wednesday night.vote.  For more details on the calendar, use this this link to my previous story.

Deputy Superintendent Matt Kegley told the board the calendar provides for no flex days.  The school district will do everything possible to allow for in-person classes, but e-learning days can be utilized in bad weather situations.

When the effort to balance the number of days in both 1st and 2nd semesters was raised by the board, Kegley said if a few more days are needed, it is normally provided in the 2nd semester for state testing purposes.

Here is the latest from Hamilton County on the construction project at 146th Street and Allisonville Road:

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Beginning on or after Monday, April 15, after 7pm, Hamilton County, Indiana‘s contractor will utilize a lane restriction for bridge work in the righthand eastbound lane of 146th Street. In addition, the contractor will utilize short duration full closures of the eastbound lanes of 146th Street to set a bridge beam after 8pm. The westbound lanes of 146th Street will not be impacted by the bridge work.

The Hamilton Southeastern ( HSE) School Board will vote Wednesday night on a proposed school calendar for the 2025-2026 school year.

Classes would begin for students on Wednesday August 6, 2025.  Fall break is scheduled October 13-17.  The winter break would start December 19, 2025, with students returning to class January 5, 2026.  Spring Break would be held April 3-10.  The last day of classes for students would be May 22.

Commencement would have a rehearsal May 29, with the ceremony scheduled May 30.

This assumes the board approves the calendar with no changes.

Election time is here locally as the 2024 Indiana primary election is coming May 7.

The Hamilton County Election office is in need of election workers for May 7 at locations throughout the county.  You must be a registered voter in Hamilton County to qualify. Some jobs require training, but they are paid. If you’re interested in learning more, or would like to apply for a position, please fill out and submit your application at this link.

The Fishers Arts Council announces the ongoing STAR Bank Senior Showcase exhibit, featuring exceptional work by senior students from Hamilton Southeastern and Fishers High Schools. The showcase, held at the Collaboration Hub at the Hamilton County Community Foundation, aims to highlight the artistic prowess and creativity of young talents in the community.

Since its opening on Thursday, March 28, the exhibit has captured the attention of art enthusiasts and supporters alike. Displaying a diverse range of artworks including 2D and 3D pieces, as well as poetry, the showcase boasts 126 pieces of 2D artwork, 47 pieces of 3D artwork, and 9 poems. Art aficionados who missed the HSE District Art Show are encouraged to seize the opportunity to witness this impressive display.

The exhibit is a culmination of the efforts of dedicated Visual Arts teachers from both high schools. Teachers such as Jasmine Osborne, Danielle Ontiveros Goodwin, Lisa Brown, and Erin Warner from Fishers High School, alongside Angela Fritz, Julie Strawhacker, Daniel Moosbrugger, Craig Helming, and Lauren Reed from Hamilton Southeastern, have worked tirelessly with their students throughout the year to nurture their talents and creativity.

To celebrate the achievements of these budding artists, a free public reception is scheduled for Friday, April 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. The highlight of the evening will be the Scholarship Awards Ceremony at 6:45 p.m. During the ceremony, winners will be awarded scholarships totaling over $4,200 across various categories including Drawing, Photography, Painting/Mixed Media, Digital Art, and 3D. The prestigious Jordan D. Snider Award for Artwork Best Reflecting the Written Word, sponsored by Catherine Snider, will also be presented. Additionally, honorable mention winners will receive recognition thanks to sponsors Laura and Ed Villanyi.

The Fishers Arts Council extends its gratitude to STAR Financial Bank, the Title Sponsor for the 15th Annual Senior Showcase, for their continued support of arts education and youth development. Other sponsors include Four Day Ray Brewing, Schoolhouse 7 Café, Boomerang Development, Fishers Dental Care, and The Goddard School on Brooks School Road.

The exhibit’s judging is entrusted to Shannon Bennett, VP of Events and Exhibitions, and Alex Moore, Exhibitions Manager, both from the Indy Art Center. Their expertise ensures a fair and discerning evaluation of the artworks on display.

Fishers Arts Council invites the community to join in celebrating the talents of these young artists at the Second Friday reception on April 12 from 6-8 p.m. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the artists and their teachers, enjoy art and poetry, and listen to musical performances by students from Hamilton Southeastern High School. The event promises an evening of artistic inspiration and appreciation for all ages.

For those unable to visit during regular gallery hours, appointments can be made by contacting the Fishers Arts Council directly. The exhibit will remain open to the public until Friday, April 26.

In a statement, the Fishers Arts Council expressed its gratitude to the businesses and sponsors whose contributions make events like the STAR Bank Senior Showcase possible. By investing in arts education and supporting young talents, these businesses play a vital role in nurturing creativity and enriching the cultural landscape of the community.

For more information about the STAR Bank Senior Showcase and upcoming events, visit the Fishers Arts Council website or contact them directly using this link to access their Web site.

We have all likely heard or read about surgeons using a robotic technology.  Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Fishers of offering an Open House that includes a demonstration and a chance for area students to practice the surgical technique.

It all happens April 25, 5pm-7:30pm, at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Fishers.  STEM and Robotics Club members from area high schools, including Fishers and HSE High Schools, will have the opportunity to experience our robotic-assisted surgery technology.  The public is welcome to attend as well.

Hospital officials say robotic-assisted surgeries result in shorter hospital stays, fewer complications, and improved overall outcomes for patients. AI and robotic technology enable surgeons to make more precise and less invasive surgeries in almost all disciplines, including orthopedics, gynecology, and general surgery.

If you would like to attend, sign-up using this link.

Jake Reardon McSoley, Director of Recreation and Wellness for the City of Fishers, presented a proposal to lower the nonresident parking fee for Geist Waterfront Park during the summer season from $50 a day parking fee charged last year to $25 a day in 2024.  The Board of Public Works and Safety approved the proposal Tuesday.  The measure now goes to the Fishers City Council for final approval.

Last year, the $50 per day nonresident parking fee was charged from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, what Reardon McSoley describes as “beach season.”  That is the time of year the city staffs the beach area with lifeguards and other personnel.

Reardon McSoley told the board the $25 per day nonresident parking fee this year will be charged “during peak hours.”  He did not specify when the peak hours would be.

Mayor Scott Fadness says there no longer will be a requirement to use the city phone app to enter the parking area for city residents.  The gate will be staffed and residents only need to show their driver’s license to enter the parking area free of charge.  Nonresidents paying the fee to park may pay the $25 fee in cash, with the city no longer requiring nonresidents to pre-pay the parking fee.

“We will continue to monitor this,” Fadness says.  “Obviously, we were concerned about attendance levels opening year, those numbers didn’t hit where we were worried they were going to hit.”  The mayor indicated the city could adjust the fee schedule if attendance numbers fluctuate.

The Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety voted Tuesday to move forward and publish the request for proposals (RFPs) inviting firms to bid on a city-wide trash collection service.

City Attorney Lindsey Bennett told the board the RFP calls for a 5-year contract beginning January 1, 2025.  Bidders are asked to submit proposals on a weekly trash pickup service, biweekly recycling and seasonal yard waste service. Once all bids have been submitted by June 1 and time is left for negotiations with the bidders, Ms. Bennett expects a public hearing to be scheduled in July.

The city expects 2 or 3 companies to submit bids.  Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness says he is “hoping for some decent competition.”

The mayor says his staff has used public comments to look into every plausible service residents may want and obtain a price for those services.  “Obviously, the base rate is your biggest driver but all the ancillary services will also come into play,” Fadness says.

The mayor also says the city wants to ensure current customers are not slapped with cancellation fees once a city contract is approved.

Jane & I had a great time using our approved glasses (thank you, Hamilton East Library) to watch the total solar eclipse.  It was an eerie but wonderful experience to see near night-time in the middle of the afternoon.

So, what about the predicted traffic jams this afternoon?  I checked the many INDOT cameras looking over area Interstate highways and found traffic volumes normal for a Monday afternoon.

Ashley Elrod, spokesperson for the City of Fishers, tells me as of 4pm, everything is “uneventful from our perspective.”

As the Boy Scouts always say, Be Prepared!  Fishers was prepared for traffic gridlock, but it appears all is normal.