I have known many people in Fishers that have worked at improving civic education, and Mike Fassold is on the short list of people making a difference.  Mike was recently awarded the Champion of Civic Education Award from the Indiana Bar Foundation.

i have known Mike for many years.  One of my proudest moments was helping to prepare his We The People Fishers Junior High team for national competition.  That team won a national championship, and Mike’s teams would win many more.

Mike recently retired from teaching but has remained active.  I can think of a handful of people that have made civic education a cause.  Civic education often means civic involvement once these students become adults.

Congratulations, Mike, on a well-deserved honor!

Every now and then, I ask my readers to persevere when I take a point of personal privilege on this blog, which is mostly a volunteer activity.

In September of last year, I wrote about my brother Tim.  I am the oldest and he was the youngest of 6 children.  Tim died last year.

Tim was everyone’s friend, with a magnetic personality.  But he suffered from a serious disease, addiction.  That addictive behavior caused many problems for him throughout most of his adult life.  He did eventually marry Shelly and turned his life around.

Tim had been clean for many years, but the many years of addictive behavior led to serious health problems.  Tim died tragically at the young age of 56.

One group centered on helping those with addictive disease is the Hope Academy.  A special fund supporting the Academy has been established in Tim Lannan’s name.

I realize we are all bombarded with pitches from charitable organizations, most very worthy.  I am particular about where I make my contributions.

I am not pressuring anyone, but read the link below.  If you feel you want to support Hope Academy, there is an online donate button.

This fund is something that would warm Tim’s heart were he still with us.  I am just thankful we can all remember Tim Lannan in this special way.

Lannan GPS Fund

There were plenty of attendees at the Wednesday evening Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board meeting clad in red t-shirts, a symbol of support for teachers.

One of those wearing a red shirt was Stephanie Hunt.  She has spoken at previous school board meetings, but pulled no punches in her remarks before the board during public comment.

Board policy says any public comments must relate to an item on the board’s agenda for that meeting.  Hunt chose the hiring of a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) as the agenda item relating to her comments.

Hunt began by saying she is appearing before the board on behalf of teachers and staff, arguing “this administration has taken the board’s lead and spread the toxic work environment from this building to our schools.”

She took the board to task for not passing a normally routine renewal of top administrators contracts.  She was particularly critical of the district’s treatment of former CFO Katy Dowling.

“The new CFO has done nothing to deserve my concern, however, thanks to the direction that things have been going within the walls of this building, and our board, I struggle to understand what the pressing need was to replace a woman who had fully committed herself to that position and our district,” said Hunt.  She also pointed to the work Dowling did in support of the recently-passed renewal of a funding referendum for HSE Schools.

Hunt also pointed to a recent interview Superintendent Patrick Mapes recorded with WFYI radio reporter Rachel Fradette, saying HSE Schools would be “full transparent” and not run from scandals.  Hunt argues HSE has not been transparent.

The seating arrangements for board meetings have changed since Patrick Mapes was hired as the new superintendent, and Hunt pointed to that, asserting “this board has re-arranged to sit the (board) president next to Mr. Mapes, the removal of our teachers association president from her spot at the table, a clear attempt to put the teachers in their place, and the removal of the final piece of the last (administrator) makes it clear who is really running this show.”

No school officials responded to Hunt’s remarks.

There was no live-stream video of Wednesday’s board session due to technical issues, but the video recording is now available online.

When Fishers was planning a new City hall, from the beginning surveys showed a demand for art classes and activities.  The Fishers Art Center, on the first floor of new City Hall, has plenty of plans and in the coming weeks will get started in earnest.

Coming June 17 at 11am, the city will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the City Hall Fishers Art Center.

I was fortunate to have a tour of the art facility.  I am no artist myself, but it is clear Fishers has a first-class art facility.

Below is a news release from the Fishers Art Center.

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The Fishers Art Center, a partnership between the City of Fishers and Indy Art Center, features 1,200 square feet for art exhibitions, two art studios, a clay studio and a flexible theater with multiple configuration options to accommodate performances, meetings, art classes and events. This summer it is open to the public Monday through Friday and during evening and weekend class times. Eventually it will be open seven days a week. While class and camp costs vary, exhibitions are always free to view.

“Fishers Art Center is one of the most unique aspects of a municipal building in the country today,” said Mayor Scott Fadness. “We are proud to bring this highly desired amenity to our community.”

Mark Williams, president of Indy Arts Center, said, “This partnership allows us to bring what’s working at the Indy Art Center to Fishers and customize it for the community here, and continue to innovate, much like the community around us. We look forward to many collaborations with Fishers-based groups and artists.”

Opening events

June 10                               Summer camps start (register at fishersartcenter.org/classes/)

June 15, 8 a.m.-noon      Sneak peek and community art activities during Fishers Farmers Market

June 15, varying times    First “Make It Take It” art classes take place (register at fishersartcenter.org/adult-classes/)

June 17, 11 a.m.               Ribbon cutting for the Fishers Art Center in the Fishers Municipal Center with Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, Fishers City Councilors and Indy Art Center President Mark Williams

June 17                               Building open to the public for the Balderdash: Artworks by Kurt Vonnegut exhibition (free exhibition)

June 29                               Building open and activated with programming during Spark!Fishers

July 12, 5-8 p.m.               Inaugural community reception for Balderdash: Artworks by Kurt Vonnegut

Summer Art Camps

Spots are still available for the Fishers Art Center inaugural camp program. Camps are half-day, so campers who enroll in a morning and an afternoon camp can make it a full-day of art-making, along with outdoor breaks and lunch. Camps include clay, digital art, drawing and painting, cartoons and characters, and more. Instructors are trained teaching artists, and classes are small, with an instructor and assistant in every camp. Students will have fun, make new friends, and enjoy a rewarding art-making experience in the new state-of-the-art studios at the Fishers Art Center. Options at fishersartcenter.org/classes/.

Make It Take It Art Classes

Make It Take It (MITI) classes are two-hour sessions designed to serve as art class “samplers.” From a “Basic Brushstrokes” painting class to clay cups, and from felted flowers to an iPad pet portraits class, there’s something from everyone. See more MITI options at fishersartcenter.org/adult-classes/. Regular session-long classes will start in the fall.

Art Exhibitions

The inaugural exhibition, Balderdash: Artworks by Kurt Vonnegut, is a collaboration with the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library and features prints on loan from the museum as well as prints from the Indianapolis Art Center’s permanent collection. Various interactive elements will encourage visitors to engage with themes and styles while learning about the history and methodology used by the famed Hoosier writer and artist. The free exhibition runs June 18-Aug. 18, with an opening reception July 12, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Through the summer, Fishers Art Center hours are the same as the Fishers Municipal Center, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., as well as during evening and weekend Make It Take It class times.

The Hamilton Southeastern School Board voted in favor of hiring a number of new administrators at Wednesday night’s regular meeting.  The new Chief Financial Officer is Timothy Brown.  He replaces Katy Dowling, who recently submitted her resignation.

Barb Walters is the new Executive Director of Exceptional Learners, replacing Amy Selby, who resigned from that position.

Nicole Kaminski has been promoted from Assistant Principal to Principal at Southeastern Elementary.  Trae Heeter was named Assistant Principal at Southeastern Elementary.

Therisa Seymour moves to Principal at Geist Elementary.

John Sponsel is now the Principal of Lantern Road Elementary.

April Tuason is the new Assistant Principal at Fishers Junior High.

Anytime I spent time covering sports around the state of Indiana, I often heard stories about the late Angelo Angelopolous, a sportswriter for the Indianapolis News.  Let’s just say all the stories were respectful and he is a legend in local sports writing.

Angelopolous had written a book about the legendary Indy 500 driver Bill Vukovich.  Angelopolous died in 1962, the book was nearly finished, but never published.

Mark Montieth was able to find the original manuscript, edited it and has published the book all about the 2-time winner of the 500 that was on his way to a 3rd consecutive win at the Speedway when he lost his life in a tragic 1955 crash.

I spoke with Mark Montieth, a Fishers resident, all about the book, Agelopolous and Bill Vukovich.  I think you will find our conversation interesting.

Changes are coming to the traffic pattern at the 96th Street & Allisonville Road construction site, but if all goes as scheduled, the roundabout at that location should be “fully functional” by October of this year.

During a Wednesday afternoon Webinar updating the 96th & Allisonville project, Assistant Fishers City Engineer Tami Houston said the closure of the west end of 96th Street at Allisonville will be completed around July 4th.  The west end will then reopen to traffic and the east side of 96th Street at Allisonville will close July 8.

There will also be construction work at commercial sites near the project, with access to the businesses to continue.  One lane of traffic north and southbound on Allisonville Road will continue to be open during the construction.  Traffic signals near the area of 96th Street and Allisonville will continue to function.

Houston said the roundabout at 96th Street and Allisonville Road will be “fully functional” by October of this year.  However, all the landscaping and grading at that location will not be complete until the spring of 2025.

The state of Indiana is proposing some major changes in high school graduation diplomas and those proposals are sparking quite a bit of controversy all around Indiana.  I sat down and talked with Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Deputy Superintendent Dr. Matt Kegley about those proposed actions at the state level.

The state is floating the idea that some students, in their high school first 2 years, will take the required core courses.  In the junior and senior years, students will have the flexibility to leave the walls of the classroom and work on job experience and certifications.

One part of the state plan, not yet implemented, would eliminate the Academic Honors diploma.  Kegley says this move is not necessary.

“I don’t know that there was a need to move away from what has been the academic honors diploma,” said Kegley. “I’m concerned about the mixed message it might send to our families that the courses laid out in what is currently the academic honors diploma aren’t necessary, even if they plan to go to a 4-year university.”

Kegley sees this state proposal as sending a “mixed message” to local families.  It is all about having students headed to a 4-year university that are prepared for that challenge.

Could HSE offer its own Academic Honors diploma if the state enacts these changes as proposed?  Kegley says a future diploma would not be academic honors the way the state currently recognizes it…but HSE could say we are going to have an HSE academic honors diploma.  HSE would designate & tell students to pursue that if your goal is this, here are the courses you need.

The question being raised from educators around the state about these new diploma proposals centers on what damage might be done to students aiming to attend a 4-year college.  “I’m concerned…a level of concern about that,” says Kegley  “Are we, as a state, sending a message that going to 4-year college isn’t important?”

Kegley’s bottom line message is this – let’s allow the flexibility, but don’t damage college paths we have now.

Melissa :Loiselle sat down with me for a podcast discussion, but wants everyone to know she corrects one statement made.  Ms. Loiselle talks about 8-track tapes, but meant to say 8MM home movies.

We talk about  a number of issues, including the possibility of a third library building, the many services provided by the local libraries and how libraries are adapting to the digital age.

Listen at the link below.

Fishers city staff has now moved into the new City Hall after a long period of time scattered around the city as the new building was under construction.  Tuesday morning marked the first meeting of the Fishers Board of Works and Public Safety in the new center of city government.

Most of the items on the agenda were routine, but it featured the first time the board heard a utility bill appeal hearing.  Former Fishers City Planner Adam Zaklikowski says his state tax refund has been put on hold because he is named on a debt to Fishers for stormwater and sewer service.  Zaklikowski told the board he does not contest the debt is owed, but said this related to a dispute between himself and his ex-wife.  The board agreed the debt is due, but also agreed to take Adam Zaklikowski’s name off the debt, since he did not own the property for the period of service related to those bills.  Zaklikowksi now works for the Town of Fortville.