Hamilton Southeastern Schools will celebrate 1,754 graduates this week as Fishers High School and Hamilton Southeastern High School hold commencement ceremonies at the Fishers Event Center.

For the second consecutive year, both high schools will hold graduation at the Fishers Event Center, giving graduates and their families a shared community venue to mark the milestone.

Fishers High School will hold its commencement ceremony Wednesday, June 3, at 7 p.m. Hamilton Southeastern High School will follow Thursday, June 4, at 7 p.m.

District officials say the Class of 2026 leaves Hamilton Southeastern Schools with a strong record of academic achievement and preparation for the next step after high school.

Combined data from the two high schools shows a projected graduation rate of 99 percent, with an average GPA of 3.5. One in four graduates earned a GPA of 4.0 or higher.

The district reports that 91 percent of graduates plan to pursue post-secondary education, while 9 percent plan to enter the workforce or military. Students in the Class of 2026 also earned 380 industry certifications.

“This graduating class has demonstrated excellence both inside and outside the classroom,” Superintendent Dr. Matt Kegley said. “Whether their next step is college, military service, the workforce, or another pathway, these students leave HSE prepared to make meaningful contributions to their communities. We are proud of all they have accomplished and excited to see what comes next.”

HSE officials said the Class of 2026 has built a legacy of academic success, leadership, service, athletic achievement, artistic excellence and community involvement throughout their time in the district.

Both graduation ceremonies will be livestreamed and recorded for those unable to attend in person.

The Fishers High School livestream is available at:

https://www.youtube.com/live/gZVlPmfhhZM?si=WEzZFdHVHPuM5fNT

The Hamilton Southeastern High School livestream is available at:

https://www.youtube.com/live/iDAZJzG5foU?si=cnefISYbQnToKkhB

Recordings of each ceremony will be available following commencement through the district’s YouTube channel.

Soccer fans across central Indiana will have three chances this month to watch Team USA chase World Cup glory on the big screen — for free.

Fishers Event Center will host three World Cup Watch Parties at the FORUM Credit Union Plaza, the open-air space just outside the venue, as the United States men’s national team opens its tournament run. Each party features giant screens, interactive fan activations, giveaways, games, and food and beverages available for purchase, all in a stadium-inspired atmosphere built for cheering alongside fellow supporters.

The watch parties are presented in partnership with sponsor Michelob ULTRA, which is staging fan experiences nationwide as the World Cup returns to U.S. soil for the first time since 1994.

The schedule:

• Friday, June 12 — Gates 8 p.m., kickoff 9 p.m. (USA vs. Paraguay)
• Friday, June 19 — Gates 2 p.m., kickoff 3 p.m. (USA vs. Australia)
• Thursday, June 25 — Gates 9 p.m., kickoff 10 p.m. (USA vs. Turkey)

Admission is free, with no tickets or registration required, and free surface parking is available. Because the plaza is an open-air venue, organizers encourage fans to bring lawn chairs or blankets and to dress for the weather — sunglasses, ponchos and similar gear depending on conditions.

Fishers Event Center, which opened in November 2024, seats 7,500 and hosts concerts, comedy, family shows and sporting events. It is home to three pro teams: the Indy Fuel (ECHL hockey), Indy Ignite (Major League Volleyball) and Fishers Freight (Indoor Football League).

More information is available at fisherseventcenter.com.

Retiring Hamilton Southeastern High School social studies teacher Chad Janney received a surprise honor on the final day of school, capping a 28-year career with Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

Janney was presented with a Distinguished Hoosier proclamation from Gov. Mike Braun during a year-end gathering of his social studies department colleagues. The presentation was made by Jason Urban, HSE assistant superintendent of secondary education.

The Distinguished Hoosier award is one of Indiana’s highest honors, recognizing individuals whose service, leadership and contributions have made a lasting impact on their communities and the state.

Janney was nominated for the recognition in honor of his nearly three decades of dedication to students, his passion for history and civic education, and his work to create meaningful classroom experiences.

His efforts received additional attention earlier this school year during the U.S. Department of Education’s History Rocks! tour at Hamilton Southeastern High School, where Janney’s work to bring history to life for students was highlighted.

As Janney retires from teaching, the award serves as a tribute to a career devoted to helping students better understand history, citizenship and public service.

Josh Perry, a longtime Fishers resident, Hamilton Southeastern High School graduate and parent of two HSE students, has filed as a nonpartisan candidate for the Hamilton Southeastern School Board District 2 seat.

According to a news release issued by his campaign,  Perry said his campaign will focus on steady and balanced leadership, practical problem solving, and what he describes as purposeful and thoughtful spending.

“I’m running for school board because I want to bring a nonpartisan, collaborative approach to give back to the schools and community that shaped who I am today,” Perry said in his campaign announcement. “As both a district graduate and parent, I’ve experienced our schools from both perspectives. I believe that our community is ready for steady, balanced leadership.”

Perry added that political division can distract from the work of the school district.

“I will listen carefully to the needs of our community, focus on practical solutions, and make decisions based on what’s best for students, families, and educators,” he said.

Perry grew up in Fishers’ Conner Knoll neighborhood and attended New Britton Elementary before graduating from Hamilton Southeastern High School in 2007. He later graduated from Purdue University in 2011, where he met his wife, Stephanie, who is also a Hamilton Southeastern High School graduate.

The couple now lives in West Fishers, raising their family in Stephanie’s childhood home. Their children, Parker and Caroline, attend Harrison Parkway Elementary and will be entering third grade and first grade this fall.

Professionally, Perry serves as Commercial Underwriting Manager for Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance. In that role, he leads a team of 15 underwriters and oversees commercial property and casualty underwriting for the state of Indiana.

The District 2 seat is one of 4 Hamilton Southeastern School Board positions on the ballot this year. Candidates are allowed to name a party affiliation if so choosing, but Perry has chosen to run as nonpartisan.

The Hamilton County Leadership Academy has announced 35 individuals selected for its Class of 2027.

The class includes people who live and/or work in Hamilton County and will begin the academy’s 10-month leadership program in August. The program is designed to give participants a closer look at issues facing communities throughout Hamilton County.

“Each year, we welcome an incredible group of leaders into the HCLA legacy, and this year is no different,” said HCLA Executive Director Maria Kanger. “The staff and leadership of HCLA are looking forward to watching the Class of 2027 learn, connect, and lead during their class year experience and into the future.”

Members of the HCLA Class of 2027 are:

Karl Ahlrichs, ExpertSpeaks

Jessica Barnett, Noblesville Chamber of Commerce

Nolan Barr, Abbott Laboratories

Keeton Bartol, Coverdale Consulting

Katt Boaz, Church Church Hittle + Antrim

Lisa Busse, CFRE, The Milk Bank

Whitney Carriger, Camptown

Sharon J. Coleman, Coleman Strategy and Experience Group, LLC

Bruce Cooley, Citizens Energy Group

Katherine Couch, Hamilton County Tourism

Parker Criswell, Ginovus

Rachel Firestone Mohammad, 9th Street Bistro

Blake Fogelsong, Clancy’s Hospitality

Scott Grady, Indianapolis Airport Police Department

Mary Gould, Gaylor Electric

Scott Higginson, American Structurepoint

Toni Holcombe, Independent Data & Process Analyst

Dr. Greg Hunt, Westfield Washington Schools

Dawn Lang, Life Centers

Tom MacDonald, City of Noblesville

Harrison Massonne, Meyer Najem Construction

Brandt McCoskey, ISC Sports Network

Jessica Metz, Ivy Tech Hamilton County

Nick Pease, Grace Church

Ryan M. Potter, REAP Development Group

Leslie Poynter, Indiana Department of Education

Emily Reynolds, Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad

Lauren Stafford, Noblesville Schools Education Foundation

Stacey Summitt-Mann, University High School

Maranda Taylor, The Hagerman Group

Sarah Tosh, Planwell

Andrew Upchurch, Hamilton County Legal Department

Mark Walker, Citizens State Bank

Regina L. Warren, MBA, Northwestern Mutual

Nakeisha Washington, Nyla Nova STEMversity

HCLA selects participants each year through what the organization describes as a highly competitive application process. Class members are chosen based on community engagement, interest in learning and growing through the program, commitment to leading and serving in Hamilton County, and the perspectives and knowledge they bring to the class.

Earlier this year, HCLA announced that Andrew Bradford would serve as dean for the Class of 2027.

Established in 1991, Hamilton County Leadership Academy is considered one of the county’s premier leadership development programs. The academy provides a 10-month immersive experience focused on civic, nonprofit, government and community issues.

HCLA graduates have gone on to serve in civic organizations, nonprofit groups, government agencies and elected office. The organization also hosts alumni events intended to help graduates stay connected and continue their leadership work after completing the program.

When writing a story that involves complex numbers, it takes some extra work to get it right.

That was the case for me after Wednesday’s work session of the Hamilton Southeastern School Board.

I came home with a mountain of numbers, charts and data to sort through, all tied to the complicated way Indiana funds its local school districts. My challenge was to write a story that could be understood by readers who do not spend their evenings digging through school finance presentations.

I did the best I could.

Now that I have had a few more days to digest what was presented, here is another look at where things stand.

Wednesday’s meeting was a work session, meaning no votes were taken. But a very involved issue was reviewed by HSE administrators and a consultant hired by the district. The subject was a likely new HSE operating referendum, which now appears headed for the Nov. 3 general election ballot, assuming the board takes formal action next month.

The reason this is coming up now is Senate Enrolled Act 1, approved by state lawmakers during the 2025 legislative session. The law made major changes to Indiana’s property tax system, and HSE officials say those changes will have a significant impact on the amount of money the district can collect under its existing referendum.

HSE voters approved the current operating referendum in 2023, with collections beginning in 2024. That referendum was approved by about 70 percent of voters and was expected to run through 2031.

The current referendum rate is .1995 per $100 of assessed property valuation. At the time voters approved that rate, the rules for calculating property values and homeowner deductions were known.

The 2025 action by state lawmakers changed the picture. Over a five-year period, additional homeowner deductions will be phased in, reducing the taxable assessed value available to local units of government, including school districts.

That matters because if HSE keeps the current .1995 referendum rate through 2031, the district projects it will collect much less money than anticipated when voters approved the referendum in 2023.

The operating referendum is used primarily to support teacher salaries and benefits. If the money generated by that rate declines, district officials say it could affect staffing levels, class sizes and HSE’s ability to attract and retain teachers while competing with other districts in the area.

HSE Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown and Matt Parkinson of Policy Analytics, the district’s consultant, laid out what the state tax changes mean for the district. The proposal under consideration would place a question on the Nov. 3 ballot listing a maximum referendum rate of 36 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, after allowable deductions.

Brown emphasized that the district must list the highest possible rate it may need over the eight-year life of the referendum. HSE could not exceed that 36-cent limit if voters approve the measure. But Brown also said he expects the actual rate to be lower.

The school board would vote each year on the actual rate to be used, as part of the district’s annual budget process.

For 2027, Brown is proposing a rate of .2275 per $100 of assessed valuation, assuming the board votes to place the item on the ballot and voters approve November 3. While that is higher than the current .1995 rate, district officials say it would still generate less revenue than HSE would have received under the old property tax structure, before the Legislature changed the rules.

That is one of the more confusing parts of this issue. The tax rate may go up, but because more assessed value is being deducted from the tax base, the district says the amount of money collected may still be less than originally expected.

Brown’s projections show that even with higher rates over the life of a new referendum, HSE would collect somewhat less money than it would have collected had the state not made the property tax changes approved in 2025, but would provide sufficient funding for HSE staffing.

The presentation also showed how the ballot language could appear to voters. Because state law requires the ballot question to use the maximum possible rate, the ballot would show the impact of the full 36-cent rate. For a median HSE residence, rounded up under state rules to $400,000 in assessed value, that would show an annual property tax bill increase of about $700.

District officials stressed that this does not mean the district expects to collect the full 36-cent rate in 2027. The 2027 rate would be set separately by the school board during the budget process.

The board is expected to decide at its June 10 regular meeting whether to place the new referendum proposal on the Nov. 3 ballot. If the board votes to move forward, a political action committee would likely be formed to advocate for passage of the referendum.

I have already seen some social media posts indicating that at least a few people plan to oppose the new referendum. If the school board places the question on the ballot, I expect the debate to be a spirited one in the months leading up to Election Day.

For now, the next key date is June 10, when the board is scheduled to consider the referendum resolution.

I plan to keep an eye on this issue and report on developments as they happen.

A blocked field goal in the closing seconds broke the hearts of Fishers Freight fans Saturday night, as the Jacksonville Sharks escaped with a 36-34 victory.

The Sunshine State has not been kind to the Freight this season. Just a few weeks ago, Orlando handed Fishers a loss on a last-second touchdown pass — and now Jacksonville has done the Freight in as well.

With three seconds left on the clock, kicker Calum Sutherland lined up for a 43-yard attempt that would have won the game. It never had a chance. The kick was blocked, and one has to wonder whether the absence of JT Stokes made the difference. Stokes, a wide receiver who doubles as the long snapper on field goal attempts, left the game injured.

There was plenty for Freight fans to be proud of. A rejuvenated defense held the Sharks’ high-powered offense to 36 points, but mistakes on offense — ill-timed penalties and costly interceptions — proved too much to overcome.

The injury to Stokes looms large. Freight Coach Dixie Wooten told Yahoo Sports during the game that it could be a torn ACL, which would cost Fishers a team leader at a critical point in the season.

The defeat is a major setback in the Freight’s quest for a playoff spot. The loss drops their record to 5-5 and marks their fourth straight defeat.

Controversy added to the heartbreak. As the Sharks marched downfield in the closing seconds, Coach Wooten appeared to argue that he had signaled for a timeout, but officials apparently never saw it, and valuable seconds ticked away. Fishers got the ball back with just nine seconds left. A quick pass along the boards stopped the clock at three seconds, setting up Sutherland’s ill-fated attempt.

The Freight will look to snap the skid when they return home to the Fishers Event Center on Saturday, June 6, for a 7 p.m. matchup with the Tulsa Oilers. It’s Youth Football Night, and tickets are available.

There is plenty of important information in the latest weekly Fishers area road construction report.

Cyntheanne Road & 96th Street will see a full closure…..a traffic configuration shift is coming on 136th Street….lane closures will begin at the 116th Street and Allisonville Road construction site….motorists will begin to see construction starting at Olio Road and Southeastern Parkway….and Lantern Road will be closed at Morgan Drive.  Those are just a few of the major developments.

Here is the full listing of road construction for the week beginning Sunday, May 31, as provided by the City of Fishers:

Continue reading Road construction update for the week starting Sunday, May 31 →

The following is an update on water quality at Geist Waterfront Park, issued Friday afternoon by the Fishers Parks and Recreation Department:

The Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety unanimously approved every item on its agenda at its Thursday morning meeting, clearing a slate of nonprofit funding, neighborhood improvement grants, public-safety equipment and infrastructure purchases. Here’s a roundup of what the board approved.

The board signed off on three nonprofit contribution agreements totaling $275,000. The largest, $165,000, goes to the Fishers Youth Initiative, which connects young people with volunteer mentors. Conner Prairie Museum will receive $75,000 to support free admission and memberships for Fishers families, and Advocates for Children and Families Inc., the child advocacy organization known as CHERISH, will receive $35,000 for its work removing barriers to the investigation and treatment of child abuse. Each one-year agreement requires the organizations to file expenditure reports with the city and makes them subject to audit by the Indiana State Board of Accounts.

The board also approved nine 2026 Neighborhood Vibrancy Grants totaling $126,067. Most fund entrance and common-area landscaping refreshes, including projects in Hillsborough, Pleasantview, Fox Run, Limestone Springs Condominiums, Graystone at Fishers, Waterford Gardens, Brookston Place and Delaware Crossing. The Whelchel Springs grant, the smallest at $2,680, will install a public bike repair station near the trail at Southeastern Parkway and Florida Road. Several projects address landscaping disrupted by nearby roundabout construction or new development such as Fishers District and the Fishers Event Center.

In a move tied to the city’s youth sports strategy, the board approved a facility use agreement allowing Indy Premier Soccer Club to operate and use the six soccer fields at Cyntheanne Park for league games and practices. Under Chapter 96 of the city code, partner organizations must be nonprofits offering competitive youth sports and maintain a roster that is at least 60% Fishers residents. Indy Premier SC currently reports 69%.

The Fishers Fire Department received approval to buy 30 masks and 15 regulators from Hoosier Fire, the sole vendor for equipment compatible with the department’s self-contained breathing apparatus. The vendor’s price of $74,430 reflects a discount of $36,280.05 off the $110,710.05 retail cost.

The board also approved the purchase of nine new streetlights — poles, bases, luminaires and hardware — to replace aging lights in the Nickel Plate District and bring them in line with the district’s standard. The budgeted cost is $64,808.

Finally, the board accepted an amended Indiana Department of Health Public Health Emergency Preparedness agreement, a federal grant passed through the state to help fund local emergency-response personnel and 14 grant deliverables. The amended award totals $100,340 over a period running July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, adding $52,670 for the second grant year. That figure restores a $5,000 reduction from the original $47,670 agreement the board approved in August.