Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown delivered a comprehensive financial update to the school board Wednesday night, highlighting key funding issues and projecting cautious optimism amid legislative and fiscal challenges.

Brown, alongside Superintendent Patrick Mapes, emphasized that while Indiana’s new school funding measures present hurdles, HSE is “positively” positioned—as well as any district in the state—to address them.

Enrollment Shifts and State Funding

State support for public schools is largely based on enrollment. Brown noted that 1,800 students graduated from HSE’s two high schools this year, while just 1,100 kindergartners were enrolled for the 2024–2025 school year—a trend that could impact future state funding.

Although Indiana increased per-student funding, the General Assembly also folded a $158 per-student textbook and curriculum subsidy into the base funding. That move, Brown said, effectively reduced the size of the funding increase when accounting for new expenses.

Property Tax Changes and Financial Impact

Brown explained that upcoming changes to Indiana’s property tax system will have a significant impact on school finances. In addition to the complex standard and supplementary deductions, every property taxpayer will receive a new $300 credit. While helpful to homeowners, that credit alone is expected to cost HSE Schools roughly $4 million per year in lost revenue.

Mapes added that a clearer financial picture won’t emerge until the district receives updated assessed valuation data later this year.

Administrative Staffing Updates

Brown also presented an update on administrative staffing levels. HSE had 101 administrators in February 2024; by May, that number had grown to 109. The increase includes one additional assistant principal and dean at each high school, as well as four new instructional coaches.

Looking ahead to the 2025–2026 school year, the district plans to add seven more administrative roles:

• Director of Career & Technical Education

• Executive Director of Elementary Education

• District Workplace Learning Manager

• Four additional instructional coaches

Legal Expenses

Brown shared details about the district’s legal costs. In 2024, HSE paid a $125,000 retainer to law firm Barnes & Thornburg, plus $81,000 for litigation and labor matters. An additional $4,200 was billed for the Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaint involving the local teachers union, and $10,000 went toward collective bargaining legal fees.

For 2025 (through June 11), the board has approved a $60,000 retainer. Other legal expenses include $3,000 for litigation and labor, $3,400 for ULP-related matters, and $25,000 for collective bargaining—some of which covers legal work from the previous year.

More Information Coming

This week, HSE Schools plans to post Brown’s full PowerPoint presentation on the district website. Officials also intend to release a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document to help the community better understand the financial outlook.

While many changes are on the horizon, district leaders remain confident that budget challenges can be addressed without impacting academic programming.

Monica Heltz has been a guest on my podcast series before and she was kind enough to give me some of her time for a podcast recording session Tuesday, June 24.  We discussed a wide range of issues, including dealing with extreme heat, E.coli testing, budgets and many more.

Listen to the podcast at the link below.

This week is the 2025 Spark Fishers Festival.  I recorded a short video with a rundown on the week’s planned events.  Watch the video at the link above.

I appreciate the fact that you, the readers of this website, occasionally allow me a point of personal privilege. I ask for that privilege here.

Early Tuesday morning, I learned that a man I’ve known for over 60 years had passed away. Jack Mitchell was perhaps my closest and longest-standing friend.

We first met when Jack’s family moved into the house across the street from mine. We hit it off right away. We both loved sports, though Jack was the far better athlete.

Many of our childhood days were spent on Colorado Avenue in the Forest Manor neighborhood, playing wiffle ball in a vacant lot next to his family’s home. We made up our own rules and had a great time doing it.

We listened to Cincinnati Reds games on the radio as we played and became hooked on a baseball board game called Strat-O-Matic. It used real baseball statistics to simulate games, letting us pretend to be Major League managers. We made lineups, called plays, and lost ourselves in the game.

Though we attended different schools—Jack went to the local public school and I went to Catholic school—we still saw each other nearly every day. We were only about 11 or 12 years of age when we first met.

Later, we both attended Arlington High School and remained friends after graduation. Jack was drafted into the Army during the Vietnam War, though he never should have been. A motorcycle accident had severely injured his shoulder. It took months for the Army to realize he wasn’t fit for service, and by then he had endured all of basic training before receiving a medical discharge.

Jack married Cyndi, and together they had three children: Tanya, Jack, and Chris. I had the joy of watching each of them grow up. That meant a lot to me.

Jack and Cyndi welcomed me into their home, and over time I became an unofficial member of the family. I was always grateful for that warmth and acceptance.

What the Mitchell family didn’t know was that during the early and mid-1980s, I was going through one of the hardest times of my life. I had to leave the profession I loved and start over in my early 30s—a daunting challenge. I was also dealing with the emotional fallout of a long-term relationship that had ended.

Their home became my refuge. Jack, Cyndi, Tanya, Jack, and Chris gave me a space where I could escape my struggles, even if just for a little while. I don’t think any of them realized how much their kindness helped me get through that time. But it meant everything.

Though Jack and Cyndi eventually divorced, I saw firsthand how they handled the challenges of parenthood. They always tried their best. Jack loved his children deeply. He wasn’t perfect—none of us are—but he always made the effort to be the best father he could be.

As I sit and remember Jack on this warm Tuesday morning, I think about how we grew up together, how we could talk about anything—and I do mean anything. We came of age during the 1960s, a turbulent time, but we leaned on each other as we navigated school, girls, and growing up. Jack was always the one more popular with the girls.

In recent years, I knew Jack was in pain. We spoke briefly on the phone a few months ago, and it was clear he wasn’t well. I didn’t visit—partly because I knew he would see me, whether he felt up to it or not. Now, I wish I had gone. I wish I had that one last visit.

Jack Mitchell was a regular guy, a loyal friend, and a devoted father. He wasn’t perfect, but he was honest, sincere, and always tried to do the right thing.

There won’t be any monuments or grand tributes. Jack was an ordinary American doing his best every day to be a good person. And that, in itself, is something to honor.

As he wished, there won’t be a formal ceremony. His remains will be cremated, and Tanya and his son Jack will scatter his ashes in his beloved Cincinnati. They’ll have a meal at Frisch’s Big Boy, one of their dad’s favorite places.

Every time I watch a Cincinnati Reds game, I’ll think of the trips we took to see the team in person—even back to the days of Crosley Field. We made great memories on those trips.

It brings me peace to know Jack is now free from pain and reunited with his parents and his brother Tom.

Thanks for the memories, Jack. I will never forget you.

The Fishers Health Department issued the latest results of water quality testing as of Monday afternoon.  Two areas of Fall Creek and an area of the White River continue to show E.coli “unsatisfactory results,” based on the latest testing.  However, FHD says the quality of water at Geist Waterfront Park continues to test as safe.

Below is the update from the Health Department:

There had been talk of building an arena in Fishers for years, but the pieces never quite came together—until Mayor Scott Fadness found a way to make it happen.

Credit where it’s due: the mayor has a deep understanding of Indiana’s local government finance system. He used old municipal debt that was nearly paid off and persuaded the City Council to enact a food and beverage tax. That, along with other strategic financial moves, paved the way for the Fishers Event Center.

The brand-new, state-of-the-art facility opened in November 2024 and has been bustling with activity ever since. It’s now home to three professional sports teams: the Indy Fuel of the ECHL, the Fishers Freight of the Indoor Football League (IFL), and the Indy Ignite, a women’s professional volleyball team.

The community has responded enthusiastically. The Fuel sold out every Saturday home game this past season. The Freight drew about 5,600 fans for their home opener, and the Ignite appears to be doing well at the gate, too.

From my seat in the media area, I regularly chat with out-of-town visitors at Fuel and Freight games. Without exception, they are impressed by the facility. The Event Center consistently receives high praise.

One sign of the venue’s growing appeal is the solid turnout for Freight games. The IFL offers a fast-paced, fan-friendly brand of football that’s just plain fun to watch. I always tell football fans: go to one game—you’ll be hooked.

Even though the Freight, the league’s lone expansion team this year, hit a rough patch after a 2-0 start—dropping nine straight games—support hasn’t waned. In fact, they recently broke that losing streak with a thrilling comeback win against the top-ranked Green Bay Blizzard. More than 3,800 fans showed up for that game. Not bad, considering the record.

The Event Center has also booked a number of big-name entertainment acts. Indoor arenas typically slow down in summer, but comedian Leanne Morgan will perform two shows on Saturday, July 26. Later in the year—Sunday, November 16, to be exact—Grammy-winning artist John Legend will bring his 20th Anniversary Tour to Fishers.

Financially, the venue is exceeding expectations. The Town Hall Building Corporation—which still goes by that name despite Fishers now being a city—oversees major public infrastructure projects and receives regular updates from ASM Global, the firm managing the Event Center. At a recent meeting, ASM reported that from January through April 2025, the Event Center generated $741,207 for the city to help pay down construction bond debt—22% above projections.

The Center hosted 67 events during that four-month period, surpassing the initial estimate of 51. Attendance also beat projections, with 241,000 people attending events versus the expected 202,000.

Some skeptics had questioned whether Fishers could compete with other metro Indy venues for bookings. So far, the results speak for themselves.

As for the name “Fishers Event Center,” that might not stick around much longer. A green space outside the venue has already been named Forum Credit Union Plaza at Fishers District. According to Deputy Mayor Elliott Hultgren, Forum paid $109,000 for those naming rights.

At an August 2024 meeting, Hultgren shared that the Indy Fuel—tasked with securing naming rights sponsorship—commissioned a study valuing the Center’s naming rights at over $1.1 million annually. Hultgren admitted that figure was “extreme” and “extraordinary,” but said a deal in the $700,000 range annually would be “great for us.” Nearly a year later, we’re still waiting—one can assume Fuel leadership is holding out for the right offer.

For me, the highlight of the Event Center is watching it host graduation ceremonies for Fishers High School and Hamilton Southeastern High School. Giving local families a hometown venue to celebrate such an important milestone—that alone makes this place special.

A woman is recovering after being shot multiple times while holding her infant child in a domestic-related incident that occurred Saturday, June 21, in the 9300 block of Benton Drive, according to the Fishers Police Department.

Officers responded to reports of a shooting and arrived to find the female victim suffering from multiple gunshot wounds while holding an infant. First responders provided immediate aid before the woman and child were transported to a nearby hospital. The woman underwent surgery and is currently in stable condition. The infant was evaluated and sustained only minor abrasions.

Police quickly identified the suspect as Giovanny Javier De Jesus De Jesus, 21,  of Anderson. Authorities say he is the victim’s ex-boyfriend and the father of the child she was holding at the time of the attack. Witnesses at the scene provided key information, including a description of De Jesus and the vehicle he used to flee.

Later that evening, just before 11:00 p.m., De Jesus turned himself in to the Decatur Police Department. Fishers officers traveled to Decatur, took him into custody, and transported him directly to the Hamilton County Jail.

The investigation remains active, and Fishers Police encourage anyone with further information to contact the department at 317-595-3000.

Authorities also remind the public that help is available for those experiencing domestic violence. For national support, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. Hamilton County residents can reach out to Prevail at 317-773-6942.

Fishers Police Department Sergeant Angela Ellison describes the investigation and arrest of the shooting suspect. (Video provided by the Fishers Police Department)

Turnovers had been the Achilles heel of the Fishers Freight, the Indoor Football League’s only expansion franchise this season. After a promising 2–0 start, the Freight dropped nine straight games. But on Saturday night, they finally broke through—with a dramatic, last-second touchdown pass from Vincent Espinoza to Gourney Sloan—to earn a thrilling 57–56 victory over the Green Bay Blizzard.

The Freight went toe-to-toe with the Blizzard, one of the top teams in the IFL East, matching their high-powered offense score for score. But the key to the win at the Fishers Event Center was simple: ball security.

“We had zero turnovers today and got a win against a pretty good ballclub,” said Freight Head Coach Dixie Wooten, speaking to reporter Eva Hallman after the game. “I’m happy for my guys.”

The final minutes were a rollercoaster for both teams, but the Freight made the play that mattered most—with time expiring and their backs against the wall.

It was the sweetest win of the season for Fishers, who now sit at 3–9. The 3,800 fans in attendance had plenty to cheer about, especially during a chaotic finish that saw the lead shift multiple times.

The Freight now hit the road for a matchup in Tulsa this Saturday, followed by a bye week before traveling to Iowa on July 12. They won’t return home until July 19, when they host a Western Conference opponent, the San Diego Strike Force.

After weeks of heartbreak, this one felt different—for the team, and for the fans who stuck with them. They earned it.

The Fishers Police Department is on the scene a shooting incident.  Officials issued a brief statement at 5:30pm Saturday:

“The Fishers Police Department is investigating a shooting in the 9300 block of Benton Drive. The shooting does not appear to be a random act.”

Brenton Drive is located in an apartment complex south of 141st Street, near State Road 37.

Police call this “an active and developing investigation.”

That is all the information being released publicly at this time.

State Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) this week recognized the 35th anniversary of Indiana’s Guardian ad Litem (GAL) and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program with a formal resolution at the Statehouse.

The GAL/CASA program plays a vital role in the state’s child welfare system by assigning trained volunteers to advocate for children involved in Children in Need of Services (CHINS) cases. Volunteers meet with the child, review court documents, speak with professionals involved in the case, and visit both parents and placements. They then prepare a report and make independent recommendations to the court aimed at protecting the child’s best interests.

In 2024, 2,812 volunteers across Indiana dedicated more than 285,000 hours to serve 19,602 children in the court system.

The resolution was supported on a bipartisan basis, with Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray joining Garcia Wilburn in acknowledging the program’s long-standing impact.