HSE Board, meeting Wednesday evening
The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board has approved a resolution designating the district as a Purple Star School district. The move allows individual school buildings to apply for the Purple Star designation, a recognition aimed at supporting military families whose children often change schools due to parental reassignment.
In other business from Wednesday’s meeting:
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Roofing Project Approved: The board awarded a $1.8 million contract to replace 87,000 square feet of roofing at Fishers High School.
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Social Media Lawsuit Participation: HSE will join 80 Indiana districts and 1,800 nationwide in litigation against social media companies, seeking to recover costs tied to the negative effects of social media on students. The district will not incur legal fees unless a settlement or judgment is reached.
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Positive Start to School Year: Superintendent Patrick Mapes described the opening week of school as a “great start,” noting progress in navigating road construction and ensuring students arrived safely at their schools.
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HSEngaged Program Enrollment: Thirty-nine local residents will participate in HSEngaged this year, a program designed to give community members an inside look at district operations.
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District’s First Therapy Dog: Hamilton Southeastern introduced Reggie, a seven-year-old poo-ton and the district’s first certified therapy dog. Accompanied by his handler, Lantern Road Elementary resource teacher Jill Early, Reggie visits each Friday to greet students, sit with them as they read aloud, and provide emotional support. Trained and certified through First Friend K-9, Reggie has prior experience working in hospitals and nursing homes. Superintendent Mapes supported bringing the program to the district, which aims to enhance students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being.
