Residents of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District have long known redistricting was on the horizon. That process is now officially underway.

By December, the HSE School Board is expected to receive a recommended redistricting plan for consideration. The district has hired the consulting firm Woolpert to lead the effort, with representative Andrew Bishop outlining the process at Wednesday’s board meeting. The plan will redraw boundaries for the district’s elementary, intermediate, and junior high schools.

Bishop began his presentation by reviewing current and projected enrollment figures for each school, including building capacity and anticipated changes based on birth rates and future housing developments. He also discussed the possibility of creating a “feeder system” linking specific elementary schools to intermediate and junior high schools—a change that would depend on both enrollment data and community feedback.

Bishop’s full presentation is available at this link.

The district is seeking public input in two ways:

• Survey: Residents can complete an online survey through midnight, August 31, using this link.

• Focus Groups: The district will select participants for 10 focus groups, each with 10–20 members. Interested residents can apply through midnight,  August 31 at this link.

An HSE redistricting website, updated weekly, is available at this link.

In the coming weeks, Woolpert will review public comments, develop preliminary boundary options, and convene the focus groups. Bishop said his goal is to deliver a plan that will remain in place for at least five to seven years—and ideally up to a decade—before another redistricting process is needed.

The process will remain active through December. Updates will be provided here at LarryInFishers.com as new information becomes available, including podcasts with HSE Schools officials explaining key developments.

My compliments to Current In Fishers Editor Leila Kheiry for digging up the facts on an arrest made related to charges of sexual battery in the Gary Eagle neighborhood.

Reporter Kheiry saw a social media post describing a woman being groped and a suspect’s quick arrest once the incident was reported to police.  She found an arrest listed in county  records.

For more details, read Leila Kheiry’s story at the link below.

Fishers man allegedly assaulted woman walking near her home

Many of you may know, and have seen the construction, of a pedestrian bridge over the Nickel Plate Trail over 96th Street.  The City of Fishers has announced some overnight closures of 96th Street to allow for the construction of this bridge.

Below is the full statement from Fishers, issued on social media Wednesday:

Hamilton Southeastern Schools reports a record-setting performance on Indiana’s early literacy exam, with 96% of third-grade students passing the 2025 Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination (IREAD) assessment. The result marks a two-point increase from last year and the district’s highest passing rate in five years.

Ten of the district’s 13 elementary schools met or surpassed the state’s 95% literacy target, double the number that reached the benchmark the previous year. In total, 1,497 third graders demonstrated proficient reading skills.

District officials said the gains were seen across all student groups. English Language Learners achieved their highest passing rate in four years, Exceptional Learners improved by 14 percentage points over last year, and students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals posted their best scores in four years.

Superintendent Pat Mapes credited the district’s teachers for the achievement, citing targeted literacy strategies, expanded professional development through the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, and participation in the Indiana Literacy Cadre. Many teachers are also pursuing an Early Literacy Endorsement.

The results follow recently released ILEARN scores that showed growth in reading comprehension, writing, and communication skills for students in grades 3–8. District leaders say the combined results reflect a strategic focus on literacy as the foundation for student success.

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, with his district including the eastern part of Fishers, issued a statement commending state educators for achievements statewide.  According to Speaker Huston’s office, in the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress rankings, Indiana jumped to sixth in the nation for both fourth and eighth grade reading.

“I’m thrilled to see our students making strong, consistent progress in reading,” Speaker Huston said in a statement released Wednesday. “This significant increase helps ensure Indiana’s kids are on track for success and is exactly what we hoped to see following targeted policies and support to prioritize literacy in the classroom.” 

The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is now accepting applications for its Fall Citizen’s Academy, set to begin Sept. 4, 2025.

The 12-week program — 11 weeks of training followed by a graduation celebration — will meet Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Sheriff’s Office campus. The academy offers residents a behind-the-scenes look at law enforcement operations in Hamilton County.

Participants will observe the training deputies receive, drive a patrol vehicle through a precision course, visit the firing range, and learn about firearms and less-lethal tools. The program also includes demonstrations from K-9 units, instruction on drone operations, and briefings on legal issues and specialized equipment.

Organizers say the academy is designed for anyone interested in public safety or curious about how the Sheriff’s Office works.

Space in the program is limited. More information and an online application are available at hamiltoncounty.in.gov/1257/Citizens-Academy-Online-Application.

Two Hamilton County residents have been chosen for Class 8 of Hoosier Women Forward (HWF), a leadership development program for Democratic women in Indiana.

Racheal Bleicher of Westfield and Erin Retif of Carmel are among 24 women selected statewide for the program, which provides training, resources, and networking opportunities to prepare participants for leadership roles in their communities and public service.

The 2025 class includes women from 14 counties and represents a range of ages, backgrounds, and professional experiences.

“We are incredibly proud of Racheal and Erin,” said Meredith Fox, vice chair of the Hamilton County Democratic Party and an HWF alumna. “Their selection is a reflection of their commitment to public service and their leadership in our community. Hoosier Women Forward is a powerful launching pad, and we know these women will use the experience to help build a better future for Hamilton County and Indiana.”

Founded in 2017, HWF has more than 150 alumnae, with over 70% of those who have run for public office winning their elections, according to the organization. Program graduates have gone on to serve in the Indiana Statehouse, on school boards, city councils, and other civic roles.

Bleicher and Retif join a list of Hamilton County women who have completed the program and gone on to hold elected positions or leadership roles in local and state politics.

The attack on public broadcasting is already having a serious impact—and we still don’t know the full extent of the damage.

The Indiana Public Broadcasting collective, which has long staffed a team of journalists at the Statehouse, has been told their jobs will end at the close of 2025. These reporters have covered news from across the state for years, but as of 2026, their work will come to an end.

WFYI radio and television in Indianapolis also employs a number of journalists. At this point, no one knows what the future holds for them. Management has not provided specifics about potential staffing cuts but has acknowledged that sustaining the current level of service is at risk as state and federal funding disappears.

Some conservatives have argued that public broadcasting—particularly at the national level—leans too far to the left. In my experience, the journalism produced by public broadcasting, both nationally and locally, is consistently top-notch. Reporters seek out and present a wide range of perspectives, including those from the political right, when covering major issues.

Public broadcasting fills a void no commercial operation can match. WFYI’s news team often covers stories that other outlets cannot or will not. And in the realm of documentary storytelling, no commercial network, cable channel, or streaming platform comes close to matching the work of filmmakers like Ken Burns.

I have supported public broadcasting for as long as I can remember. While I can’t always respond to every fundraising appeal, I have consistently renewed my membership with WFYI.

If you live in WFYI’s coverage area, I encourage you to support their work—by becoming a member, or by giving whatever contribution you can afford.

For more on how to contribute to WFYI, use this link.

Many months ago, I made a controversial decision about this local news site, LarryInFishers.com. Today, I want to revisit that decision and explain in more detail why I made it.

I run LarryInFishers.com as a one-person operation. I do all the reporting, writing, editing, and publishing myself. Because of that, I’ve chosen to publish it as a blog — a format that makes it simple to post news and commentary quickly.

For most of the past 13 years, I allowed readers to post comments on stories. I rarely blocked them, and only asked for clarification in a handful of cases. My main rule was simple: if someone wanted to launch a personal attack — even on a public official — they had to use their real name.

But in recent years, the tone of online conversation in Fishers has changed. Polarization has grown, and extreme comments have become more frequent. I simply don’t have the time to review every comment closely or fact-check every claim.

Complaints began to roll in about the tone and factual accuracy of certain comments. While I welcome criticism of my reporting and my opinions — healthy debate is part of democracy — many of these comments weren’t about public policy at all. They were personal, inflammatory, or aimed at derailing constructive discussion.

After much thought and research, I made the decision to end comments on the blog. It was not easy, and it certainly wasn’t made on a whim. But it was the only way to ensure that LarryInFishers.com remained a reliable and respectful place for local news.

Discussions of my stories still happen — often on local social media pages I don’t run and can’t (and wouldn’t want to) control. I suppose I should take it as a compliment that the blog generates that much conversation. But I knew that removing comments on my site was the right call.

I will always stand behind what I write, and if an error is pointed out, I correct it as quickly as possible. My commitment is to report the news as accurately and fairly as I can.

I’m humbled by the number of readers who follow this site, and I’ve resisted moving to paid platforms like Substack because I believe LarryInFishers.com should remain free — a public service and my way of giving back to a quality community where Jane and I were fortunate to raise our daughters.

Thank you, as always, for reading.