The City of Fishers is now accepting applications for its 2026 Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant Program, marking the 26th year of the community improvement initiative.

The program offers 80/20 matching grants of up to $25,000 for homeowners associations and neighborhood groups to fund projects that enhance neighborhood aesthetics, sustainability, and overall livability. The City has set aside $400,000 in its 2026 budget for the program.

Past grant-supported projects have included pollinator gardens, athletic court upgrades, landscaping enhancements, and ADA-accessible playgrounds and recreation spaces.

New for 2026, neighborhoods with a completed reserve study will receive priority consideration. Grant funds may also be used to help complete a reserve study as part of an overall project proposal.

“Over the past several years, we’ve stepped up our commitment to foster vibrancy within our neighborhoods, allocating almost $2 million to this initiative since 2023,” Mayor Scott Fadness said in a statement. “Our residents and HOAs have responded with a record number of project proposals, and it’s exciting to see how neighbors are working together to improve the quality of life in their community.”

Applications are open through January 23, 2026. Additional program details and application materials are available at this link..

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools will receive less state tuition support in the coming months after district leaders overestimated student enrollment earlier this year.

HSE projected a student count that came in 141 students higher than the official number recorded in October, which determines state funding. Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown told the School Board’s Finance Committee Wednesday that administrators used the best information available when making mid-summer enrollment estimates, but the final count fell short.

As a result, the district will receive $500,000 less in state tuition support during the final two months of 2025. The remaining overpayment will be recouped in 2026 at a rate of $84,000 per month. Brown noted that a second student count in February could slightly improve the funding picture, as it has in some previous years.

Overall, HSE expects tuition support to be $654,000 lower than last school year. Brown added that funding for certain student subgroups — such as special education and English language learners — could increase later in the year. He also noted that comparisons to last year’s funding are complicated by the state’s new method for covering curricular materials, often referred to as textbook fees.

Other Finance Committee Business

• Water Storage Tank Project: The board will be asked to approve $5 million for a water storage tank at Hamilton Southeastern High School. The tank will be installed below the band area and new bus parking lot. Director of Facilities and Maintenance Matt Rapp said the City of Fishers granted the district flexibility on 100-year floodplain requirements. The project is necessary to support a future career and technology center and to address safety concerns related to bus drop-off traffic. Bond savings will help fund the work, Brown said.

• Boiler Replacement at Harrison Parkway Elementary: The committee received an update on plans to replace a 28-year-old boiler at Harrison Parkway Elementary to improve energy efficiency. The project is expected to cost $212,000.

• Retirement Plan Updates: The board will consider updates to the district’s 403(b) and 457 retirement plans to align with federal tax law changes. Beginning next year, employees will also have the option to contribute to a Roth account through the 403(b) plan.

Hamilton Southeastern High School has unveiled the Royals Innovation Lab, a cutting-edge student tech workspace at Launch Fishers designed to replicate a professional software development environment and connect students with real-world industry mentors. The lab, created through a Career Readiness Grant from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education and TechPoint, will serve as a public hub where students in the school’s Software Development Capstone Course collaborate alongside local tech professionals on practical projects.

As the capstone experience in Indiana’s Next Level Programs of Study pathway for software development, the lab invites students who have completed foundational courses in computing principles, website and database development, and software development. This year’s capstone class, led by computer science educator Julie Alano, comprises 14 students in grades 10–12, including several who have returned for a second year of advanced study.

“Launch Fishers provides the perfect environment for students to experience authentic, project-based learning,” Alano said. “They’re surrounded by entrepreneurs and professionals who model collaboration, creativity, and innovation – skills our students need for the future workforce.”

Looking ahead, the Hamilton Southeastern district aims to develop the Innovation Lab into a student-run software company within five years, broadening opportunities for work-based learning in partnership with local tech firms such as SEP, Counterpart, and Exos. The grant also funds new technology and software for students interested in coding, cybersecurity, and digital design.

The program welcomes back two alumni mentors, Evan Sellers and Tommy Adams—both 2020 graduates—who now guide current students as volunteers. Past capstone students have achieved state and national honors, including wins in the Congressional App Challenge and Nextech CSforGood competition. Tools developed by students, like hseschedule.app and hsecourses.app, are already benefiting the HSE High School community.

Alano notes that artificial intelligence (AI) has transformed the way coding is taught, with modern programs capable of writing code themselves. She encourages her students to leverage AI for efficiency but cautions against over-reliance: “Use it to make yourself more efficient.” Teaching in the era of AI presents new challenges as educators adapt to this rapidly evolving landscape.

Among this year’s cohort, students such as John Patch, Rexford Tolle, and Turner Price trace their passion for technology back to early childhood. After graduation, they plan to pursue studies at institutions including Utah State, Georgia Tech, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Patch, in particular, has already made an impact by developing a phone app linked to the HSE High School schedule, now widely used by students and teachers.

The Hamilton County Democratic Party has elected Fishers resident Sarah Van Bokkelen as its new party secretary.

Van Bokkelen was chosen during a county caucus held Oct. 25. She succeeds to the role as the party continues to expand its organization and volunteer base ahead of the 2026 election cycle.

A Fishers resident since 2016, Van Bokkelen has held multiple leadership roles within the party. Her experience includes serving as vice precinct chair, precinct chair, Fishers Township coordinator, Get Out the Vote coordinator in Fishers, a member of the Fishers City Committee executive team, and volunteer coordinator for the county party.

According to the party, her background includes organizing volunteers, coordinating events, training team members, developing voter engagement resources, analyzing data and working directly with candidates and campaigns.

Van Bokkelen is also active in community organizations. She serves in a leadership role with Fishers PRIDE and volunteers with Boost Up HSE, a group that supports teachers and families in Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

“I’m honored to serve as Secretary for the Hamilton County Democratic Party,” Van Bokkelen said in a statement. “I believe in teamwork, dedication, and getting things done efficiently. I look forward to supporting our members and continuing to build a strong, connected Democratic community here in Hamilton County.”

Hamilton County Democratic Party Chair Josh Lowry welcomed Van Bokkelen to the leadership team.

“We’re excited to have Sarah on board as our county party grows,” Lowry said. “With her expertise, we hope to continue to serve the good citizens of Hamilton County with even more efficiency.”

Van Bokkelen will join the party’s executive committee as she assumes her duties.

Hamilton County officials on Monday celebrated the start of construction on a new Public Safety Training Center, a facility designed to serve first responders from across the county and reduce the need to travel elsewhere for specialized training.

The 60-acre campus, located near 161st Street and River Road in Noblesville, will include more than 20,000 square feet of classroom and tactical space, a five-story fire training tower, outdoor firing range, and dedicated space for SWAT and defensive tactics training.

Chad Knecht, executive director of Hamilton County Emergency Operations, encouraged first responders to fully utilize the new complex once it opens.

“I challenge every firefighter, police officer, and public safety person in this county to make the best of this state-of-the-art facility,” Knecht said during the groundbreaking ceremony. “Never rest on your laurels. The more you sweat in training, the less you bleed in the combat of public safety.”

Hundreds of local officials and first responders from communities across Hamilton County attended the event.

County Commissioner President Steve Dillinger praised the project’s long-awaited progress.

“The training they’ll get out here will have long lasting effects on Hamilton County,” Dillinger said. “We are so excited because we’ve been working on this project for 15 years. Government works slow, but we’re here now and we’re very happy about it.”

The $32 million project will be funded through county-issued bonds and is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete. Once operational, the training center will serve as a regional hub for joint exercises, advanced certifications, and coordination among police, fire, and emergency response agencies.

The Hamilton East Public Library will bring back its LibraryCon celebration next weekend, offering a free, family-friendly event for fans of all ages.

The second annual LibraryCon is set for Saturday, Nov. 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Fishers Library. The event will feature cosplay, workshops, live performances, gaming, artist vendors and more. Costumes are encouraged, and attendees can participate in a 360-degree photo booth or join group cosplay photo sessions at 12:30 p.m. and 2:50 p.m.

“We’re thrilled for the return of LibraryCon,” said Danielle Acton, the library’s adult program coordinator. “Our inaugural event last November drew an enthusiastic crowd of over 1,000 attendees of all ages, and the response from the community was incredible.” Acton said fan-favorites such as the artist marketplace and live performances will return, with new activities added this year.

Highlights include hands-on workshops with cartoonist David Reddick and Maker-in-Residence Matt DeLoughery, miniature painting sessions requiring pre-registration, and live music from il Troubadore, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra’s Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, and musicians performing “Legend of Zelda” music. A trivia competition, appearances by Star Wars Indiana cosplayers, an artist alley featuring local creators, and a blood drive offering donor incentives are also planned.

All-day offerings will include board and video games, food trucks, face painting, Dungeons & Dragons sessions, a scavenger hunt with prizes, and a Random Fandom art exhibit showcasing local fan artwork.

The event is free to attend, though some activities require advance registration through the library’s website. Food, drinks, and merchandise will be available for purchase.

LibraryCon will take place at the Fishers branch located at 5 Municipal Drive. More information and registration details can be found at hamiltoneastpl.org.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools are preparing to redraw district boundaries for all school buildings except the two high schools.  I asked two individuals involved in this process to join me on a podcast and discuss it.  Bryan Rausch is the Assistant Superintendent for Operations and Andrew Bishop is with the consulting firm hired by the school board, Woolpert.  Both discussed the redistricting process in the podcast linked below.  The first link is to the audio version, the second the video version of the podcast.

Todd Huston, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives, representing part of Fishers, announced Monday that the legislature will take up a redistricting plan and plans to convene for early session business from Dec. 1 through Dec. 12.

In a statement issued by his office, Speaker Huston said that after coordination with his House Republican caucus and their counterparts in the Senate, they “have determined that the General Assembly will address any time-sensitive issues during the first two weeks of December (Dec. 1 through Dec. 12).”

He added that the meeting days in December would form part of the 2026 regular session, which officially begins with Organization Day on Nov. 18, and that “because of this calendar alignment, starting the regular session early would be the most cost effective and efficient way to address the Governor’s call for a special session.”

“Our goal is to avoid any added session-related costs, and we will continue to look for ways to save taxpayer dollars as we work through and finalize the schedule,” the statement continued. “More details on December session days will be made available in the coming weeks with a full calendar expected on Organization Day.”

This announcement signals that redistricting is a priority for the upcoming session. While Huston’s statement did not provide full details of the map plan, the December special meeting block suggests the caucus aims to move quickly.

At the same time, the decision to treat the December dates as part of the regular session rather than a separate special session appears aimed at streamlining logistics and minimizing additional costs.

For constituents in Fishers and Hamilton County, this schedule change may mean earlier deliberations than in prior years — and potentially an expedited timeline for hearings and votes on new legislative district boundaries.

When discussing school funding at Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools, one reality has held true for years: the state of Indiana funds schools based on student enrollment — a fixed amount per student. Suburban districts such as HSE, Carmel, and Zionsville consistently receive some of the lowest per-student funding in the state.

For example, Indianapolis Public Schools is projected to receive about $8,250 per student in 2026 and $8,360 in 2027. HSE, by comparison, is estimated to receive roughly $7,121 per student in 2025-26. These are estimates, but they illustrate a long-standing gap.

In other words, HSE begins each budget cycle at a disadvantage. And this year, lawmakers added another complication. Changes enacted through Senate Bill 1 have significantly constrained local school and government budgets statewide. The issue is complex, but the result is clear: schools are grappling with tighter finances than ever.

That reality sits at the center of the tense contract negotiations between the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) and district leadership. Administrators have told HSEA that the latest contract proposal includes no salary increase and would raise health insurance premiums — leaving teachers with less take-home pay than under the current contract.

The district presented what it described as its final offer, the union then sent the proposal to teachers for a ratification vote. In a striking moment, no HSEA representative addressed the school board when the contract was presented — something I have not seen in 13 years covering this board. Union leaders clearly did not support the proposal.

Teachers overwhelmingly rejected it: 86% voted “no.” Long-time observers say they cannot recall another HSE contract being voted down.

Lines are now firmly drawn. District administrators say they cannot afford salary increases or additional support for rising insurance costs. HSEA argues the district has cash reserves that could at least prevent teachers from earning less this school year.

HSEA President Tyler Zerbe notified teachers — in a message also posted publicly — that the union is recommending “work-to-rule,” meaning staff should work only their contracted hours. Teachers often work beyond the school day grading, planning, and communicating with families. The move is meant to demonstrate the value that work brings to students and the community, Zerbe said.

Some in the community argue HSE teachers already receive competitive benefits — particularly the 5% district match on 403(b) retirement contributions. However, that enhanced match came about in past negotiations when teachers opted for stronger retirement benefits instead of higher salaries. This was a strategic choice by teachers, not a gift from the district.

What concerns me most is the sentiment I am hearing from teachers: they feel disrespected and undervalued. That perception — right or wrong — carries consequences. HSE’s strong reputation has helped fuel Fishers’ growth for decades. If educators feel the relationship with district leadership has deteriorated to the point of work-to-rule, we should all take notice.

If a contract is not ratified by November 15, the two sides will enter mediation. I have seen skilled mediators succeed in resolving difficult impasses. But if mediation fails, state law triggers fact-finding: a state-appointed official will choose one side’s final offer, and that becomes the contract, without ratification votes.

HSE is the fourth-largest school district in Indiana, and what happens here will be watched statewide. Can the district and union reach an agreement both sides can support? We will know soon.

For Fishers, the stakes are high — not only for our teachers and students, but for the community’s reputation as a place that values education.

The Indy Fuel built an early lead and survived a late push from Kalamazoo on Sunday afternoon, skating to a 3–2 win over the K-Wings in Michigan.

Rookie forward Jadon Joseph paced Indy with the first two goals of his professional career, helping the Fuel control the game through the opening 40 minutes before withstanding a frantic third period.

Indy set the tone early, piling up shots and pressure in the first period. Joseph broke through at 14:16 of the opening frame, converting a setup from Connor Joyce and Tyson Feist. The Fuel outshot Kalamazoo 16–3 in the first, but carried just the one-goal advantage into the intermission.

Owen Robinson doubled the lead at 4:16 of the second period, finishing a feed from Kevin Lombardi. Less than five minutes later, Joseph struck again at 9:23, with assists to Chris Cameron and Michael Marchesan, pushing the Fuel ahead 3–0.

Indy’s aggressive pace slowed late in the second after Jeremie Bucheler was assessed a four-minute high-sticking penalty at 17:29. Solid penalty killing kept Kalamazoo off the board, and the Fuel took their three-goal cushion into the third.

Kalamazoo pushed back in the final period, aided by a pair of too-many-men penalties against Indy that briefly gave the K-Wings a 5-on-3 advantage. The Fuel penalty kill came up strong again, turning aside both chances.

The K-Wings found life late. With Indy’s Michael Marchesan in the box for roughing and the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, Kalamazoo’s Quinn Preston got the home team on the board with a 6-on-4 power-play goal at 16:40. Andre Ghantous scored again at 19:11 to pull Kalamazoo within one.

Despite being outshot 34–27 overall — including a surge by the K-Wings late — Indy held firm in the final minute to secure the two points and improve their early-season standing.

The Fuel return to the Fishers Event Center Wednesday night to take on the Bloomington Bison.