I do not often miss meetings of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board, but after missing Tuesday night’s session, it was clear from the discussion that some board members believe they are not receiving financial information in a timely manner—while Superintendent Patrick Mapes strongly disagrees, insisting the district is more transparent now than under the previous administration.

The disagreement surfaced during what is typically a routine agenda item: a review of district finances required annually by state law. While little new financial information was presented, board member Suzanne Thomas used the opportunity to read a prepared statement.

Thomas praised the district’s finance staff but expressed concern about the timing and presentation of information provided to the board.

“My concern is not that information is being withheld,” Thomas said. “It is that the timing and framing of the information may not be giving the board the opportunity to provide proactive oversight. As a board, our role is not to manage finances—we do not get into the weeds—but it is important to anticipate risk, ask questions early, and understand trends before they become urgent.”

Superintendent Mapes responded sharply, saying he took Thomas’ comments personally.

“We’re as transparent as the place has ever been before,” Mapes said. “And so I take offense to the comment, because the comment is directed at me.”

Thomas replied that her statement was not directed at Mapes personally, but rather at the overall financial reporting process.

Board member Dawn Lang voiced her support for the current process and said she disagreed with Thomas’ assessment.

Board member Latricia Schooley said she took issue with the tone of the superintendent’s response, while also acknowledging the work of the district’s finance staff.

“But what’s not in those reports are contracts that just disappear, like $240,000 to a broker,” Schooley said. “That was not commission. So there are things that are not presented, such as vendor relationships. That is coming from the top down. I expect, in the future, when our administration addresses the board, they do so in a respectful manner.”

Board member Sarah Parks Reese said concerns raised by some members about policy should be addressed and also said she had issues with the tone of comments made to the board.

Schooley added that she has made what she described as simple requests for information that were denied, noting that such requests could be verified through public records requests.

The disagreement over financial transparency was one of several signs of growing divisions on the seven-member board.

Earlier in the meeting, board member Juanita Albright proposed an amendment to board policy that would eliminate compensation for board members attending meetings. The proposal failed on a 4–3 vote, with Ben Orr, Suzanne Thomas, Latricia Schooley, and Sarah Parks Reese voting against the change.

Albright has recently filed as a candidate for an Indiana State Senate seat.

Young adult Hoosiers care deeply about public issues but remain largely disconnected from the political process, including voting, according to new research released Wednesday by ReCenter Indiana Inc.

The nonpartisan study found that distrust of government, disappointment with politics and practical barriers on Election Day are major reasons many young adults do not vote, even though many say they want to participate.

According to the Tufts University CIRCLE 2024 youth voting report, just 39% of young Hoosiers voted in the 2024 general election, placing Indiana among the lowest-performing states and well below the national young adult turnout rate of 47%.

ReCenter Indiana’s research focused specifically on non-voters. The organization surveyed 307 Central Indiana residents ages 18 to 34 who were registered to vote but did not cast a ballot in the 2024 general election. The survey was statistically representative and included both online and phone interviews, along with a focus group discussion.

“Young adult non-voters are not apathetic. They really care — but they are distrustful of government, disappointed by politics and impeded by Election Day barriers,” said Jocelyn Vare, executive director of ReCenter Indiana. Vare presented the findings at the All IN For Democracy press conference at the Indiana Statehouse on Wednesday, Jan. 28.

Among the key findings, a majority of respondents said they do not believe their voices influence government decisions or election outcomes, and many feel the government is not listening to people like them. Pessimism about the future was also widespread, with half of respondents describing their outlook as pessimistic or negative.

The study found that the most common reason young adults gave for not voting was the belief that their vote “doesn’t matter.” Other barriers varied by party affiliation, gender and identity, with some respondents citing dissatisfaction with the candidates, while others pointed to personal obligations or missed deadlines.

Nearly half of those surveyed — 45% — said they have never voted. Those respondents were more likely to cite distrust of the electoral process or a lack of information than respondents who had voted in the past.

Despite those challenges, the research indicates that many young adults remain open to civic participation. When asked whether they would vote in the upcoming year, 35% said they would “definitely” vote, and many others reported an above-average likelihood of doing so.

The study also identified several practical obstacles that make it difficult for young adults to turn intent into action, including work schedules, long lines at polling places, limited Election Day hours and lack of awareness about early voting options.

The research was funded by a grant from the Nicholas H. Noyes Jr. Memorial Foundation and conducted jointly by Bellwether Research, which typically works with Republican candidates and causes, and Hart Research, whose clients are typically Democrats. Fieldwork took place in late October 2025.

A summary of the findings, along with statements from focus group participants, survey details and links to the full report and crosstab data, is available at ReCenter Indiana’s website.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools announced it will operate on a two-hour delay Thursday, Jan. 29, as the district continues to navigate winter weather that has kept students on some form of e-learning throughout the week.

According to the district, the delayed start is intended to give transportation crews additional time to prepare buses and allow for improved visibility at bus stops. Officials noted that morning temperatures will remain very cold and encouraged families to ensure students are dressed appropriately for the conditions.

HSE Preschool classes, including both morning and afternoon sessions, are canceled for Thursday. Students attending the Hamilton Southeastern Fishers (HSF) Academy will continue with e-learning rather than reporting in person.

The district also reminded families of its contingency plan should weather conditions worsen. If school is canceled, all students in grades K–12 will participate in synchronous instruction. Students would be expected to check Canvas for their daily schedules and be prepared to join live classes via Microsoft Teams beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools has relied on a mix of e-learning days, delays and schedule adjustments this week as winter weather has affected road conditions and safety across the district.