For those of you happy that the construction blocking traffic along the Nickel Plate Trail on 131st Street is complete and the road is open, be prepared for another project, this one blocking 126th Street, along the same trail, west of State Road 37.  That construction is not expected to end until late September.

There are many other updates of interest to local motorists in the weekly update provided by the City of Fishers, and shown below.

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“We had a lot of questions from the community posed to us from a public health perspective – can schools open?” Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness looked at members of the Hamilton Southeastern School Board and administrators as he and officials from the Fishers Health Department briefed them on recommendations about when and how school buildings may open locally.

City health officials and Mayor Fadness say the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic in Fishers is in the Moderate Risk category (yellow in the chart above) but moving very close the Significant Risk column (Level 3 beige color above).

The decision to open school buildings is dependent on a long list of factors determined by data, not just one piece of data or a small segment, according to city health officials.  All must be analyzed in making such a decision.

The mayor emphasized that schools could open, but under what circumstances, when and with which mitigation policies are all decisions to be made by the school district.  The city and health department can advise and recommend, but school officials make the final decision.

“I shudder at the significant challenges that all of you have,” Fadness told the school board.  The city’s role is to explain to school officials where the community stands from a public health standpoint.  The mayor emphasized the city is prepared to continue its 15-year record of cooperation with the HSE Schools.

As to when school buildings may open again, and under what circumstances, Superintendent Allen Bourff  said any change from virtual learning to some form of in-person instruction would only happen with a two-week notice to parents.

The Fishers Health Department explained that mitigation strategies should vary.  For example, elementary and intermediate students and staff are at a lower risk of COVID-19 infection, although there remains some risk.  Most elementary classes remain together during the school day.

Junior High and High School students and staff face a much more challenging set of risks.

No decisions were made at the Friday morning HSE School Board work session.

As a generally retired guy, it is amazing what swirls through my mind on a given day.  Today, I am sharing a few of those thoughts.  I will leave it up to you as to whether any are of substantive value.

–Here are the local novel coronavirus numbers as of this writing.  According to the Fishers Health Department, the city has seen 75 positive tests in the past 14 days, with 826 local residents testing positive since the local testing regime began in early April.  35 Fishers city residents have died of COVID-19, and that number has held steady for several weeks.  If you review the positive case numbers on the fishersrecovery.com chart, it will appear that those cases are going down recently.  However, Monica Heltz, director of the health department, cautions that many test results have been delayed and those numbers may not be a true picture of what is happening locally.  Heltz says a national shortage of key testing material and a general increase in testing demand has resulted in the delays.  The Indiana State Department of Health reports 104 novel coronavirus deaths in all of Hamilton County, with 2,610 positive results out of 44,268 total tests conducted.

–Major League Baseball should do away with the cardboard cutouts of fans in the stands.  They look ridiculous.  The TV stations are piping in fake crowd noise and cheers, which is OK because their production people are doing it well.  Just glad there is baseball to watch on TV.  Let’s hope the game can remain safe for the players, coaches and support staff.  One or two more outbreaks of the virus and the shortened MLB season is in jeopardy.

–The NBA and NHL have opted for “bubbles” keeping the players and other personnel together under strict rules and testing regimes.  So far, no positive tests in those sports.

–The NFL has started training camps and some players are choosing just not to play.  It will be very difficult to prevent outbreaks just due to the nature of the sport and how it is played on the field.  I am not as big a fan of the NFL as I once was, but the Indianapolis area has a major public investment in the Colts so I hope they do well.

–I very much enjoy college football but wonder how the major conferences will be able to play, again due to the nature of the sport.  How successful will universities be at keeping players in line with the rules?  I hate to say it, but a full college football season with a national champion may not happen this season.  That is just being a realist.

–The IHSAA has issued rules for their member schools.  Fans are allowed in the stands at the discretion of the home school.  If there are fans, there are strict limits as to how many and how they will be spaced.  Will there be a Mudsock Game this year with Fishers playing HSE?  Time will tell.

–If you want children in the HSE Schools to return to class in-person, the best thing you can do is wear a mask when you leave your home and encourage others to do the same.  Wash your hands and observe the guidelines from health professionals.

–Please, take care of yourself and be careful out there!

Suzanne Thomas has filed as a candidate for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board in Fall Creek Township.  She joins incumbent Clint Wilson and Chauna Leigh Holder on the ballot for the November 3rd school board race.

So far, incumbent Amanda Shera and Tony Bagato have filed for the Delaware Township seat.  Sarah E. Parks-Reese in Wayne Township has also previously filed as a school board candidate.

There are three at-large seats up for grabs in the HSE election.  You must live within the borders of your township, but all voters in the HSE District vote on all three township races.

After a little more than 2 years in the job, the Deputy Mayor for the City of Fishers, Elliott Hultgren, is moving on.  He is set to begin working at KSM consulting.

Deputy Mayor Hultgren has had a number of responsibilities with the City of Fishers, including management of the city’s large fleet of vehicles, along with the financial controller’s office and the creation of the Fishers Health Department.

I spoke with Elliott Hultgren about that and more in this podcast, recorded on August 3rd.

Tomorrow (Monday, August 3rd) Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District teachers will report for the new school year.  Students will start classes Thursday, August 6th.

It will be a start of school like no other in memory.  Students will not be reporting to their buildings and classrooms, but will start the school year, for at least roughly the first four weeks, virtually.  HSE Superintendent Allen Bourff told me in a recent podcast interview that this virtual learning will look nothing like the virtual learning experienced at the end of last school year.  He promises more academic rigor this time.

School officials will consult with the Fishers Health Department,  as well as state health experts and the CDC,  on when a return to the traditional classroom model can safely resume.  But for now, the local COVID-19 infection rate has led HSE administrators to begin the school year virtually.

It should be noted that teachers will be able to do their virtual instruction from their classrooms, which will be a big step forward, compared to the last few weeks of the previous school year when teachers and students were both at home.

The HSE administration has made it clear bringing students and teachers back into the buildings is the best method to educate students, but made a very tough call when confronted with a number of “what if” scenarios on how the school district would handle a number of specific situations.  Remember, HSE is the 4th-largest school district in the state and must be prepared for any eventuality.

I have been saddened by a number of comments posted on social media about our teaching staff at HSE.  Let’s remember that one of the biggest factors fueling the growth of Fishers is the HSE School Corporation.  Just ask any real estate agent and each will tell you that the quality of local schools attracts families to our city and our area.

The reputation of the HSE school system is based largely on the quality of our classroom teachers.  Our administrators, food service staff, bus drivers and many others all contribute to this, but without a high-quality teaching staff, HSE would not have earned and maintained its stellar reputation.

There is a teacher shortage, based on all my conversations with school administrators.  HSE is not the highest-paying school district in the area, but is competitive because Fishers is a strong community and that attracts teachers.

But I would caution those complaining about benefits teachers are receiving locally – think about how HSE is trying to be a good employer to attract and retain the best teachers.  There are plenty of private-sector operations enhancing benefits during this time of stress for their employees.

So, allow me to be clear.  I support HSE teachers and any provisions to help their families during this difficult time.

For full disclosure, I have many teachers in my family.  But even if I did not, I would feel the same.

Let’s support our teaching staff at HSE and this school district will retain its top-notch standing.

(Editor’s Note:  The original story said the first day of school is Wednesday, August 5th….used the original calendar which was changed to deal with COVID-19….the dates have been corrected)

It was two years ago that RN Thompson informed residents of the Gray Eagle neighborhood, near 126th Street and Brooks School Road, that the development’s golf course would be closing by December 31 of 2019, but according to a story published in the August 1st edition of the Indianapolis Star, the course may be saved after all.

IndyStar reporter John Tuohy writes that a proposal is on the table to bring residential development and a restaurant to the neighborhood.  The Gray Eagle HOA President says this plan will save the golf course, which is what the residents of the neighborhood have been advocating.

There are still hurdles to clear, but based on Mr. Tuohy’s reporting, this plan appears to have the support of the HOA, developer and Fishers city officials.

The iTown Church had proposed building their new complex in the area of the golf course, but Gray Eagle homeowners actively opposed that idea.  iTown agreed to switch sites and now has the new church up and running at 136th Street and Brooks School Road.

The Hamilton County Election Office in Noblesville received two HSE School Board candidate filings Friday.  Incumbent Amanda Shera has filed seeking another term on the board.  Tony Bagato, Director of Planning and Zoning for the City of Fishers, also filed for the Delaware Township board seat.

Incumbent Clint Wilson has filed to serve another term in Fall Creek Township.   Chauna Leigh Holder has also filed her candidacy for Fall Creek Township.  Sarah E. Parks-Reese in Wayne Township has also previously filed as a school board candidate.

Shera is finishing up her first 4-year term on the board.  Bagato posted on social media that he took a day off work to file his candidate paperwork.

The At-Large HSE School Board election consists of three seats, with all voters residing in Fall Creek, Delaware and Wayne Townships eligible to vote for all three seats.  Those running must reside within the township where they are running.

The deadline to file as a candidate for the HSE School Board at-large election is August 21st at noon.

This is a trying time for Fishers motorists, but progress is being made on a number of fronts.

First, the 126th Street construction at State Road 37 saw a big change this past week – the right-in-right-out access moved from the east side of SR37 to the west side.  The roundabout intersection at 126th and underpass on SR37 is scheduled to be completed by November.

131st Street at the Nickel Plate Trail is closed to traffic through August 5th.  Once that is complete, 126th Street will close at Ford Drive, with reopening expected in September.

There are a number of other projects on main thoroughfares and in neighborhoods throughout the city.  The full listing, as provided by the City of Fishers, is below.

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		STATE ROAD 37  126th Street east of SR 37 is currently closed and is anticipated to reopen in November. During this time, cross access will be restricted, with only right in and right out. Northbound SR 37 traffic will not have access to 126th Street and will shift to the southbound lanes. Two lanes will remain in each direction. Local access to businesses will remain open. Detour route markers and advance warning signs will be in place prior to the closure. View the detour map here. Please drive with caution through this area. To learn more about the State Road 37 Improvement Project and sign up to receive text updates, visit 37Thrives.com.
131ST STREET AT NICKEL PLATE TRAIL CROSSING 131st Street at the Nickel Plate Trail crossing is currently closed and is anticipated to reopen by Wednesday, August 5. The work will include regrading of the crossing, removing the stop sign, and the construction of speed tables. Local access to businesses will remain open. View the detour map here. 126TH STREET AND FORD DRIVE / NICKEL PLATE TRAIL CROSSING Beginning on Wednesday, August 5, after the reopening of 131st Street at the Nickel Plate Trail crossing, the Ford Drive roundabout and the trail construction will begin. 126th Street from the Nickel Plate Trail crossing to Ford Drive will be closed and is anticipated to reopen in late September. During this time, the construction of speed tables at the Nickel Plate Trail crossing and the first phase of the Ford Drive roundabout will be completed. During this phase, residents and businesses on and east of Ford / Windsor Drive will be accessible from southbound SR 37 only. View the detour map here. 96TH STREET 96th Street east of the Sargent Road roundabout to Cumberland Road is currently closed and is anticipated to reopen in early November. During this time, the bridge over Mud Creek will be replaced with a widened structure and additional travel lanes will be added. The official detour route will direct drivers to use Lantern Road or Cumberland Road to 106th Street. View the detour map here. Currently, the center lanes on eastbound and westbound 96th Street between the future Nickel Plate Trail and Lantern Road is closed to begin resurfacing and reconstruction of a median island. Check out the project fact sheet to learn more.  106TH STREET Hamilton County Project – Please be advised, effective on or after Tuesday, July 7 the intersection of 106th Street and Mollenkopf Road will be under construction for an intersection improvement project. These improvements should last approximately 45 calendar days, tentatively wrapping up on or before Thursday, August 20. Temporary lane restrictions may be in place with flaggers directing traffic. Please use caution while driving through this area. 116TH STREET  On Sunday, August 2 all westbound lanes on 116th Street between Brooks School Road and Hoosier Road will be closed from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. while the Department of Public Works performs road repairs. View the detour map here. SOUTH STREET South Street is currently closed to through traffic between Fishers Center Drive and Lantern Road. Access to businesses will be maintained. LANTERN ROAD SOUTH OF 116TH STREET Lantern Road, between Appel Drive and Birch Street, is closed to through traffic. Paving will begin the week of August 3. Access for local traffic will be maintained. The detour route will be 116th Street down Hague Road to 106th Street. Check out the project Fact Sheet to learn more. SPYGLASS HILL SUBDIVISION Road resurfacing is taking place and is anticipated to be completed by early August. SANDSTONE SUBDIVISION Currently, ADA ramp reconstruction is taking place and is anticipated to be completed in August.

There is another candidate for Hamilton Southeastern School Board from Fall Creek Township.  Chauna Leigh Holder filed the legal paperwork Wednesday at the Hamilton County Election Office to run for a school board seat.

Fall Creek Township Incumbent Clint Wilson has already filed his candidacy.  Sarah E. Parks-Reese in Wayne Township has previously filed as a school board candidate.

The filing deadline is noon, August 21st.