Here is the 11th episode in my mini-podcast series on Disability Awareness Month

This news blog has been around for over six years now.  I concentrate on providing straight news reporting because people need to know what local public institutions are up to, and I do the best I can, as one guy volunteering his time, to do just that.

But every now and then, I must call something as I see it.  So, with some trepidation, I will lay out my views on one subject that has been on my mind for some time, and explain my take of how local officials are handling that issue.  This is all about the national student walkout planned for 10am, Wednesday, March 14th.

This started as a way to honor the 17 students that lost their lives and honor their memories with a 17-minute walkout during the school day, one minute for each student that died in the Parkland, Florida shooting one month earlier.

Student walkouts are not a new thing, but they are rare in recent times.  So, with this national walkout planned, what are local school officials planning to do in response to the situation?

Area school districts are addressing the walkouts in the following ways:

–Carmel school officials say students there may participate in the walkout with no repercussions.

–Westfield-Washington Schools plan an “awareness walk” during that time.

–Noblesville will allow students to walkout without discipline as long as students conduct themselves respectfully and in the spirit and intent of the activity.  The schools will also offer other activities during that time.

–Hamilton Heights will allow a walkout demonstration, according to the superintendent.  “We respect our constitutional rights including the right to peaceful assembly. Therefore, we are providing the opportunity for students who want to walk in solidarity and in silence during a non-instructional period under administrative supervision on Wednesday.”

So, as you can see, there are various responses to this national call for a walkout at 10am Wednesday, March 14th.  So, what do our school officials say about our local Fishers-area, the Hamilton Southeastern School District?

Their response is quite different.  A letter was sent to the entire community in recent days, signed by Superintendent Allen Bourff and HSE School Board President Matt Burke.  In that letter, worries were raised about the walkout.

The walkout “raises concerns for schools trying to balance student safety and instruction while still supporting student expression” according to that letter.  The missive also describes “substantial disruption to the learning environment” that would, they say, result from any walkout.  There is also a reference to “preserve instruction time.”

There is a passage about the importance of the school district staying “politically neutral.”

After reviewing the e-mailed letter, I was saddened by the approach taken by our local school officials.  This is a totally wrong way to go.

I have seen some comments on social media indicating the school officials are infringing on students’ first amendment rights.  I do not agree with that.  But I am troubled nonetheless with the tone of this letter.

Let me deal with some of the issues raised in that message.

First, the notion of student safety was argued.  I have seen the schools manage events of much larger magnitude than this student walkout.  I have every confidence that proper security could be arranged for students marching outside their school buildings for 17 minutes.  I am puzzled that this is raised as an issue after 17 students were killed in a high school attack one month earlier.

Then there is the assertion that a walkout would disrupt the learning environment and cut into classroom instructional time.  There are events going on at high schools all that time that are at least somewhat disruptive.  I understand the concern about precious instructional time in the classroom, but high schools let students out of class on a regular basis for other educational opportunities, including participating in sporting events.  I do not see how this 17-minute march has any significant impact on the classroom.  I would argue the march itself has important educational value.

Then there is the reference to the school district remaining “politically neutral.”  Is there another side when you are commemorating the deaths of 17 high school students?  Is the school district taking sides when I do not see another side?

I have no idea how many students at HSE or Fishers High Schools plan to walk out.  I have gathered enough information to determine there will be some sort of walkout at each school.  It could be a small number of students or a large number, I have no idea at this time.  But I would guess that students with differing political beliefs are prepared to walkout together.

I take no pleasure in being critical of our local school officials.  I know most of them and have a high regard for the entire group.  But Hamilton Southeastern, as a school district, is taking a position setting us apart from other nearby communities, and not in a good way.  We are a high-performing school corporation, the data is clear on that.  We need to start acting more like a high-performing school district at the top.

I do not believe we should set policy just because other school systems adopt them, but the letter about the March 14th walkout sets us apart from other area school systems and it does not put us in a positive light.

There is one way our local school officials could do the right thing.  In the question and answer part of the Bourff & Burke letter, read the following passage:

“Administrators always talk to students who violate school policies, and administrators take into account extenuating circumstances before assigning consequences.”

Yes, leaving your assigned classroom and taking part in the March 14 walkout is a violation of school policies.  It would be my hope that administrators will not discipline students who peacefully march in support of this movement and are not disruptive.

After all, people my age have let this generation down.  These mass school shootings have been going on for years, most in affluent school districts, and the adults have done nothing of consequence to prevent them.  I, for one, do not blame them for marching and walking-out.  Let’s not discipline these students.

Whenever I raise the issue of poverty and hunger in Hamilton County, I get raised eyebrows and looks of puzzlement.  Hunger in Hamilton County?  Does that really exist?

All you need to do is have a conversation with someone dealing with this issue and your attitude will change quickly.  There are people, more than you may realize, that are struggling in Hamilton County.

According to my news gathering partner, the Hamilton County Reporter, the Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank has its annual meeting Tuesday, March 20 at the Ivy Tech Campus, 300 N. 17th St., Noblesville.  Please park in the west lot from 16th Street and come in Door 9 or 10.

This is an event that will educate you on the local hunger issue issue and what you can do to help.

You can register for the annual meeting at this link.

You can contact Board President Mary Lou Finchum for more details at ced.1umc@gmail.com

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

State Police Superintendent Doug Carter, speaking Thursday night at the annual Clay Township Republican chili supper, said the opioid drug crisis is real, it is here and it is the responsibility to citizens to call situations to the attention of officials when addiction is observed or illegal drug use is suspected. Authorities are not going to defeat the epidemic alone, Carter said.

Carter, a local resident and former two-term county sheriff, is now in his sixth year as head of the State Police. He has now been appointed by two governors and has been well received by the press and public alike for his performance and style. A crowd of about 150 was on hand to greet Carter at the John Hensel township government center.

County Coroner John Chalfin, attending Thursday night’s event, said drug overdose deaths in Hamilton County are running nearly one per week since the beginning of the year. He has been working for state legislation to better track the overdose epidemic.

Congresswoman Susan Brooks also attended the function and urged Republican partisans to work hard this election year to help maintain a GOP majority in both houses of Congress. She claimed more legislation has been passed than in recent sessions which will spur the economy and reduce excessive regulations.

Candidates for most major county offices also attended and served chili to the crowd as is tradition at the Carmel Clay GOP Club event which is a partial pitch-in with guests bringing items to supplement the chili.

The organization re-elected Matthew Snyder as president, Tony Green as vice president, Dixie Packard as secretary and Barry Simich as treasurer.

Next month the club will sponsor a candidate forum where those running in the May 8 GOP primary will each speak, then answer questions posed by the audience.

It was a pleasant, sunny Saturday morning in Fishers and locals flocked to the final 2017/2018  winter season Farmer’s Market at Holland Park.  In a matter of weeks, the outdoor market will return to the Nickel Plate District in Downtown Fishers.

The area north of City Hall, all the way to the Amphitheater, is under construction.  That is the area where the outdoor Farmer’s Market has been held.  The outdoor market is set to start on May 5th.  It does not appear that the Amphitheater construction will be completed by May 5th.  So, the question is, where exactly will the Farmer’s Market be located while the Amphitheater area is being remodeled?

The city is apparently looking at a number of options, including closing-off part of Municipal Drive, the circular street surrounding City Hall, the Amphitheater and a number of other public structures.  That would be more of a street fair atmosphere.

However, city officials, at last report, have not made a final decision on how the spring/summer Farmer’s Market will be handled until the Amphitheater area construction is done.  But it appears the site will be near City Hall in the Nickel Plate District.

On this week’s Hamilton County Goes To The Movies, Adam Aasen and Larry welcome local film critics Evan Dossey and Andrew Doehrman to talk about the winners and losers in the 2018 Academy Awards

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Plans to develop a housing project on the site of the former Farm Bureau Co-op grain processing plant in Noblesville have been abandoned. For more than two years the Hamilton County Neighborhood Development (HAND) tried to secure funding from state housing authorities for an apartment development on the site at 8th and Mulberry streets, but has now decided against pursuing the project.

An option on the ground expired in recent months. The land is owned by North Central Co-op. The property, formerly the site of huge grain silos, is now vacant. Its future use is undetermined.

Before Farm Bureau began operations, the ground was the site of the Noblesville Milling Company founded in the late 19th century and was a major employer in the city.

HAND is now focusing on two other projects in the county. Cooperating with the Woda Group, Inc. of Ohio, HAND will be able to provide 32 living units at Blackhawk Commons in Sheridan, a project announced earlier that is now cleared to get underway in July. Approval of federal rental tax credits resulted in the final go-ahead.

The apartments will be located in the former Sheridan High School, an 88-year-old structure later used as Adams Elementary which is currently vacant.

In addition to the housing for moderate income tenants, the school’s gymnasium will become a community recreation facility made possible with $300,000 in county funds. The gym, once the largest in the county, hosted sectional basketball tourneys prior to the mid-1950s and is considered a local historic structure.

HAND also has a small apartment project underway in the Home Place area of Carmel. Located near 106th Street and College Avenue, the 10-unit complex will be completed before the end of the year, according to a release from HAND officials.

The non-profit organization has 96 living units for rent in Hamilton County, not counting the Blackhawk Commons and Home Place complexes. HAND was founded in 2003 with the mission of providing affordable housing for county residents.

Here is yet another story in my March series on Disability Awareness Month

Spring weather is showing itself occasionally in the Fishers area, but a look at the road construction listing would make you think spring has already sprung.  Lots of restrictions and closures around town.

Below is the road construction listing, as provided by the City of Fishers:

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There will be lane closures and/or restrictions in place on the morning of Saturday, March 10 throughout the Nickel Plate District for the FT5K Mudsock. Restrictions will occur at North Street and Lantern Road, moving west on North Street, and north on Municipal Drive to Lantern Road.

Restrictions will also take place along Sunblest Boulevard from Lantern Road, moving southwest around Ellipse Parkway and north on Saksons Boulevard. Also, the eastbound lane of 126th Street will be closed to Lantern Road, and expect additional restrictions on Lantern Road from Commercial Drive to North Street. View the complete route.

106TH STREET   

106th Street is closed to through traffic from Eller Road to Allisonville Road for the 106th Street Infrastructure Project. Closures for through traffic will also take place on Eller Road from Allisonville Road to Hague Road. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

HOOSIER ROAD   

Beginning on or after March 19, Hoosier Road south of 116th Street will be closed to all traffic through the cemetery for sanitary sewer repairs. A detour will be in place on Cumberland Road while work is completed.

131ST STREET   

Periodic lane restrictions will occur at the intersection of 131st Street and Cumberland Road as utility relocation work is completed.

Expect lane restrictions, weather permitting, along 131st Street between Allisonville Road and Lantern Road to allow for tree clearing prior to the construction of the Conner Trail from Conner Prairie to the Municipal Complex. Lane restrictions will also take place on Lantern Road between 131st Street and Municipal Drive.

136TH STREET   

Lane restrictions will be in place, weather permitting, along 136th Street between Southeastern Parkway and Prairie Baptist Road to allow for tree clearing prior to the construction of a new roundabout.

MEADOWS DRIVE  

Meadows Drive is closed between Frances Drive and Morgan Drive, weather permitting, for the installation of sanitary sewer.

ELLER ROAD   

Eller Road is closed to through traffic south of 106th Street. Also, the intersection of 106th Street and Eller Road will be closed for 2 to 3 weeks for the 106th Street Infrastructure Project.

126TH STREET   

Expect possible lane restrictions on 126th Street from Allisonville Road to the railroad tracks while aerial utility work is completed.

ALLISONVILLE ROAD RESURFACING & INTERSECTION IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT   

Lane restrictions will be in place, as weather permits, along Allisonville Road from 126th Street to 131st Street for tree clearing ahead of the start of the roadway expansion project. Restrictions will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and flaggers will be on site directing traffic, as necessary. For more info on this project, view the Fact Sheet.

MORGAN DRIVE   

Morgan Drive is restricted to one lane between Lantern Road and Emmanual Court for work on stormwater structures.

I-69   

As part of a $92 million design-build contract, Milestone has added a third lane in each direction to the median, repaired and resurfaced existing pavement, and rehabilitated bridges and drainage structures on 15 miles of I-69 in Hamilton and Madison counties. Construction of an additional auxiliary lane between the 116th Street entrance ramp to I-69 South and the I-69 South Exit 204 ramp to 106th Street will continue through next spring.

I-69 South will be temporarily reduced to two lanes to allow space for the State Road 37 and 116th Street entrance ramps to safely merge while construction continues on the southbound auxiliary lane between the 116th Street and 106th Street ramps.

Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT via email or at 1-855-463-6848.

STATE ROAD 37  

The Meeting Minutes and Meeting Presentation from the December State Road 37 Project Public Meeting, along with additional project information is available.

The State Road 37 improvement project is a $124 million joint project between Fishers, Hamilton County, Noblesville, and INDOT. Questions or concerns may be directed via email to Drive Fishers.

Hamilton County Commissioners Mark Heirbrandt (left) and Christine Altman stand next to one of the 9,300 solar panels that will be installed on the roofs at the correctional campus and three acres adjacent to State Road 37 north of State Road 32. (Photo provided)

Hamilton County Reporter