Hamilton Southeastern (HSE)Schools projected the number of kindergartners expected to be signed up for classes this fall at this point in the enrollment period, and so far the actual number of new kindergartners is 200 pupils below projections.

HSE Schools Chief Financial Officer Mike Reuter says there could be a flurry of parents enrolling their children at the last minute, but even with that. the numbers are likely to be below the projection.

If you need to sign your child up for kindergarten at HSE Schools, use this link for more information.

The enrollment numbers were discussed as part of a wide-ranging work session with school board members and administrators on what to do about the 30 portable classrooms being utilized for the coming school year to allow for smaller class sizes.

School administrators provided several options to board members, including doing nothing and continuing with the portable classrooms.  Other options discussed were:

–Expanding Durbin Elementary by adding 16-18 classrooms.  However, a sewer line would need to be extended, which would be expensive for the school system.

–One additional elementary school could be constructed.

–Additional classrooms could be constructed at all but 3 elementary school buildings.

Several board members said they wanted a new demographic study.  The last study was presented to the board in 2014 with a ten-year enrollment projection that has been very close to accurate up to now.

Reuter says the largest enrollment in the upcoming school year is in the 7th grade.

School Superintendent Allen Bourff says the next step is the look at the financial picture for HSE Schools and fit that into any option the board may consider.

The board also received an update from Facilities Manager Harry Delks on projected maintenance needs for school building over the coming ten years.  The most money would go the Hamilton Southeastern High School with $15.4 million over the ten years.  Fishers Junior High would get $8.3 million, Fall Creek Junior High $7 million and Cumberland Road Elementary $6.7 million.    The plan would spend $5 million on maintenance for the remainder of 2016 and $10 million per year from 2017 through 2025.  Delks emphasized to board members that this plan is his best educated guess and it is a “living document.”

In a unanimous vote, the Fishers City Counil approved a memorandum of understanding between the City of Fishers and the  Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA), laying out the way airport land can be developed by the city.

A map provided to council members shows the areas to be developed and also defines parts of the property to remain as either parks or open space.  The area adjacent to Ritchey Woods is designated as open space.  You can view the map at this link.

The Council also approved an economic development agreement to bring a new building to the Saxony area of Fishers.  The structure is to be built by Central Indiana Orthopedics.

Fishers city officials have selected 3 artists to create artwork to be placed along the east end of the Edge building parking garage, facing Interstate 69.

Deputy Mayor Leah McGrath named the three artists for Fishers City Council members Monday.  The are Rachel Johnson, Warren Miller and and Kyle Ragsdale.

Councilman Todd Zimmerman served on the selection committee, and said Fishers is especially fortunate to have an artist of Kyle Ragsdale’s reputation as part of the project.

Once the art is complete, each artist’s work will be rotated about every six months.

Below are some samples submitted by the artists.

Fishers Police Sergeant Troy Fettinger was honored Monday night by the Fishers City Council for 20 years of service to the local department.

Sergeant Fettinger was credited with helping to save a 12-year-old boy’s life in February of 2014.  The boy collapsed while playing basketball at Fishers Junior High.  Fettinger used an AED machine and with the help of a medical doctor also at the game, they were able to revive the 12-year-old, and he later recovered at Riley Children’s Hospital.

The officer received a standing ovation from the council members and the entire crowd.

If you drive to the new Launch Fishers Building, you will pass a vacant structure along Visionary Way.  The site was once a Charles Schwab regional client center, but it has been vacant for a very long time.

There was a hint at the Fishers City Council meeting Monday night that there is some serious interest is someone making use of that vacant office building.   Council members unanimously approved a resolution designating the property as an Economic Revitalization Area (ERA).  That clears the way for the council to act quickly on a tax abatement should a deal be reached for a business interest to occupy the building.

City officials say the recent declaration of the area by the State of Indiana as a Certified Tech Park has renewed interest in the property.  The designation allows up to $5 million in state tax revenue generated in the area to remain in the area for infrastructure improvements and other uses.

When asked after the council session if an announcement for a new tenant in the former Schwab building is expected before the next council meeting one month from now, the mayor said, “Potentially.”

There was no indication from any city officials as to who may be interested in the building.

All we can do now is wait and see what happens next.

David George sat down and talked to me about his time on the Fishers Town Council and City Council.

Fishers Police have released the name of the victim in an accident early Saturday morning. Sarah Burgett, 27, of Fishers died after being struck by a vehicle at 131st Street and State Road 37.  Police say Burgett was apparently trying to cross State Road 37 when the accident happened.

Below is the news release from the Fishers Police Department:

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On Saturday morning at approximately 5:30am Fishers police officers were dispatched to a crash involving a pedestrian and two motor vehicles. The crash occurred at the intersection of 131^st Street and State Road 37. Officers arrived to find a pedestrian had been struck by a 2002 Chevrolet Suburban. Immediately following the initial crash the pedestrian was struck again by a 2006 Dodge Caravan.

Paramedics from the Fishers Department of Fire and Emergency Services arrived a short time later and pronounced the victim deceased. According to evidence and witness statements, it appears the pedestrian was attempting to cross State Road 37 at 131^st and both the Chevrolet and the Dodge were traveling northbound on State Road 37 at the time of the crash.

“Indiana – The Musical” opened in Fishers on July 16th….here’s my review

The annual Fishers downtown Arts Crawl drew a good crowd Friday night with a gorgeous summer evening filled with music and a lot of independent artwork.

Describing it doesn’t do the event justice, so here are some pictures, and a video of one musical act.

The Indianapolis Airport Authority has voted to allow the City of Fishers to move forward with developing 211 acres of land at Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport, located near 106th Street and Allisonville Road, per a story published on the IBJ Web site.

Susan Orr of the Indianapolis Business Journal wrote the story.  You can read it at this link.