Apex Benefits made a presentation to the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board Wednesday night outlining its consulting work for the district and the costs associated with those services.

Apex began its consulting contract with HSE Schools on July 1, 2024. In the first year, the firm charged the district $20,000 per month, or $240,000 for the year.

Beginning July 1, 2025, that cost was reduced to $7,232.28 per month, or $86,787 annually. Apex told the board there were no charges for July and August of 2025 due to what the firm described as “the value of ancillary commission received in the prior year.” That adjustment reduces the projected cost for the 2025–2026 contract year to $72,243.

HSE operates a self-funded employee health insurance plan administered by Anthem. Apex representatives explained that a self-funded system means the district directly pays medical claims rather than paying a fixed premium to an insurance company.

Because of that structure, Apex said a small number of very expensive claims—such as cancer treatments—can significantly affect overall costs. The firm said while those treatments are necessary and not something the district would deny, they can drive up the rates employees ultimately pay.

In July 1, 2025 through February 28, 2026, compared with July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025,  medical claims increased by 20.5 percent, or about $360,000 per month. That represents a projected increase of approximately $4.3 million over a 12-month period.

However, Apex said a change in the district’s Pharmacy Benefit Manager has produced significant savings. The firm reported pharmacy spending has dropped by about $133,000 per month, with projected annual savings of roughly $1.6 million.

Apex and HSE Schools are currently in the middle of a three-year contract. The school board is expected to consider an updated agreement at its next meeting reflecting the monthly consulting fee of $7,232.28 through June 30, 2027.

During the presentation, board member Latrica Schooley asked Apex how often school districts use a request for proposals (RFP) process to select benefits consultants. Apex representatives said some districts use an RFP process while others do not.

Under Indiana law, school districts are not required to issue bids or requests for proposals when hiring firms for consulting services, although some districts choose to use those procedures.

Apex Benefits is an Indianapolis-based employee benefits consulting and brokerage firm specializing in group health insurance and employee benefits strategy. Founded in 2003, the company says it focuses exclusively on advising private employers, governments and school districts on the design and management of employee benefit plans.

A panel of government, utility and economic development leaders gathered Wednesday in Indianapolis to discuss the growing role of data centers and how the rapidly expanding industry could affect communities across Central Indiana.

The discussion was hosted by the Central Indiana Regional Development Authority (CIRDA) and moderated by Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen, who also serves as the organization’s vice chair.

Municipal leaders and industry experts participating in the panel included Bargersville Town Council President Andrew Greenwood, Morgan County Economic Development Corporation official Mike Dellinger, Patrick Maguire of AES, Justin Forshey of CenterPoint Energy, Ed Bukovac of Citizens Water, Erin Schneider and Kelley Karn of Duke Energy, and Chad Sweeney of Ginovus, a land-use consulting firm.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, who has been active in CIRDA’s regional economic development work, attended the meeting along with other local leaders from across Central Indiana.

Panelists discussed the infrastructure and resource requirements associated with data centers, including power, water usage and land needs. The technology sector has seen increasing demand for data centers as companies expand cloud computing and artificial intelligence capabilities.

Jensen said the goal of the session was to ensure communities have reliable information as they consider whether data center development fits their long-term plans.

“Today was a very important step for Central Indiana — which represents 40% of the state’s GDP — to have a factual conversation about data centers, knowing that this technology is going to continue to grow,” Jensen said.

CIRDA officials described the panel as part of a broader effort to develop a long-term regional economic development strategy that will help keep Central Indiana competitive globally.

“CIRDA is going to continue to be part of the discussion in Central Indiana, and we need to understand the facts around what type of energy uses they have, what type of water uses they have, what kind of land they’re looking for,” Jensen said. “Then, that allows us — on the local level — to go back and inform our citizens and have an honest conversation about our future.”

CIRDA meetings are open to the public and are scheduled for May 13, July 15 and September 16 at IU Indianapolis’ Hine Hall, Kelley Room 137, located at 875 W. North Street in Indianapolis. Meetings run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Jim Self will no longer serve as Athletic Director at Hamilton Southeastern High School, but will instead take on a new role as city-district athletic director under a new five-year interlocal agreement between Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools and the City of Fishers.

Under the agreement, Self will remain an employee of HSE Schools, but the City of Fishers will reimburse the school district for his compensation.

The pact also calls for approximately $3.6 million in improvements to athletic facilities at both Hamilton Southeastern High School and Fishers High School. The partnership is designed to expand access to athletic facilities, enhance those facilities and strengthen coordination between school and community athletic programs.

The agreement also includes plans to improve data collection and scheduling systems used to book athletic fields, allowing for more efficient use of those facilities.

Improvements at both high school campuses are expected to begin this spring and be completed by late summer.

The announcement came during the annual joint meeting between the Fishers Mayor and City Council and the HSE School Board.

City officials also presented results from a recent community survey. According to the city, 90 percent of respondents said they would recommend HSE Schools to others, while 92 percent said they would recommend Fishers as a place to live. The survey also found that 92 percent of respondents said they feel safe in Fishers and 93 percent rated the city’s quality of life as exceptionally strong.

Fishers has a long history of partnering with HSE Schools, and Mayor Scott Fadness and members of his staff outlined a number of ongoing joint initiatives.

One of the most visible collaborations is the placement of School Resource Officers (SROs) — uniformed police officers — inside school buildings. There are currently 16 SROs jointly funded by the city and the school district.

The city also plans to add two School Safety Officers (SSOs), positions typically filled by recently retired law enforcement officers. Mayor Fadness said the city will fully fund the new SSO positions for now as the school district works through current budget challenges.

Ever since Patrick Mapes became superintendent of Hamilton Southeastern Schools in February of 2024, Dr. Matt Kegley has served as deputy superintendent. Mapes made it clear that when he was away from the district, Kegley would handle day-to-day leadership at the district’s administration building.

Now, following Mapes’ surprise resignation, the school board is moving quickly to place Kegley in charge.

Board President Tiffany Pascoe quickly announced the board’s intention to appoint Kegley as interim superintendent to lead the district during the transition.

Kegley has spent much of his career in the HSE district and has held a wide range of roles in education. His experience includes time as a teacher, assistant principal and athletic director. He later served as principal at Riverside Junior High and then at Hamilton Southeastern High School before moving into district administration.

As part of his appointment as interim superintendent, Kegley will receive an additional $375 per week.

The board voted unanimously Wednesday naming Kegley to the interim position.

School board members have not indicated how long Kegley will serve in the interim role. The board has also not announced whether it plans to conduct a formal search for a permanent superintendent.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board has once again postponed a decision on proposed policy language governing school board members’ access to district meetings held outside of regular board and committee sessions.

At Wednesday night’s board meeting, one of the central issues involved a legal question about whether allowing the board president to appoint board members to attend district meetings — including collective bargaining sessions — could create legal complications.

The board’s legal counsel, Barnes & Thornburg, is researching the issue and has contacted the Indiana Public Access Counselor for guidance. Attorneys are seeking clarification on whether the presence of appointed board members at such meetings could legally transform them into gatherings subject to Indiana’s Open Door Law, potentially requiring the sessions to be open to the public.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association, which represents teachers in the district, said it supports the language proposed by the board’s Policy Committee. However, the union opposes holding contract bargaining sessions in public. Negotiations between school districts and teacher unions are typically conducted privately, generally consistent with Indiana’s open meetings law.

The board voted to delay action on the policy until additional clarification is received from the Public Access Counselor’s office.

During the discussion, board member Suzanne Thomas proposed four amendments to the Policy Committee’s recommendation, including removing the board president’s authority to appoint members to attend district meetings. Her proposal failed on a 4–3 vote.

Under the proposed policy, board members would be allowed to silently observe district meetings and take notes but could only share those notes with fellow board members in ways permitted by state law.

For now, the board’s decision on the policy remains on hold while legal guidance is sought from the state.

After opening in November 2024, the Fishers Event Center says it is continuing to expand its role as a regional entertainment destination while adding new initiatives aimed at improving the fan experience.

The 7,500-seat venue has hosted concerts, sporting events and community gatherings during its first year of operation. Officials say the facility is also emphasizing accessibility and inclusivity as part of its ongoing development.

March is recognized nationally as Disability Awareness Month, and the event center is highlighting several features designed to make events more accessible to guests with special needs.

The facility is a KultureCity Certified sensory-inclusive venue. Staff members have undergone specialized training to assist guests who may experience sensory sensitivities or overload during events.

Guests can obtain sensory bags at the Guest Services Center near Section 109. The bags include noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, fidget tools and other items designed to help individuals manage sensory challenges. The venue also features a sensory room presented by DAMAR, offering a quiet space for guests who need a calming environment during events.

Additional accessibility features include a universal changing table in a second-level family restroom, a Mother’s Room presented by IKEA for parents needing a private space, accessible parking and drop-off areas, wheelchair assistance and assistive listening services.

The Fishers Event Center has also expanded its food and beverage lineup with three new vendors featuring local or specialty offerings.

Among the additions is Pure Pour, a premium vending concept offering non-alcoholic beverages. Event center officials say the venue is the first in Indiana to feature the concept, reflecting the growing demand for zero-proof drink options.

Two additional vendors include BeeFree, which produces snacks sweetened with organic honey and supports employment opportunities for adults with autism and other neurodiverse individuals, and Ben’s Pretzels, which prepares hand-rolled pretzels fresh at the venue.

The event center remains home to three professional sports teams: the Indy Fuel hockey club of the ECHL, Indy Ignite of Major League Volleyball and the Fishers Freight of the Indoor Football League. Officials say themed game nights and special fan activations are planned throughout the spring sports season.

Beyond sports and concerts, the facility also continues to host community activities such as graduations, private events and other local gatherings.

Work continues at the intersection of State Road 37 and 141st Street, where motorists are beginning to see some changes in traffic patterns.

The new right-in, right-out lanes on the east side of the intersection have now opened, allowing some traffic to move more freely through the construction zone. However, drivers should still expect delays. Lane restrictions remain in place and could cause traffic backups in the area as construction moves forward.

Fishers Director of Engineering Hatem Mekky says activity on the project will increase in the weeks and months ahead. The work is part of the ongoing State Road 37 improvement project, which includes construction of a roundabout at 141st Street to handle east-west traffic. The project is currently scheduled to be completed this summer.

Meanwhile, the Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety has approved bids for this year’s road resurfacing program. Much of the work will take place on neighborhood streets, although some main roadways are also included.

Resurfacing is planned for 131st Street between Cumberland and Promise roads. Portions of Howe Road and Promise Road will also receive new pavement.

Neighborhood resurfacing will take place in Weaver Woods, Weaver Creek, Weaver Woods North, Rosewood, Sunblest and Summerlin Trails.

For more details on the planned resurfacing projects, use this link.

Bestselling author Kwame Mbalia, known for his popular middle-grade fantasy novels, will visit Fishers later this month for a special appearance at the Hamilton East Public Library.

Mbalia is the creator of the acclaimed Tristan Strong series, which blends African American folklore and West African mythology into fast-paced adventures aimed at middle-school readers. The first book in the series, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, became a New York Times bestseller and launched a trilogy that has earned praise for its imaginative storytelling and cultural depth.

In addition to the Tristan Strong books, Mbalia co-authored the Afrofuturist adventure series Last Gate of the Emperor with Prince Joel David Makonnen and has been involved in several other literary projects that highlight diverse voices in children’s literature.

Mbalia will appear at the Fishers branch of the Hamilton East Public Library on Monday, March 24 at 6 p.m., where readers will have an opportunity to hear from the author and learn more about his work.

Ahead of that visit, Mbalia joined me for a podcast conversation discussing the inspiration behind the Tristan Strong books, the role mythology plays in his storytelling, writing for middle-school readers, and his path to becoming a bestselling author.

The LarryInFishers.com podcast series is sponsored by Citizens State Bank.

You can listen to the full podcast interview below, listen to the audio only at this link and the video version using this link…or use the links below.