As the 2023-2024 school year is to begin in August, the Hamilton Southeastern School Board has put its stamp of approval on the school calendar for the next school year, 2024-2025.
Assistant Superintendent Matt Kegley says this is the same calendar presented to the board previously, with one small change. There are two e-learning days that can be used anytime during the school year when needed.
The first day of school for students will be Wednesday, August 7, and the last day of classes for students is May 28.
Molly Kirwan, speaking before the HSE School Board
When Brooke Lawson left her position as Mental Health and School Counseling Coordinator for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools to take over a similar job at Carmel Schools, the question was, who will replace her?
The answer came at Wednesday night’s HSE School Board meeting when the new Mental Health and School Counseling Coordinator for HSE Schools, Molly Kirwan, was introduced to the board after her official hiring.
Kirwan comes to HSE Schools from the Community Health Network. Assistant Superintendent Matt Kegley introduced her to the board, saying she has worked with HSE Schools in the past as part of the mental health contract with Community Health.
Wednesday, July 12, was a busy day for the Hamilton Southeastern School Board, voting to place an operating property tax referendum on the November election ballot. But the board spent much more time that same day hashing out language within certain parts of the student handbook.
The challenge centers on no clear consensus about how to word some sections of the handbook. There were many thoughts expressed about changes to the dress code, cell phone usage and placement, as well as how to handle “running in the hallways.”
The public comments expressed were generally not supportive of changes in the handbook. Carolyn Porzuczek, Hamilton Southeastern Education Association Vice president of Elementary, told the board teachers in the district are “disheartened” by the board’s willingness to discuss the possibility of circumventing the long-established practice of having stakeholders, including parents, students, administrators and teachers, review student handbook language before changes are made, before the school year begins. At least two board members indicated Wednesday night a willingness to speed-up the process and implement handbook changes at the semester break in January. Porzuczek described that as “micromanagement” by the board and indicates “disrespect” for the teaching staff.
Most of the public comments were about possible changes in the dress code, with most comments suggesting no changes should be enacted.
At the end of the wide-ranging discussion about the student handbooks for the school year starting in August, Superintendent Yvonne Stokes told board members she and her staff will review all the board’s comments and have proposals ready for student handbook action by the July 26 regular board meeting.
Jason Taylor has worked for the City of Fishers, Indiana Department of Transportation and then back to Fishers as Director of Engineering in recent years. Mayor Scott Fadness announced at last night’s City Council meeting that Taylor will be leaving the city at the end of July, heading to a private sector position.
“Hard to put into words all the work he has done in the last couple of years for the city,” Fadness told Council members. “He’s worked with all of you on so many different projects and so many different residents issues, really has just done an extraordinary job…I’m going to miss him.”
The mayor made that announcement during a discussion of a joint project with Fishers, Delaware Township, Clay Township and the City of Carmel to construct a pedestrian bridge over the White River that will land on the east side near the Ambassador House and Heritage Gardens, the site of a city park. Delaware Township Trustee Debbie Driskell has been working on this project with Jason Taylor for some time. It is expected that the bridge will be completed by the end of 2025.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness voices his support for the HSE Schools operating referendum before the school board
After months of talk and preparation, the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board voted 6-0, with one abstention, to place a property tax referendum on the November election ballot. Board Member Tiffany Pascoe was the abstention. Pascoe, in a brief conversation with LarryInFishers, says her abstention is due to her concerns the school district budget is not being handled correctly.
The Fishers City Council met jointly with the school board Wednesday evening and unanimously approved a resolution backing the HSE referendum.
The current operating referendum, passed overwhelmingly by voters in 2016, expires at the end of calendar year 2023, with a property tax rate of .2275. The referendum to be placed on the November ballot is calling for a slightly lower rate of .1995 beginning in 2024, if voters approve.
State law controls most of the language of the measure, as it will be shown on the election ballot. School officials expressed concern about the ballot language required by the state, which implies the local tax rate will increase, when the rate will actually go down if the referendum is approved
Here is the ballot language:
Shall Hamilton Southeastern Schools continue to impose increased property taxes paid to the school corporation by homeowners and businesses for eight (8) years immediately following the holding of the referendum for the purpose of funding academic and educationally related programs, maintaining class sizes, retaining and attracting of teachers, essential safety initiatives, and changing the previously approved maximum referendum tax rate from $0.2275 to $0.1995? The property tax increase requested in this referendum was originally approved by the voters in May, 2016 and if extended will increase the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a residence within the school corporation by 20.8% and if extended will increase the average property tax paid to the school corporation per year on a business property within the school corporation by 20.8%.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness emphatically endorsed passage of the HSE referendum, telling board members Fishers residents feel good about the community and a major factor is the fact they “are able to live in a place where they genuinely believe that by living here, their children will have a better opportunity than they had, greater future than they had. And that is due, in no small part, to the institution you represent.”
A political action committee (PAC), Advance HSE, has been formed to advocate for passage of the referendum. Co-chairwomen, Sneha Shah and Laura Smoots will lead this grassroots effort, aiming to rally support for the operating referendum renewal.
“We are thrilled by the overwhelming number of volunteers who have joined our cause so far,” Advance HSE Co-Chair Sneha Shah said. “We welcome all residents of Fishers to get involved and support the referendum.”
HSE Schools administrators discuss student handbooks with the school board
Language contained in Hamilton Southeastern Schools student handbooks was the center of a spirited discussion at a Wednesday morning work session. Some board members did suggest some changes, but administrators reminded the board of a process to vet any changes with staff, parents and students before any revisions are made. That means any changes would likely be included in the handbooks for the 2024-2025 school year.
The liveliest discussion centered on the handbook dealing with student dress and appearance. Board member Suzanne Thomas insisted on more specific language about certain types of clothing, particularly what she described as “see-through” clothes. Juanita Albright said said she believes students should approach dressing for school the way one dresses for the workplace. DEI Director Nataki Pettigrew warned that some of this suggested language could be construed as misogynistic or possibly “girl-shaming.” The only consensus among board member appeared to be changing language on hats and hoodies.
Parents will be able to plan lunch with students at their school if scheduled in advance and there is space. Administrators had recommended not allowing adults to join students for lunch due to the administrative burden but agreed in the end with the board members to allow such lunch visits on a limited basis, based on capacity.
The attendance section of the handbook is being adjusted to comply with state law. If a student is away 10 consecutive school days, district administrators will decide how to handle the situation, including treating the student as an out-of-state transfer, electing homeschooling or, as provided in state statutes, having the time away excused if for educational purposes, as defined by law. In some cases, students may be subject to truancy or expulsion procedures.
A discussion of student cell phones resulted in no suggested changes in the handbook language. The number of cell phone infractions documented is very low, 38 in the entire district. Teachers generally decide how cell phones are and are not used in a particular class. There are instances when teachers may ask students to use their cell phones as part of the class on a given day.
After a lengthy discussion about rules for rest rooms, no changes were suggested from the current policy.
Superintendent Yvonne Stokes did say that it is possible changes in dress code or cell phone handbook language could be included in the 2023-2024 school year student handbooks if the board insists.
the Hamilton County Highway Department has moved up slightly planned lane restrictions along 146th Street in the Allisonville Road construction. The restrictions had been planned for Tuesday, July 19, but has been moved up one day.
Here is the statement from the county:
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Beginning on or afterMonday, July 17, between the hours of 9am and 3pm, 146th Street between the White River and River Road within the existing construction limits, will be under lane restrictions for the paving of a 90’ stretch of median. This is a one-day restriction. Only the left-hand lane for westbound traffic will be restricted, where it is currently milled.
Hamilton County Highway has two important construction updates for motorists handling the construction zone at 146th Street & Allisonville Road on lane restrictions
Below are the messages from the county”
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Beginning on or after Tuesday, July 18 between the hours of 9am and 3pm, 146th Street between the White River and River Road within the existing construction limits, will be under lane restrictions for the paving of a 90’ stretch of median. This is a one-day restriction. Only the left-hand lane for westbound traffic will be restricted, where it is currently milled.
Beginning on or after Thursday, July 13 between the hours of 9pm and 5am, 146th Street within the existing construction limits, will be under lane restrictions for the removal of raised / reflective pavement markings. This is a two-night restriction, with one night needed for each direction of travel along 146th Street.
Tom Britt started his endeavor in owning media with a monthly publication aimed at those living in the Geist area. He later branched out with more monthly magazines, such as the one in Fishers.
Mr. Britt is now franchising his media concepts and has sold both Geist and Fishers magazines. Justin Biehl is now the owner of Geist Magazine and Alison Gatz is the publisher of Fishers Magazine.
All three joined me in a podcast. You can listing at the link below.
Now that I have resided in Fishers for 32 years, every now and then my mind wanders back to the time of 1991, the year of my move.
on June 16, HAND Inc. broke ground of the Cumberland Cottages housing development, just south of 141st Street on Cumberland Road. I was there covering it, and had my first chance to have an extended conversation with Hamilton County Commissioner Steve Dillinger.
We were both reminiscing about years past. Commissioner Dillinger has me beat by a mile in remembering the Hamilton County where he had grown-up in Noblesville. He was recounting how his State of the County address coming up would focus on the past and the history of Hamilton County.
I was unable to attend that speech, but viewed it online later. There was the usual update on all the various projects the county has in progress or on the drawing boards, which is to be expected. But Commissioner Dillinger began his speech showing some photos and telling some stories about the past in Hamilton County.
It is amazing when I look back at the Fishers I found when moving here in 1991. The population of the town at that time was somewhere close to 10,000. Compare that with the more than 100,000 souls residing in the City of Fishers now.
When I began my news blog in 2012, it was clear we had a town manager and a town council that planned to be aggressive in developing the city. We saw the birth of Launch Fishers and the Depot mixed-use development, among other projects.
Then the 2012 referendum cleared the way for Fishers’ first city election. Our aggressive Town Manager, Scott Fadness, ran for mayor and won. He remains the mayor today and has no opposition in the upcoming city election.
You can argue that Scott Fadness has been at the center of the growing city, in terms of commercial and residential growth. He has attracted plenty of high-paying jobs to Fishers and continues that quest.
There are some that long for the Fishers of old. I get that and understand many liked the small-town feel Fishers had when I first arrived. But Fishers is able to finance an events center, a new City Hall with the first floor an arts center and a new recreations center recently announced, all without an increase in the property tax rate, only because Fishers is a growing city.
Yes, Fishers did enact a food and beverage tax to partly finance the events center, soon to be home for the Indy Fuel hockey squad and expected to host plenty of events. The Fishers Town Council considered enacting the food and beverage tax years ago, but since the state limited the funds generated to certain projects like economic development, the town never enacted that tax. Now, with a specific project in front of them and authorization from state lawmakers, the food and beverage tax is now law in Fishers.
So, I was impressed with Steve Dillinger’s presentation about the history of Hamilton County and our talk on June 16 on how Fishers and most of the county is quite different now compared to 1991. That does denote progress economically and in terms of population growth.
Fishers may have lost its small town feel, but it is now a growing Indianapolis suburb with some land left for growth. Remembering our history is good, but keep in mind what growth has meant to us all.
