The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools released results of the 2021/2022 iRead3 testing and say third grade students at HSE were among the highest in the state for reading, evaluation and determination.

The IREAD-3 assessment was given to 1,545 third grade students across the district’s 13 elementary schools.  According to the results released on Wednesday by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), 94% of HSE students have mastered foundational reading skills by the end of third grade.

“As we continue to make strides in core academic subjects, it is important to remember our students are more than a test score,” said Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes in an HSE Schools news release. “Our teachers and staff work diligently every day to ensure our students are well-rounded, innovative thinkers capable of meeting the demands of an ever-changing world community.”

Hamilton Southeastern Schools’ IREAD-3 scores ranked second in the state among districts in the top 10% in enrollment and was the highest scoring in Hamilton County.

The school district says students in seven of the district’s 13 elementary schools scored 95% or higher in the iRead-3 testing.

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools Superintendent Yvonne Stokes provided a defense of the district’s curriculum at the end of Wednesday night’s school board meeting, saying HSE Schools “have not, shall not, will not, and we do not support the teaching of Critical Race Theory, or, what some call CRT.  Public schools have been the target of such claims for several months now.  With classes back in session, unfortunately, it appears that this narrative is once again being shared. ”

Dr. Stokes described one particular course, “Ethnic Studies.”  This is a class mandated to be offered as an elective by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE), according to the superintendent, and is not required for graduation.

“Part of the curriculum, mandated by the state of Indiana, for this specific course, is that students explore ways that race, and racism, have impacted people’s lives,” Dr. Stokes said.  “We do this by exposing students to different voices and authors who share their various experiences with race and students are taught the true history of world in which we live.  We encourage students to celebrate their identity and honor others’ identity as part of this upper-level elective course.  Keep in mind that not all classes are designed for every student.”

Parents are encouraged to reach out to individual teachers and school administrators with any questions about the instruction provided to their students.

“So, once again, and I just want to reiterate, that there is language out there and claims we are teaching CRT and we are not condoning any teaching of CRT,” Dr. Stokes said.

Stephanie Loane has been the central office administrator for elementary education for many years at Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools, but Dr. Loane is preparing to retire.

The HSE School Board voted to appoint Danielle Fetters Thompson to replace Dr. Loane at Wednesday night’s board meeting.

Fetters Thompson has been the principal at Lantern Road Elementary since 2004, an “A” rated school by the Indiana Department of Education. She has also served as a representative for various district-level committees and projects, such as student handbook, redistricting, enrollment and staff bargaining.

“Danielle Fetters Thompson has more than two decades of administrative experience, and she knows this district and the students we serve, said Superintendent Dr. Yvonne Stokes in an HSE Schools news release. “I am confident she will excel in her new role and will help advance student learning and achievement.”

Fetters Thompson will assume her new role with HSE Schools once a replacement is named at Lantern Road.

I believe this is true – I’ve written this blog for over ten years and every year I have encouraged local residents to pay attention during the budget process.  I realize the numbing numbers attached can put many of us to sleep.  But city budgets provide a set of priorities established by our elected officials.  The mayor proposes and the City Council provides final approval to each year’s spending plan.

It is good to see that Fishers is making an effort to let citizens know about the major meetings involved in the 2023 budget,  The first meeting was the City Council Finance Committee session August 10th.  It is already too late for that, but the public will have plenty of opportunities ahead.

Below is a listing of budget-related meetings coming-up.  This is your city, your tax money and your local budget.  It is also your chance to get involved.

Below is the city’s list of upcoming budget meetings.  Remember City Hall is now vacated, preparing for the reconstruction.  So, check for the locations if you plan to attend any of these meetings:

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Special Finance Committee Meeting
August 24 at 1p.m.
Pavilion Conference Room (10 Municipal Dr., Fishers)
Presentation of the proposed 2023 City Budget

Special Finance Committee Meeting
September 8 at 8:30 a.m.
Pavilion Conference Room (10 Municipal Dr., Fishers)
Presentation of 2023 departmental budgets by department directors

Finance Committee Meeting
September 14 at 5 p.m.
Pavilion Conference Room (10 Municipal Dr., Fishers)
Committee and city staff discuss 2023 capital items and debt

City Council Meeting
September 19 at 7 p.m.
Launch Fishers (12175 Visionary Way, Fishers; Huston Theater)
Presentation of 2023 budget, 1^st reading, Public Hearing

City Council Meeting
October 10 at 7 p.m.
Launch Fishers (12175 Visionary Way, Fishers; Huston Theater)
City Councilmembers conduct the final vote and adoption of the 2023 budget

The name Kincaid is synonymous with Fishers.  Many are familiar with Kincaid’s Meat Market locally and the historic Kincaid House.   As part of the Sesquicentennial Series in conjunction with the City of Fishers, Fishers PR Director Ashley Elrod joins me in a discussion with Gail and Randy Kincaid.  We talk about the Kincaid House and the importance of agriculture to Fishers before it was a large suburb of Indy.  Listen to the podcast at the link below.

Holland Park will soon have 6 new pickleball courts, following action Tuesday morning by the Fishers Board of Public Works & Safety.  Parks and Recreation Department Director Sarah Sandquist says the courts should be ready by the end of October.  Charles C. Brandt Construction will build the project for $395,000, with the funds coming from the 2022 budget.  The courts will be located south of the soccer fields.

In other matters before the board:

–Tabatha Miller of the city Fleet Management department received approval to spend up to $811,000 on up to 20 Police Interceptor SUV vehicles.  Miller told the board her department missed vehicles available in January because they sold quickly and does not want that to happen again.

–A professional service agreement totaling $349,930.00 was given board approval to construct a roundabout at 96th Street and Cyntheanne Road.  Construction on that project is scheduled for summer of 2025.

–Fishers Police Sergeant Eric Patton is retiring, and the board voted to allow him to keep his firearm, as has been the tradition.

–The board approved an agreement with the Fishers YMCA establishing a trail connection with the Nickel Plate Trail.

–The board declared as surplus office furniture as City Hall prepared to be demolished.  These items will be donated to Office Works.  Some examples include cubicles, bookshelves, conference tables and even the podium used in City Council chambers.

–This was the first Board of Works meeting held outside City Hall in many years.  The meetings are being conducted in the City Courtroom at the City Services Building.

It appears Metazoa Brewing will not be building a new facility at 116th Street and Allisonville Road as previously announced, citing rising costs of construction.

John Tuohy of the Indianapolis Star, in a piece posted on the IndyStar Web site early August 9th, reports that both Metazoa and the City of Fishers are starting from scratch on where they go from here.

You can read the story at this link. (Note: Your access to IndyStar stories may be limited if you are not a subscriber.  Let me repeat once again, local reporting needs financial support….subscribe to your local media)

Fishers Arts Council, in concert with Hamilton County Community Foundation, an affiliate of CICF, and The Fishers Historical Society, are joining forces, kicking off their celebration of the Fishers Sesquicentennial this August at the Collaboration Hub at Hamilton County Community Foundation (11810 Technology Drive, Fishers) this month. The exhibit – Fishers & Hamilton County: An Historical Perspective – is open through August 29th from 9am-5pm Monday-Thursday and from 9am-12pm on Fridays.

There will be a free public reception on August 12. Nicknamed “Second Friday”, the reception is open from 6-8 pm at the Gallery at the Collaboration Hub. As an added feature only at our “Second Friday” reception on August 12th, author Larry Reynolds will be offering copies of his new book, Widelands, and reprints of The Mudsock Chronicles for book signings. Wicked Fishers author Robert Bowling will also join us for book signings and sales. The incredible musical duo of David and Pamela Ackerman will be performing, and snacks, water, beer and wine will be available.

Eight award-winning local artists will be on display along with photographic works by The Fishers Historical Society. The artists are Linda Cantwell, Brinton Farrand, Karen Fehr, Brad Fields, Tim Lewis, Rodney Reveal, Mark Rouse, and Walt Thacker. Many of the more than 50 pieces on exhibit will be for sale. The exhibit details the history of Fishers and Hamilton County along with life in small town Indiana.

Jeena Siela, Senior Community Leadership Officer said, “We are excited to have the Fishers Arts Council share this pictorial history of Fishers and Hamilton County to begin our celebration of the Fishers Sesquicentennial! It’s incredibly important to the Foundation to understand how Hamilton County has evolved over the years to support its residents and celebrate the role of local artists in capturing and showcasing this history.”

“Last year when Fishers artist Mark Rouse came to us with his idea for this exhibit, we could not wait to see where it would take us. With Mark as a member of The Fishers Historical Society board, the partnership for this exhibit made perfect sense. We’re proud to partner with the historical society for this exhibit, along with eight award-winning local artists, and two local authors. It’s a great way to celebrate Fishers’ Sesquicentennial in the Collaboration Hub,” said Fishers Arts Council Executive Director, Les Reinhardt.

I had scheduled a podcast recording session with Jake Reardon McSoley and Mayor Scott Fadness Friday, in advance of the announcement of a major mixed-use development project along 116th Street in downtown Fishers, just west of the Nickel Plate Trail.

The eye-popping part of this new development, REV, will be condos selling for between $600,000 and $1 million. There have been apartments and some single family homes in the downtown Fishers area, but condos with a price tag of as much as $1 million is something new for the downtown housing stock.

I told Mayor Fadness, as someone living in Fishers for more than 30 years, I never expected to see downtown housing with that high an asking price.  Fadness told me this will create a variety of housing in that part of the city.

“For each person, they have a different life style, different desire to live in a different type of environment and this creates yet another option for folks,” the mayor said in our podcast conversation.

Fadness described how the Alboher family, owner of the property, and developer Tony Birkla, presented the idea of the development, and the mayor considered this “an extraordinary site.”  The mayor says he mulled this proposal over in his mind.

“It’s in the heart of downtown.  It’ll face our brand new City Hall and Arts Center,” said Fadness. “One side will parallel the Nickel Plate Trail and the Nickel Plate Hotel that will break ground here shortly.  I think that location warrants kind of that caliber of development.”

However, the reaction I have seen on my blog post once this project was announced has been interesting.  Some have criticized this as us trying to be Carmel.  Some are supportive.  Others have asked what will become of the businesses currently located on that site, such as Burn Boot Camp and Thai Sushi House.

I followed up with the city on the current businesses at that location and was told the Alboher family, the owners of the property, is working with the business owners on possible relocations.  What is next for those businesses will be announced by the businesses themselves, according to Fishers city officials.

At the end of the podcast Friday, Mayor Fadness teased that much more is coming before the next City Council meeting August 15th.  The REV development is an investment of about $35 million.  Fadness says there will be more projects announced in the coming days and, all told, will be an investment of roughly one-quarter of a billion dollars within the City of Fishers.  He described one upcoming announcement as “downright cool.”

So, we will be watching for more announcements in the coming week.  And, at the council meeting, the incentive packages being offered by the city (and possibly others) will be revealed and subject to council approval.

I decided to wait until Officer Noah Shahnavaz was laid to rest before writing this.  He was given full honors provided to any law enforcement officer that died in the line of duty.  The local media covered his funeral and burial professionally and thoroughly, which they should.

Officer Shahnavaz has many Fishers connections.  He is a graduate of Fishers High School.  His parents live in Fishers.  His funeral was held in Fishers.

I did not know Officer Shahnavaz, nor do I know any member of his family.  But I have followed the excellent news coverage by the local media and feel I know him just a bit.  He volunteered to serve in the Armed Forces, and once the tour with the military was over, he graduated from the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy.  He was about a month short of his first year with the Elwood Police Department when a man opened fire on the officer before there was any chance for Officer Shahnavaz to defend himself.

His story says one thing to me – he cared about his country and community.  He served both well.

This is a terrible tragedy for Elwood, Fishers and Officer Shahnavaz’s family.

Much has been said and written about the man charged in Officer Shahnavaz’s death.  I know we have serious problems in our criminal justice system and do not pretend to have the answers.  I would hope those expert in criminal justice continue to study the issues and offer solutions.

There is another aspect of this I want to express, as a Fishers resident for over 30 years.  We saw the professionalism and courage of our local police officers.

As the suspect in Officer Shahnavaz’s shooting was being pursued, his vehicle was stopped in Fishers.  I won’t get into the details I have heard, let’s just say this was not an easy maneuver.

Then think about what was going through the minds of the Fishers officers as they moved-in to apprehend the suspect.  This man allegedly killed one police officer with a powerful firearm.  I have no doubt Fishers police personnel were as well-protected as possible, but that must have been the thought they all had approaching this suspect.

Yet, Fishers Police apprehended the suspect, alive, without injury.  That took some professional police work.

Officer Shanavaz’s grandmother, in speaking at his funeral, asked something important of us all.  She does not want his memory to fade.

I do know there are people in high places around Fishers working on a way to properly remember Officer Shahnavaz.  I do believe it will be done, I am just not certain how.  I suspect those in Elwood and others in Indiana are thinking the same thing.

When a man such as Noah Shahnavaz is lost in the line of duty, the pain and hurt are real.  Keeping his memory with us in a respectful way just might be the best thing to do.