HSE Schools have been waiting for the results of the latest demographic study and the report shows the student population number will not change much in the next several years.
Dr. Jerry McKibben of Mckibben Demographic Research says in his written report the HSE District total student population is forecast “to decrease by 167 students, or -1.0%, between 2021-22 and 2026-27. Total enrollment will increase by 94 students, or 0.4%, from 2026-27 to 2031-32.”
McKibben cites reasons for the HSE student number decrease over the next five years, including an increase in empty nest households, a relatively low number of elderly housing units turning over, and adding that a flat rate is forecast for migration of young families.
“The local 18-to-24 year old population continues to leave the district, going to college or
moving to other urbanized areas,” according to the report. “This population group accounts for the largest segment of the district’s out migration flow and will increase steadily over the next 10 years. The second largest migration outflow is in the 70+ age groups.”
McKibben expects HSE Schools elementary enrollment to slowly increase over the next 10 school years.
As to the forecast for housing in the district, the report says the following:
“Even if the district continues to have some amount of annual new housing unit construction over the next 10 years, the rate, magnitude and price of existing home sales will become the increasingly dominant factor affecting the amount of population and enrollment change.”
In the report’s executive summary, the total district enrollment is forecasted to decrease by 167 students, or -1.0%, between 2021-22 and 2026-27. Total enrollment is expected to increase by 94 students, or 0.4%, from 2026-27 to 2031-32.
The school district posted the report in advance of a work session school board meeting set for 5pm May 10th. The session is open to the public, but will not be live-streamed or video recorded.
In Indiana, the month of May is immediately associated with auto racing and the running of the Indianapolis 500.
Fishers Arts Council continues its 2022 Season of Art at City Hall featuring four artists with the exhibit, “The Art of Racing.” The exhibit will be open from May 9th through June 29th to celebrate the heritage of racing in Indiana. Exhibit hours are from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm daily and 10 am to noon on Saturdays during Fishers Summer Farmers’ Market. There will be a Second Friday Reception for the artists on Friday, May 13th from 6-8 pm at the Art Gallery at City Hall. The event is free and open to the public. Live music will be performed by Andy Schomburg of Noblesville and refreshments and snacks will be available. Our Squirrel Stampede project will also be available for guests to add their mark on community art.
The artists exhibiting are Greg Clack, David O’Dell, Brenda Jalaie, and Mark Rouse. Each shares their own perspective of the art of racing from people in the stands, to the cars and racing environment. Here is the Fishers Arts Council news release about the four artists:
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Greg Clack grew up in Indianapolis and took art classes throughout his school years. Following high school, he entered the United States Air Force where he was able to pursue some art projects.
“So, I’ve always had an interest in creating art. Years ago, I went to the Artomobilia Car and Art Show. This renewed my interest as I was able stroll into the open galleries and look at the artwork I liked. The added bonus being I was able to take workshops with the artists who painted the art I liked. This started me on a path of studying and observing and progressing to make better artwork.”
David O’Dell is a resident of Fishers; he is a printmaker specializing in serigraphy.
He began screen printing at Serigraphics of Indianapolis designing and printing
posters for rock and roll bands and other entertainers. David graduated from Ball State
University in Art with a specialization in Advertising. He has a Master’s Degree in
Printmaking from Wayne State University. He was Art Director at St. Charles County
Community College in Missouri and Senior Graphic Designer for Kmart Corporation.
David’s father, David O’Dell, was the official photographer at the Indianapolis 500
from 1951-1957. This instilled a family tradition; David has attended 57 Indy 500s to date. His love of Indy cars has led to a series of limited-edition serigraphs of vintage Indy cars which he creates in a style he calls “Crop Pop.”
David’s exploration of form has led to the creation of lenticular art in which the art changes depending on the viewers perspective. Some of his artistic influences are Yaacov Agam, Leroy Neiman, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, and Richard Estes.
David has won over 30 national and regional awards including 5 national first place Paragon awards for his designs.
Most of Brenda Jalaie’s work has always been photography oriented. “I have a passion for processing and printing ‘the old fashioned way’ using film and needing a dark room. I love working with large negatives and creating works that are contact printed, like Gum-Bichromates and Van Dykes. But in the real work of balancing a teaching career, mother and art, I find more and more I am just focused on capturing the scenes of a fleeting moment. Rarely cropped, rarely adjusted for color, just what I see through my camera when I see it.”
After years of studying, teaching and creating mostly acrylic paintings, Mark Rouse was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and “pronounced legally blind!”
“One of the things that I feared the most was that I would never paint again.” However, with the help of a great doctor, his vision is back to normal.
Before his brush with blindness, Mark’s art focused on creating something new, something that no one had seen before. “Blindness caused a change of focus to painting the things that I might never see again. My work since that time has been images from nature, my memories and images that proclaim my faith.”
Families gather at the Amphitheater stage for music during the Famers Market
There is no doubt people in Fishers are ready to get back out and head to public events. That was obvious Saturday morning, May 7, at the first Fishers Farmers Market of 2022.
Conditions were a bit windy and cool, but the crowd was large. Vendors had plenty of customers.
After two years of dealing with a deadly pandemic, the Farmers Market is yet one more example of getting back to normal in Fishers.
The Fishers City Engineering Department has received the bids for the planned construction at 141st Street and State Road 37, and the City Engineering Department Director Jason Taylor is recommending that the city reject all the bids received because they exceed the estimates.
Taylor says the city expected the bids to be over the estimates but “not this much.”
“We’re going to go back, analyze it, and then hopefully in the coming weeks be able to have more information on what happened, why the numbers were higher and then be able to make an educated decision and recommendation on next steps and will present those to the City Council and (Hamilton) County,” Taylor said in a podcast interview.
For more on that, and much more on local road issues, here is my podcast with Jason Taylor and Assistant Engineering Director Hatem Mekky.
Yulia Tolstikov-Mast grew up in Russia, spent time in Ukraine and is now an American citizen living in Fishers. She volunteered to travel into Poland in an effort to assist the large number of Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war in their home country.
Yulia has many stories to tell in this podcast about her time in Poland. She says the most effective assistance provided to these refugees is through non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other nonprofit groups.
The podcast link is below, but here are ways you can help.
The dust is beginning to settle and 8 school corporations in Indiana asked their voters for local tax support in the 2022 primary election cycle. Six of those school districts saw their voters pass the local referendum while two did not. I sifted through those results to see if there are any clues as to how our local Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District will handle a referendum vote in 2023.
HSE has an operating referendum that is due to expire. Indiana law says such referenda only last for a certain number of years. It had been seven years, but a recent law change made the length eight years.
An operating referendum normally supplements the state support for teachers salaries and number of staff members. In HSE’s case, the 2016 referendum was aimed at providing more competitive pay for the teaching staff, lower class sizes (mostly in the lower grades) and also finance a mental health program.
The HSE School Board has several decisions to make in the 2023 operating referendum. Will the board place the item on the primary or general election ballot? (In 2023, Fishers will conduct a city election, with the mayor’s office and all 9 council seats up for election). Will the board choose to ask voters to keep the current operating referendum property tax rate, or will the requested rate be more or less than the current rate? Will the board choose to hire an outside firm to help manage the referendum campaign?
I have leaned on some very good reporting by Arika Herron and M.J. Slaby of the Indianapolis Star (two excellent journalists) and reporters from the non-profit news organization Chalkbeat, for a look at what has happened to school referenda in Indiana this primary election cycle.
Of the eight school districts with a referendum on the ballot, six were approved, two were voted down. All six approved were operating referenda, with the two losing were tied to capital projects (school buildings.)
One losing referendum was in Marion County’s Franklin Township. That district asked voters to provide funding for a renovation and expansion project for their growing student population. Franklin Township has a history of voting-down school referenda and it happened again in 2023. School officials there say they will do the best they can, but the challenges of keeping an old building going with increasing student counts will not go away.
The other referendum in the state to lose was in Terre Haute. There is a long history here, but suffice it to say the voters in Vigo County chose no on a school building project there.
Close to Fishers, Lebanon and Perry Township Schools saw their voters approve their operating referenda by comfortable margins.
So, what does this portend for HSE Schools in their 2023 operating referendum renewal vote? There is only one conclusion I can draw, based on what very good reporters have written and experts have said.
The fear that a new convoluted language requirement on the referendum ballot did not have the adverse impact that many educators had feared. Many pundits opined that a number of Indiana lawmakers were of the opinion that too many school referenda were passing in the state.
The results in May of 2022 show that voters appear willing to fund teachers and staff to support their local schools, even if it means property tax bills will go up (or remain the same). It also illustrates that if the local school district explains what is at stake, and just how the referendum would impact tax bills, the public is willing to listen.
We are many months away from a local HSE operating referendum vote, but what is happening now around the state can provide some clues. And another important election is coming up later this year…four of the seven HSE School Board seats are up for grabs in the November general election.
Julie Chambers is seeking a second term on the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School board in the upcoming fall general election. Ms. Chambers currently serves as President of the HSE Board of Trustees.
“As the daughter of a public school teacher and a product of public schools myself, I truly believe that our public schools are the bedrock of our community,” Chambers wrote in a Facebook posting announcing her candidacy. “HSE Schools are excellent, and much like many families in our district, one of the main reasons we ended in Fishers. However, no district is perfect, and we should never stop striving to improve.”
In the 2018 election, Ms. Chambers defeated Brad Banks by 268 votes – Chambers received 4,971 votes, Banks 4,703.
HSE School Board candidates begin their official filing July 27, with the filing deadline at noon August 26. In this election, there are four of the seven board seats up for election. Each candidate only runs within the border of her/his district, with only voters within that district casting ballots for that board seat.
The Spark Fishers Festival is coming Tuesday, June 21, and continuing through Saturday, June 25.
The City of Fishers issued a news release Wednesday with all the plans for the 2022 celebration. Here is that release:
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The annual Spark!Fishers festival, ignited by First Internet Bank, returns to Fishers’ Nickel Plate Cultural District this summer. Kicking off on Tuesday, June 21 and running through Saturday, June 25, the weeklong festival will offer different ways for the community to celebrate each day.
“We invite the entire community to our largest celebration of the year. Spark!Fishers highlights what it is to be a Fishers resident, showcasing the breadth of art, food, music, and community organizations, all locally sourced,” said Fishers Parks Director, Sarah Sandquist.
The patriotic celebration will be packed full of family favorites and Independence Day traditions, while launching the Fishers Sesquicentennial Celebration, honoring Fishers’ 150th birthday by showcasing what it means to be uniquely Fishers. All events, with the exception of the 5K, are free to attend, and no registration is required.
“For years, we have called Fishers home and are excited to remain a member of this vibrant community with the opening of our new headquarters in the Nickel Plate District,” said Nicole Lorch, First Internet Bank President and Chief Operating Officer. “We look forward to once again sharing this annual summer celebration with the City of Fishers and our neighbors.”
The 2022 lineup includes:
Tuesday, June 21 / 7-9 p.m. Tuesday Night Concert featuring Fishers Music Works’ White River Wind Symphony at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater
Wednesday, June 22 / 7 p.m. 5K Run/Walk sponsored by IU Health Fishers around downtown Fishers, registration now open.
Thursday, June 23 / 6-9 p.m. Spark!Fishers Car & Art Show around the Municipal Complex
Friday, June 24 / 8 p.m. Friday Night Concert featuring Bruno Mars tribute band, Uptown Funk, at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater
Saturday, June 25 / 3-10 p.m. Spark!Fishers Street Fair around the Municipal Complex, with a community parade at 6 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m.
Ahead of Spark!Fishers festivities, Fishers Parks is hosting a coloring contest for kids 10 and under, with the winner receiving a ride in the annual Spark!Fishers parade. The deadline to enter is Monday, May 16 at 4:30 p.m. Download the coloring page and find rules at sparkfishers.com.
As part of its Sesquicentennial Celebration, the City of Fishers is searching for Fishers’ longest-living resident. The winner of the contest will receive special recognition throughout the Sesquicentennial year and be featured in the Spark!Fishers parade. To nominate yourself or someone you know, visit thisisfishers.com/Fishers150.
Applications are now open for festival vendors, entertainers, and parade participants at sparkfishers.com. Applications are due May 16.
Several volunteer opportunities are available for all ages and abilities to get involved in this year’s celebration. Learn more and register to volunteer at volunteerfishers.com.
Special thanks to the 2022 Spark!Fishers sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor: First Internet Bank
5K Platinum Sponsor: IU Health Fishers
Kids Zone Sponsor: DMC Insurance
Community Stage Sponsor: Ed Martin Toyota and Ed Martin Nissan
Heroes Hut Sponsor: Indiana Army National Guard
Additional thanks to Towne Post Network, Meyer Najem, Barnes & Thornburg, LLP, Resultant, Ginovus, First Priority Insurance, Hagerman Group, RQAW, Ritchey Reserve, and McAllister Rentals. To get involved with this year’s event, visit sparkfishers.com.
Sunday I posted a piece on this blog about a conversation I had with someone familiar with the Hamilton County political scene. He told me two county-wide Republican primary elections would say a lot about where Hamilton County is headed politically.
In both of those races, the incumbents lost and new office-holders are on the way.
In the race for the Republican Party’s candidate for prosecuting attorney, incumbent Lee Buckingham failed in his bid for another term, losing to Greg Garrison. You may recall that Garrison’s claim to fame was his work as a Marion County prosecutor that represented the state in convicting former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson. That led to him having a radio talk show for many years. Garrison retired from radio in 2017. He will now lead the team of prosecuting attorneys in the Hamilton County office. Garrison won with 59% of the votes cast.
The other election saw a Hamilton County Council incumbent lose his bid for re-election. Challenger Mark Hall defeated incumbent councilor Steve Schwartz. Hall garnered more than 58% of the vote this time around.
There were many other election results of note Tuesday night.
Darren Murphy won the newly-created judgeship in Superior Court 7, defeating Stephenie Gookins, with 52.5% of the vote.
Former Hamilton County Reporter newspaper publisher Jeff Jellison easily won the Republican race for County Coroner over his opponent Ned Masbaum with more than 67% of the GOP votes cast.
Closer to home in Fishers, three Republicans out of the four candidates will be on the ballot in the fall for Fall Creek Township Board – Brian Baehl, Tony Scott and Jason Meyer. Three Democrats will be on the November ballot for the three board seats – incumbent Rachna Greulach along with Kimberly Passey-Strahan and Sukriti Sachdeva.
The Hamilton County Clerk’s office says under 12% of registered voters cast a primary election ballot. There are only estimates on how many eligible voters chose to stay away from the polls (and early voting) but that number is down in the single digit percentage at best.
For a full listing of the election results from the Hamilton County Clerk’s office, use this link.
(EDITOR’s NOTE: I incorrectly cited Patricia Bratton as a winner in the Fall Creek Township Board election…in fact, Tony Scott won in that race. The story has been corrected)
Ariel view of 126th St. & SR 37 (photo provided by Structurepoint)
The Grand Project Award has been described as one of Indiana’s most prestigious engineering honors, handed out each year by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Indiana. American Structurepoint, with headquarters located on the north side of Indianapolis, has won the Grand Project Award for its engineering work on the intersection of 126th Street and State Road 37.
According to an American Structurepoint news release, the award also recognizes the City of Fishers, Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), Hamilton County, and the City of Noblesville for collaborating to address traffic congestion and safety challenges along the SR 37 corridor in Hamilton County, Indiana.
“We are honored to share this recognition with the City of Fishers, INDOT, Hamilton County, and the City of Noblesville to improve traffic flow and solve complex congestion issues along the SR 37 corridor,” said Rick Conner, president of American Structurepoint, in the company news release. “At American Structurepoint, we take pride in improving lives in the communities we serve. This is a great example of that because the improvements will reduce the amount of traffic congestion, improve access to the businesses along the corridor, and enhance safety for people who travel on SR 37. The work we do can even save lives, and I am proud of what we do and our team who constantly goes the extra mile to achieve successful results like this.”
The intersection design created an overpass roundabout over SR 37 on 126th St., and an underpass for SR 37 traffic to move freely. This replaced the previous traffic signal.
A similar design is under construction at 131st Street and State Road 37 and is expected to be completed at the end of 2022. Bids will be opened soon for an interchange at 141st Street and State Road 37.
