Academics were front and center for members of the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board during a Tuesday morning work session.

Leading the discussion was Matt Kegley, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching & Learning, joined by Executive Director of Secondary Education Michelle Brittain-Watts and Stephanie Loane,  Executive Director of Elementary Education.  Superintendent Yvonne Stokes also contributed to the presentation.

Much time was spent sifting through reams of numbers, but Dr. Kegley cautioned about the limits of this approach.

“Data just tells once piece of the story,” Kegley told board members.  “To simply reduce the work that goes on in our classrooms, teaching every day in our schools, just to data points, is not really giving justice to the experiences that our students receive.”

Comparing I-LEARN data becomes complicated due to the changes in the test implemented by the state.  Also, there was no testing last school year due to COVID.  ISTEP became I-LEARN in 2019.

Kegley reminded the board that ISTEP had a time limit but I-LEARN has no time limit, which may complicate comparing scores in both systems.

One point of discussion centered on the SAT test.  In the past, this was generally only taken by students intending to enroll in college.  The state is now having all students take the SAT, even those not expecting to enter a university after graduation.  It is expected that SAT scores will go down state-wide as a result, according to Kegley.  In recent years, HSE District students scored higher on the SAT score average, compared to both national and state data.

The board viewed data for specific groups and their test scores.  According to Kegley, building principals are charged with coming up with plans for groups performing lower on testing.  For example, African-American and Hispanic students may score lower on certain subjects on a given test.  The school district has data down to the school building level.

When specific subgroups of students appear to be under-performing, Kegley told the board Nataki Pettigrew, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer, is involved with the building principal.

“That’s certainly something that we see as an important piece of (Nataki Pettigrew’s) role and why you might think…her presence fits-in with teaching and learning,” Kegley said.

Dr. Stokes told the board she has received many favorable comments about the addition of information about school curriculum on the district’s Web site (hseschools.org), but Kegley added that that information is mainly about materials used and publisher information, and might not include everything teachers may by using in the classroom.

Dr, Loane talked about how spelling is taught at the elementary level.  Phonics and sight learning are utilized, but students must use the word in a writing assignment to show a student’s understanding of the word in every context.

Dr. Stokes summed it up this way.  “Teaching and learning are complex.”

The Fishers Police Department welcomed 8 new officers to the force at Monday night’s City Council meeting.  Chief Ed Gebhart led the ceremony before the council, mayor and family members of the new officers.

Here is a list of the new recruits (shown in the photo above, Right to Left)

Matthew Madden

Brandon Taylor

Kyle Johns

Tea’wanda Wrespress

Christopher Snodgrass

David Tatter

Christain Poole

Jasmeet Singh

Police Department spokesman Tom Weger says 5 of the 8 taking the oath have experience in other police departments.

In one other item from Monday night’s council session, Monica Heltz, Public Health Director for the City of Fishers, cited many sobering COVID statistics.  According to Heltz, the Indiana State Department of Health says if you are COVID unvaccinated, your chances of ending up in the hospital due to COVID are 1 in 237.  If you are vaccinated, the odds of you being hospitalized with COVID are 1 in 18,000.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools officials want to remind the community that the first regular school board meeting in September will be held on the 9th, a Thursday.  The normal meeting day for board regular sessions are Wednesdays.

This date was released and approved by the board in January with all the meeting dates for 2021 and January of 2022.  The meeting was moved from September 8th to the 9th in order to avoid conflict with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year

A mask mandate indoors for staff and students went into effect for all Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School buildings Monday, August 16.  How is the school district handling requests for exemptions from wearing the masks?

HSE School Superintendent Yvonne Stokes says there are two types of exemptions that may be requested – medical and religious.

Medical requests will generally be approved based on a written statement from a physician that a medical condition results in not being able to wear a mask indoors at school, according to Dr. Stokes.

The exemption requests based on religious beliefs are evaluated by each building principal, according to the superintendent.

In a related matter, two men entered the school administration building Tuesday morning to attend the school board work session.  The two were asked to wear masks and they refused.  They were asked to leave.   After a lengthy discussion, the men left the school board meeting room.

The Fishers City Council approved the project agreement for a mixed use development at 106th Street and Kincaid, near I-69.  The vote was 6-2, with council members Jocelyn Vare and Crystal Newmann voting no.  Councilman David George did not attend Monday’s session.

Developer Envoy says there will be a $52 million investment in the plans, with Tax Increment Financing provided by the city.   The project calls for 280 residential apartments and 18,600 square feet on the first floor for restaurant, commercial and retail operations.  4,800 square feet will be set aside for a restaurant.

Tax Increment Financing (TIF) will be utilized to fund roughly $8 million toward the project, with a 25-year bond.  Envoy has committed to fund a walking trail and improvements to Pearl Street.  Envoy will be responsible for the debt service funding the plans.  The city is waiving some fees and imposing others (inspection, parks, roads & bridges).

The development, named Highline, already is receiving interest from several restaurant operators, according to attorney Steve Hardin, representing Envoy.

Councilor Jocelyn Vare listed several reasons for her no vote.  She was only made aware of this project agreement vote 3 days ago.  She is not convinced TIF is needed for this project, and she has concerns about State Senator Scott Baldwin’s involvement as CEO of Envoy, saying this was not transparent to the public.

Councilman John Weingardt responded, saying Scott Baldwin and Envoy contain all the ingredients he seeks in a development project.  He also emphasized that HSE Schools will receive $150,000 per year despite the TIF, because of a referendum exception to the TIF under state law.

Councilor Crystal Newmann cited concerns about sustainability parts of the project in voting no.

The project agreement sets the financing for Highline, now a rezone must be approved with a Planned Unit Development (PUD), a process that includes a public hearing with the Fishers Plan Commission.

In other City Council items from Monday night’s meeting:

–Council had first reading on a proposal for the city to purchase the assets of HSE Utilities sewer system within the Fishers City Limits.

–Council members gave final approval for two residential developments near 113th Street and Florida Road, Milford Place and The Cove.

–Council gave final approval to a text amendment for the Nickel Plate Code, to close a loophole in the ordinance that allowed some, according to city staff, to avoid fees and standards by building under residential rules and converting the property to commercial.

–First reading was done for a proposed increase in park impact fees.

–Mayor Scott Fadness opened the meeting, requesting a moment of silence for three Fishers teenagers that died in a crash in South Carolina in the early hours of Monday.

Three Fishers residents died in South Carolina in a traffic accident.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness issued the following statement:

Below is a story about the crash posted on the WISH-TV news Web site:

Teenage twins, woman from Fishers killed in South Carolina crash

The past week has revealed some important numbers for the City of Fishers.  I know, there are a ton of numbers associated with our city. But let’s look at two from the past week of important note.

The first number – 98,977 – is the population figure for Fishers per the 2020 census.  Many in Fishers were hoping we would crack the 100,000 mark but missed it by that much.  This means Fishers is the 6th largest city in the state….Carmel is just barely above us with a population of 99,757…a difference of a little less than 800 residents.

The second number is a percentage – 75.1% – the share of the Fishers population fully vaccinated against COVID.  This when the entire state of Indiana is at about a 50% fully COVID vaccinated rate.  City officials have set a goal of vaccinating 85% of the eligible Fishers population.  Mayor Scott Fadness says the city is putting together an outreach program aimed at encouraging people in Fishers to receive the COVID vaccination.

It is difficult to imagine the sheer scale of the numbers that I review as part of my work volunteer news blogging here in Fishers.  Those are just a few that put some items into  perspective.

Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools will require all students and staff to wear masks beginning Monday, August 16 indoors, regardless of vaccination status.  A video released Friday (see above link) provides a message from Superintendent Yvonne Stokes.

“I know this will not make everyone happy, but it is my goal to protect our students and staff and keep our schools open and running,” Dr. Stokes says in the video.

HSE Schools have tracked 80 positive cases in the student population and more than 500 students have been notified as being a close contact, according to Dr. Stokes.

Stokes also says a change is coming on the time frames for quarantines, generally reducing the number of days.

Below is the full statement from Dr. Stokes:

==========

We have made it through a partial and  first full week of the new school year, and I believe I speak for most for when I say — the return of students to our buildings has given us a renewed sense of purpose and appreciation to work alongside you and your family once again.

I also would like to thank you for your understanding and patience as we ramped up operations following a year without being at full capacity. Last year was tough, and we had hoped this year would be as close to pre-COVID times for our students and staff as possible. Unfortunately, we are still living in a pandemic.

As you know, our community and state are experiencing an increase in COVID-positive cases due the highly contagious, circulating Delta variant. Our schools are not immune to this trend. Since classes began, we have tracked 80 positive cases in our student population and more than 500 students have been notified as being a close contact.

Due to the spike in numbers and the updated guidance from healthcare officials, beginning on Monday, August 16, masks will be required for all students and staff, K through 12, when indoors during the school day, regardless of vaccination status. 

I know this will not make everyone happy, but it is my goal to protect our students and staff and keep our schools open and running.

This change is reflective of what local and state health departments have messaged to schools.

A benefit of universal masking is that it will allow us to limit the number of students and staff quarantined by contact tracing at 3-feet versus at 6-feet in the classroom-setting only.

Another change we are making is reducing the length of quarantine for unvaccinated students and staff. The CDC gives options for reduced quarantine which include:

• 10-day quarantine with return to school on day 11, or
• 7-day quarantine with a return to school on day 8, if a negative PCR test was obtained on day 5, 6 or 7 from date of exposure. (Result must be given to school nurse ​prior to student’s return to school.)

In both circumstances, individuals will need to be symptom-free and will also need to maintain distancing and increase personal hygiene for the full the 14 days.

Please remember, these changes are what we believe will keep our students learning in-person, in their classrooms — and that is our goal.

You can review these updates and more in our Return to In-person Instruction Plan, which can be downloaded from our website.

Road construction projects continue in and around Fishers.  Here is the latest update, as provided by the city:

============

A new mixed-use development is coming to Fishers, but this will not be located downtown.  Instead, the project will be located along 106th Street and Kincaid Drive.

The developer says there will be a $52 million investment in the plans, with Tax Increment Financing of $10.1 Million provided by the city.  The proposal will be considered by the Fishers City Council Monday night.

The project calls for 280 residential apartments and 18,600 square feet on the first floor for restaurant, commercial and retail operations.  4,800 square feet will be set aside for a restaurant,  generally located at the south-east corner of 106th Street and Kincaid Boulevard.

As part of the economic development deal with the city, developer Envoy will design and construct the streetscape and other infrastructure improvements.  Envoy has also committed to building a multi-use pedestrian trail around the entire perimeter of Delaware
Park (Kincaid Drive south to Sunlight Drive, east on Sunlight to Lantern Road, north on Lantern to 106th Street, 106th Street west to Kincaid). In addition, the developer will handle a forced right-turn road improvement from Kincaid onto Pearl Street.  Finally, Envoy will construct Pearl Street to city engineering standards.