Changes to the contract with APEX Benefits were unanimously approved by the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board Wednesday night, though not without comment from board members.

APEX assists the district in administering employee benefits programs, particularly HSE’s self-funded health insurance plan.

Board member Suzanne Thomas emphasized the need for continued transparency, noting that APEX and another company performing similar work for the district operate under the same corporate ownership structure.

Board member Ben Orr offered a contrasting perspective, criticizing previous board members and administrators prior to former Superintendent Patrick Mapes’ tenure for what he described as unwarranted attacks on the APEX contract over administrative fees during its early months.

For more details on the APEX contract, use this link to read my previous story.

The approved contract changes do not alter the agreement’s expiration date of June 30, 2027.

In other action Wednesday night:

— The district received $768,366.05 in state-funded Teacher Appreciation Grants and added $12,000 locally to supplement the program. A total of 140 HSE teachers will receive $5,000 each, while 23 teachers will receive $3,500 awards.

— The board approved a renewal of the Skyward student information system contract. Additional facilities-related approvals included bus lot improvements at Hamilton Southeastern High School, new furniture for Harrison Parkway Elementary, and lighting upgrades for the Fishers High School tennis courts.

— Interim Superintendent Matt Kegley reported strong results from recent Math Bowl competitions. In HSE’s enrollment class, the HSE Intermediate & Junior High team captured the intermediate state championship. Fall Creek Intermediate’s Team A placed third statewide, while Riverside Intermediate’s Team A finished among the top 10. At the elementary level, New Britton Elementary earned state runner-up honors, and Southeastern Elementary placed third.

There was no mention during the meeting of the scheduled April 29 public hearing on a superintendent’s contract, which is expected to be followed by a board vote on the district’s next leader. While speculation continues in the community regarding the selection, no official announcement has been made.

Both Hamilton Southeastern high schools will have new athletic directors under appointments approved by the school board.

With Jim Brown retiring from Fishers High School and Jim Self moving into a newly created position, the Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board formally approved new leadership for the athletic departments at both campuses.

Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools Jason Urban introduced the new athletic director for Hamilton Southeastern High School as a new hire but “a very familiar face” — Drew Tower.

At Fishers High School, Tyler Nicole will take over as athletic director. Nicole has served in that role at Westfield High School for the past six years.

Tower is scheduled to begin his new position May 1, while Nicole’s start date is July 1. Both contracts run through June 30, 2028.

The Hamilton Southeastern Schools Board of Trustees is preparing to take its next step in selecting a new district leader.

According to a district announcement released Wednesday afternoon, the board will hold a public hearing on a proposed superintendent contract Wednesday, April 29, at 5:30 p.m. That hearing will be followed by a vote on appointing the district’s next superintendent.

The action comes during a period of leadership transition for one of Indiana’s largest school districts.

Dr. Matt Kegley has been serving as interim superintendent since the resignation of Patrick Mapes, who announced March 2 that he would step down effective April 13 after about two years leading the district.

Kegley, previously the district’s deputy superintendent, was selected by the board to guide Hamilton Southeastern Schools through the transition. He is a longtime district educator and administrator who has also previously served in the interim role.

The upcoming public hearing and vote signal the board may be nearing a decision on whether to make a permanent appointment, though district officials have not publicly detailed the selection process or identified a candidate ahead of the meeting.

Hamilton Southeastern Schools, based in Fishers, serves more than 21,000 students and is among the highest-performing districts in the state, making the superintendent position one of the most prominent education leadership roles in central Indiana.

The board also has a regularly scheduled meeting set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 15

The Fishers Event Center is expanding beyond the concert stage later this month, partnering with the City of Fishers and Hamilton County Tourism to create a community-wide fan experience tied to three sold-out performances by Billy Strings.

The Grammy Award-winning bluegrass artist is scheduled to perform April 24, 25 and 26 at the Fishers venue. While tickets for the shows are sold out, organizers say a variety of activities will be open to the public throughout the three-day weekend.

Plans include fan meetups, pop-up activities, a beer garden and food trucks, along with themed photo opportunities on the FORUM Credit Union Plaza at the event center. Fans will also have access to official tour merchandise ahead of each show, with early sales scheduled daily from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Local tourism officials are promoting the weekend as a broader destination event, encouraging visitors and residents to explore area attractions and businesses tied to the concerts.

Strings, a three-time Grammy Award winner, is touring behind his latest album, Highway Prayers, which recently earned Best Bluegrass Album honors at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards. The release debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s all-genre Top Album Sales chart — a rare achievement for a bluegrass record — and has drawn widespread critical acclaim.

Organizers say additional details about activities and participating locations can be found through Hamilton County Tourism’s online guide for the concert weekend.

Hamilton County voters will soon decide who will serve as the county’s next sheriff, with the Republican primary expected to determine the outcome in a race featuring two longtime members of the Sheriff’s Office.

In this edition of my podcast, I sit down with Dustin Dixon, a lieutenant with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, who is seeking the top law enforcement position in the county. Dixon discusses his background, his priorities for the department, and how he would approach leadership of an agency responsible for policing, jail operations, and public safety services across one of Indiana’s fastest-growing counties.

We also talk about key issues in the campaign, including transparency, the use of technology in policing, support for deputies, and how the sheriff’s office should work with local communities and partner agencies.

I have extended an invitation to the other Republican primary candidate for sheriff, John Lowes, to appear on this podcast series.

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

My full conversation with Dustin Dixon is available at this link and the link below.

The City of Fishers’ Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant program continues to draw strong interest from local homeowners associations, with demand far exceeding available funding in 2026.

A total of $360,000 was allocated this year for the grant program, which provides funding to HOAs for neighborhood improvements and beautification projects. City officials, led by Mayor Scott Fadness and the City Council, have steadily increased funding for the program over the years.

This year, 66 applications were submitted, requesting more than $1 million in total funding.

Members of the Neighborhood Vibrancy Grant Committee reviewed and scored each application based on criteria established by city staff. Projects receiving the highest scores were considered first as the committee worked its way down the list.

During a meeting Monday, committee members conducted a detailed review of each proposal. In cases where applications contained incomplete information or cost estimates that raised questions, funding amounts were reduced rather than denied outright. The approach allowed the committee to distribute available funds across a greater number of neighborhoods.

Individual grant requests were capped at $25,000, although many applicants sought smaller amounts.

After approximately 90 minutes of deliberation, the committee had effectively allocated its full budget, with recommended awards slightly exceeding the $360,000 available. Final approval of the grants now rests with the Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety, which includes the mayor and two appointed members.  That vote is expected May 12.

The five-member committee—appointed by Mayor Scott Fadness—includes Art Hennig, Eric Steiner, Jason Arnold, Mark LaBarr and Josh Morris. Hennig has served on the panel since 2010, dating back to when Fishers was still a town.

At the conclusion of Monday’s meeting, Planning and Zoning Director Ross Hilleary said neighborhoods selected for funding will be notified by city staff.

Hamilton County officials have rolled out a new online procurement system designed to streamline how businesses connect with the county and compete for government contracts.

The platform, powered by OpenGov, provides a centralized, web-based portal where vendors can view bid opportunities, receive notifications and submit proposals electronically.

County officials say the system replaces older processes with a more modern approach, making it easier for businesses to track and respond to purchasing opportunities.

Through the new portal, vendors can register to receive alerts when new opportunities are posted, review current and upcoming solicitations, and submit proposals directly online. The system also automatically sends updates, amendments and addenda related to specific bids.

Vendor registration is free, and county leaders are encouraging businesses of all sizes to sign up and subscribe to notifications to stay informed about future contracting opportunities.

Officials say the new platform is intended to improve efficiency in the county’s procurement process while also increasing transparency and expanding access for companies interested in working with Hamilton County.

The procurement portal is available through the Hamilton County website under the Bid Opportunities and Solicitation section.