Hamilton County judges visited schools across the county this month to help students learn about the United States Constitution in connection with Constitution Day.

Constitution Day, observed September 17, marks the signing of the nation’s founding document in 1787. The Indiana Supreme Court encourages judges and attorneys to use the occasion as an opportunity for civic education.

Newly appointed Magistrate Judge Sarah Shields spent time in classrooms on September 15 and 16. She first visited a kindergarten class at Geist Elementary School, where she introduced students—including her own son—to the role of judges and magistrates. The following day, she read to preschoolers at LeafSpring School in Fishers, including her daughter.

“The Constitution can feel big and complicated, but even young kids understand the idea of rules and fairness,” Shields said. “It was fun to show them that judges are here to help with that.”

On September 16, Commissioner Christopher Barrows spoke to more than 800 eighth-grade social studies students at Westfield Middle School.

“Eighth grade is the perfect age to start connecting the dots between history and real life,” Barrows said. “The students had great questions, and you could tell they were really thinking about how the Constitution applies to their lives.”

Superior Court Judge David Najjar visited Geist Montessori Academy on September 22, where he guided third- and fourth-grade students through a mock trial of Goldilocks vs. The Three Bears. Students acted as jurors, attorneys, a bailiff, and a court reporter.

“When students get to be the jurors or attorneys, it clicks for them that the Constitution is about real people making real decisions,” Najjar said. “That hands-on experience sticks with them in a way a textbook never could.”

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Education Association (HSEA) spent 10 hours at the bargaining table with district administrators this week, producing both progress and new challenges.

Teachers gathered in a school parking lot ahead of Wednesday night’s HSE School Board meeting to hear an update from their bargaining team. The news was mixed.

On the positive side, the union and district resolved a long-standing Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaint, an agreement announced the evening before the gathering.

“Glad that the ULP has been settled,” said Craig Frawley, speaking on behalf of the teachers’ bargaining team. “We are hopeful that central office stays true to their word that they are willing to work with us moving forward.”

But Frawley said the district’s opening proposal for a new one-year contract fell short. He described it as “not a tenable situation.”

According to Frawley, the administration’s plan calls for higher health insurance premiums and an increase in the out-of-pocket maximum, with no corresponding salary increase. “That means that every teacher in the district would take home less money,” he said.

If that remains the case, Frawley added, “something else has to be given back to us.”

While Indiana law does not allow teacher time to be directly negotiated, Frawley said the union intends to push for contract language that addresses workload concerns.

“Teachers need time back,” he emphasized, noting that the union’s counterproposal—expected to be delivered to administrators Thursday—will take a “creative” approach to that issue.

“We have to be creative,” Frawley said. “And we are going to ask central office to be creative as well.”

The next bargaining session is scheduled for Monday.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District has submitted its proposed 2026 budget to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), but district officials caution that the numbers are preliminary.

At a budget work session Wednesday night, Chief Financial Officer Tim Brown explained that the figures sent to the state are intentionally on the high side. By law, the DLGF can lower requested amounts but has no authority to raise them.

The proposed budget for 2026 across all funds totals $340.9 million, up from $326.3 million in 2025.

Enrollment Trends a Concern

State funding is tied largely to student enrollment, and current numbers show HSE’s total student population at 20,313—below the demographer’s most recent forecast. Brown highlighted an enrollment imbalance as a long-term concern: about 1,200 kindergarteners compared to 1,800 seniors.

To address declining enrollment, HSE has allowed families from outside district boundaries to apply for admission. Seventy-nine students enrolled this year through that program. Superintendent Patrick Mapes said the district plans to extend the application deadline in future years after some families expressed interest too late.

Local Revenue and Spending Pressures

Brown said he expects a small increase in the 2026 property tax rate—less than one cent. Local property taxes cover expenses such as operations, facilities, debt service, and transportation.

The district also plans to draw down cash balances to help fund the 2026 budget, a practice Brown warned is not sustainable.

Additional financial pressures include:

• Teacher Retirement Fund: A state-mandated $600,000 contribution, which Brown described as a “curveball.”

• Health Care Costs: An anticipated $4.4 million increase that will affect both the district and employees. Final details will be shaped through contract negotiations with the teachers’ association.

Looking for Savings

Mapes stressed that administrators are examining cost-saving measures that avoid direct impact on classrooms. He pointed to the ongoing redistricting process as one such effort. A proposed redistricting map is expected to go before the school board before the end of this year.

You can review Tim Brown’s entire presentation to the school board at this link.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board is preparing to ask voters to approve another operating referendum during the 2026 general election. Superintendent Patrick Mapes made the recommendation at Wednesday night’s board meeting, held to review the district’s 2026 budget.

“We cannot wait, and now they’ve [the state legislature] changed the law—you can only do a referendum on a general election year, either ’26, ’28, or ’30,” Mapes told board members. “The loss that we have, we cannot continue having enough money to actually operate the school district.”

While the district’s gross assessed property valuation is expected to rise in the coming years, state lawmakers have enacted larger deductions through 2031 that reduce the net assessed valuation. Because tax revenue is based on that lower net figure, HSE will collect less money even at the same referendum tax rate.

The district’s current referendum rate is $0.1995, which will generate just under $30 million in 2026—most of it used to fund teacher salaries. Under current law, however, revenue from the referendum fund will begin to decline as the expanded deductions take effect.

Mapes also said county officials initially misapplied the new law when providing assessed valuation numbers to local governments, and corrected figures now show that HSE must seek voter approval for a new referendum in 2026.

HSE is not alone. Mapes expects other Hamilton County school districts will also place referendums on the 2026 ballot in response to the property tax changes.

“Now we’re going to have to ask for a higher rate, but we will not use that highest level of rate until the last year of the referendum,” Mapes explained. He offered an example of requesting voter approval for a 40-cent rate, while initially levying only 22 cents, then possibly 25 cents the following year, as deductions continue to increase.

“That will be a big education piece for everyone because it’s no longer just a fixed tax rate,” Mapes said.

District staff will now begin drafting a formal proposal. The school board will make the final decision on whether to place the referendum on the ballot and what rate to request.

The current referendum rate was approved by voters in 2023, when state law allowed a school referendum to be placed on the ballot in an odd-numbered election year.  It went into effect in 2024.

The Heartland Film Festival, one of the Midwest’s most respected film events with a strong national reputation, has selected a student-produced film for its 2025 lineup for the first time. 11:17, created by the Hamilton Southeastern High School Film Club, will be featured at this year’s festival.

Club adviser Jamie Follis and producer Katie Follis joined Larry to discuss the film, its selection, and the work of the HSE Film Club. Listen to the conversation at the link below.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) and Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools announced Tuesday evening they have reached a settlement in a dispute stemming from an Unfair Labor Practice complaint filed by the union earlier this year.

HSEA, which represents district teachers, had accused HSE officials of creating a hostile environment for union leaders. The complaint alleged that district administrators—particularly the newly hired Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources—engaged in intimidation, refused to reschedule meetings when union representatives were unavailable, and even made threats tied to employment status. The union claimed those actions were attempts to interfere with union operations and to hinder teachers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively.

The settlement comes as the two sides prepare to open negotiations on a new teachers’ contract, a process governed by state timelines.

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, both parties acknowledged problems in how the situation was handled and pledged to move forward with improved communication.

“The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association filed a complaint against Hamilton Southeastern Schools alleging the school committed unfair labor practices by interfering with the Association’s right to represent teachers and by threatening retaliation for protected Association activities,” the statement read. “Both parties agree the actions of Hamilton Southeastern Schools described in the case were inappropriate and should not have occurred. The parties have agreed to training by the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board to improve relationships moving forward. The parties look forward to working together for the best interests of students.”

Neither side released additional details about the settlement. However, both emphasized that the agreement clears the way for a more constructive relationship as contract talks begin.

The Unfair Labor Practice case had been a lingering point of contention between HSE Schools and HSEA, underscoring strains in labor-management relations. With negotiations on a new contract now set to begin, both sides are publicly signaling a desire to turn the page.

Jeff Worrell has served on the Carmel City Council for many years.  He has seen a change in the atmosphere of his local politics.  He began to sense a lack of civility.

That motivated Jeff to help found Project Civility, a nonprofit organization.  He is helping to sponsor a seminar September 26 & 27 in Carmel to focus on civility.  For more information on Project Civility, use this link.

Jeff speaks with Larry about his views on civility and the upcoming seminar.  Listen to the podcast at the link below.

As recently announced, Fishers will no longer pursue a roundabout at 116th Street and Allisonville Road. Instead, the city will move forward with a traditional intersection, and the Board of Works and Public Safety has approved a resolution accepting $2.6 million in federal funds to support the project. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.

City Engineering Director Hatem Mekky told the board the change in design will minimize disruptions. A roundabout would have required closing the intersection entirely, while the new plan allows traffic to continue flowing, though with lane restrictions during construction. Extended left-turn lanes will be added to reduce rush-hour backups.

Mekky said the project will also include upgraded traffic signals with advanced technology to better manage traffic flow. He expects that system to be expanded to major corridors across Fishers.  The 116th & Allisonville upgrade should remain effective for at least a decade, according to Mekky.

Looking further ahead, Mekky predicted that Allisonville Road will see lighter traffic once major nearby road projects wrap up in 2026 and 2027. Those include INDOT’s Clear Path work at I-69 and I-465 in Marion County, Hamilton County’s project at 146th Street and Allisonville Road, and construction at 141st Street and State Road 37.

Other board actions

• Sports banners downtown: New banners will soon be installed on the Edge Building along 116th Street, highlighting the three teams that will call the Fishers Event Center home — Indy Fuel hockey, Indy Ignite volleyball, and Fishers Freight indoor football. The signage is scheduled to be up by October 7.

• Sewer service for Lynwood Hills: The board approved a professional services agreement with Butler, Fairman & Seufert to prepare construction documents for extending sewer service to 160 homes in the Lynwood Hills neighborhood, near 131st Street and Allisonville Road. The homes currently rely on septic systems. Mayor Scott Fadness praised the project and the annexation process that made it possible, calling it “a good project for the community.”

• Sahm’s café at new community center: Sahm’s will operate a café inside the Fishers Community Center, which is set to open in early November. The café will be open to both Center members and the general public.

• Expanded parking ban: Maple Street, both east and west sides, will now fall under the city’s 3 a.m.–6 a.m. parking ban, which already covers much of the Nickel Plate District.

The Board of Works consists of Mayor Scott Fadness and his two appointees, Jeff Lantz and Steve Orusa.

The Hamilton County Highway Department has good and bad news for area motorists traversing 146th Street along the construction zone at Allisonville Road.  The bad news is there will be ramp closures on Tuesday, September 23.  The good news is both ramp closures should start at 9:00am and be complete by 3:00pm, and be done one at a time,  if all goes as scheduled.

See the update below, provided by Hamilton County:

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

Please be advised, beginning on or after Tuesday, September 23, 2025, beginning at 9:00 AM, drivers should expect the southwest ramp at 146th and Allisonville to be closed. Drivers will not be able to access Allisonville Road from eastbound 146th Street. 

After completion of the work on the southwest ramp, the contractor will close the northeast ramp, at which time drivers will not be able to access Allisonville Rd. from westbound 146th Street.

All ramps are expected to be reopened by 3:00 PM.

Please use extreme caution and follow the posted work zone speed limit while driving through this construction zone.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association HSEF) is planning another big night at the Fishers Event Center in February of next year.  In this podcast, Executive Director of HSEF, Justin Hirnisey, talks about the big fund raiser for the foundation and much more in this podcast with Larry.