I spend a good part of my fall and early winter season working to prepare and instruct the Indiana University Tax Practitioner Institute.  Since taxes are a big part of the political discussion these days, I brought together my colleagues at the IU school to talk about taxes, and also discussed adult education.

Cold weather may be upon us, but the road construction listing in and around
Fishers remains a very long one.

Here is the listing of road and street work scheduled for the work week beginning Monday, October 30th, as provided by the City of Fishers.

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One item that is of interest to almost all parents and students of any school district is the school calendar.  When does school start?  When is the last day of school?  When are the breaks scheduled and how many days will they last?

Families often plan vacations well in advance, so knowing the calendar is important for that reason.  There are other reasons as well.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District is conducting a survey of the entire community on the issues surrounding future school calendars.  As of October 27th, roughly 9,000 people had sent their views.

It is a simple multiple choice survey.  If you would like to participate, use this link.

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools hired Miles Herndon, an outside firm, to come up with proposals to re-brand the school corporation, in June of this year.  During that discussion, School Board President Matt Burke and Vice President John DeLucia both voiced support of at least studying whether the school district should change its name.

It appears that issue has been settled – HSE Schools will keep its name.  HSE Schools Spokesperson Emily Pace Abbotts has confirmed that the school district will not be changing its name – it will continue to be called the Hamilton Southeastern Schools.

Miles Herndon updated the board on its work so far in an October 11th work session and made no mention of any school district name change.  The company’s recommendation on re-branding the local schools should come soon, and will be done in conjunction with a revamping of the school district’s Internet Web presence.

Speaking of school names, the school district is accepting suggestions from the public on what name to give the new elementary school planned on Cyntheanne Road.  If you would like to submit your recommended name, use this link

When Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools went to the voters in May of 2016 asking for a property tax increase to solidify the financial situation of the local schools, one argument educators made to vote yes was the issue of teacher compensation.  HSE Schools Superintendent Allen Bourff often said HSE, because of the quality and reputation of the school system and the community, can recruit and retain good teachers without being at the top of the Indianapolis suburban pay school.

Dr. Bourff said HSE just needs to be competitive by raising the compensation closer to the middle of the pack among the Indy suburbs.  The referendum passed overwhelmingly.

The Hamilton Southeastern Education Association (HSEA) and Hamilton Southeastern School administrators have hammered out a new 2-year contract covering calendar years 2018 and 2019 for teachers in the HSE school corporation.  At the October 25 school board meeting, Superintendent Bourff summarized the main provisions in the new contract proposal.  Those provisions include:

–In 2018, teachers will receive an average pay increase of 2.73%, with salaries ranging from a low of $40,158 up to high of $79,085.

–In 2019, the average salary increase will be 2.66%, with the low $40,158 and the high $79,751.

–There will be a group of teachers not always falling under the increases described above due to what is described as a”reset,” which is an effort to increase the pay of newly hired teachers who suffered pay caps during the tough budget years.

–Health insurance premiums will not increase in 2018, but 2019 premiums will depend on what the school system experiences in health claims, and that data is not known yet.

–Teacher compensation for extracurricular activities will not change in the current 2017-2018 school year, but the school corporation will inject $17,500 into that money pool during the 2018-2019 school year.

–The administration Power Point presentation says this contract will increase teacher compensation by just over $6.4 million during the 2-year duration of the pact.

Teachers must ratify this contract.  The vote will be held November 1st through November 3rd.  If teachers approve, the school board will hold a ratification vote at the November 8th meeting.

It should be noted that I have covered a number of teacher-school board bargaining over new contracts.  This is the first time I have ever seen a school corporation choose to reveal publicly the major provisions of a proposed agreement before the teachers begin the ratification process.

When we think of the many rivalry competition matches between Fishers and Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) High Schools, we first think of sports, especially football & basketball.  But there is Mudsock competition on the academic front as well between our two local high schools.  Thursday night featured the annual Mudsock match featuring the We The People teams from each school.

HSE High School came out the winner this year in this year’s Mudsock competition.  There was an all-star panel of judges, including Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness.

We The People highlights students knowledge of the United State Constitution, its history and where it stands today.  Teams prepare a four-minute presentation, then must answer questions from a panel of judges about the presentation.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Funding for a major expansion of the Hamilton County Jail will be requested by County Commissioners at the Dec. 6 meeting of the County Council. Commissioners in their Monday meeting voted to request an appropriation of $16.7 million in order to increase jail capacity from the current 296 to about 550.

Overcrowding has been a problem at the 24-year-old jail for some time. In recent months, female inmates were moved to the Juvenile Detention Center, and juveniles were moved elsewhere on the corrections campus to give temporary relief at the jail.

But long-term with the county population soaring, commissioners say major expansion in anticipation of future needs is necessary. When the expansion was discussed earlier, council members felt building to a capacity of about 420 would be adequate.

But on Monday commissioners were given cost estimates that showed the greater expansion would only increase the cost from $12.2 million to $16.7 million. Believing it would be wise to plan ahead for anticipated needs, the board decided to seek the greater amount. Whatever figure is approved by council, the project is expected to be bid in January or February of next year. The current jail was completed in 1993, and since that time the juvenile center and a Community Corrections work release facility has been added on the Cumberland Road campus.

In other action at their regular meeting, commissioners approved an interlocal agreement with Carmel officials on the planned Lowes Way extension, a project that will allow direct highway access from 146^th Street to southbound Keystone Parkway. Construction is expected to begin early next year.

Also approved were plans to design a roundabout at 191st Street and Grassy Branch Road in Washington Township. Compensation agreements in lieu of statutory fees were signed for 2018 compensation for the county surveyor, Kenton Ward, at $104,000, and county clerk Tammy Baitz at $118,000.

And commissioners approved plans for leveling an abandoned house at 5263 E. 156th St., Noblesvillle. Neighbors said the house is an eyesore and harbors possible illegal activities. Actual demolition will follow a 30 day warning period to the owners.

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

Ten nonprofit organizations in Hamilton County will share nearly two million dollars in public funds next year. The County Council has approved the grants and County Commissioners will approve Monday, Oct. 23 when they meet in regular session.

Funds are disbursed annually to organizations that provide services to the public. The money is granted in the belief that most of these services would have to be directly provided by local government were it not for the organizations that take on the tasks. The money is included in the 2018 county budget.

The largest grants will go to Janus Developmental Services, $725,000, and the Janus
Hamilton County Express bus service, $431,601.  Next largest amount goes to Primelife Enrichment, $240,000.

Prevail will receive $180,000, the Hamilton County Economic Development Corporation,
$175,000, Hamilton County Humane Society, $111,337, The Cherish Center and Chaucie’s Place, $25,000 each, Trinity Free Clinic and Conner Prairie, $15,000 each.

Organization representatives expressed appreciation to county officials for the money which in most cases is seen as essential to continuing the current level of services.
County officials have said they are pleased that the county’s healthy financial condition
allows such disbursements.

In their meeting Monday, commissioners are also expected to consider hiring a county public relations officer. Creation of that position was announced earlier and will be done on a contractual basis. Commissioners will also likely approve two bridge projects on Strawtown Avenue.  The White River bridge west of Strawtown will be rehabbed and a smaller structure over Dyer Creek east of Strawtown will be replaced. Work will likely
be done next year.

Likely in a November meeting, commissioners will receive a recommendation from the County Emergency Management Board on hiring a new director for the agency. The commissioners’ Executive Director Dan Stevens said there are 13 applicants being considered for the position which is currently vacant. Carl Erickson is acting director.

The Fishers Board of Works awarded a bid to begin construction on a traffic signal at 126th Street and Hoosier Road.   Signal Construction Incorporated was the lowest and most responsive bidder, with a submission of just over $177,000,

The intersection has been a safety problem area since 126th Street was expanded to four lanes.  City officials say the traffic signal should be operational by the end of 2017.

The City Council previously approved funding for the project.

It is difficult to find someone locally not touched in some way by the Opioid Epidemic.  It could be a spouse, child, relative or good friend impacted by this scourge.

There is an event planned locally featuring a speaker with a compelling story to tell about Opioid abuse.

The parents-only session is set for the Fishers High School Auditorium, Monday, October 30th, at 7pm.  Booths will be setup with information starting as 6:30.  You are asked to enter through door FH7.

Ben Gonzales will be the featured speaker.  He is a young man in
recovery.  He is also a treatment professional and recovery advocate. Ben will
lead the discussion on recovery & substance abuse disorders. A
panel discussion with addiction experts will follow, including:

–Doug Carter, Superintendent of Indiana State Police; Governor’s
Commission for Drug-Free Indiana (DFI)

–Kim Manlove, EdD, Fairbanks Project Director for the Strategic Plan;
Co-Chair Parent Advisory Board (The Partnership at Drugfree.org)

— Brad Trolson, Recovery Coach with Hope Academy and Adolescent
Services at Fairbanks

–Jill Gonzales, Ben’s Mom shares the family perspective of addiction
and recovery.

The event is sponsored by the HSE Parents in Partnership