By LARRY LANNAN
The school situation in the area is going to be a bit more complicated in the future, based on a presentation by Noblesville Mayor Chris Jensen before the Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board last Tuesday. If the mayor’s projections are correct, both the City of Noblesville and HSE Schools will see dramatic growth in Wayne Township during the next five to 10 years.
For as far back as I can remember, the local school district situation was fairly clear. For the most part, Noblesville Schools handled students in the City of Noblesville and HSE Schools took in all of Fishers, unincorporated parts of Fall Creek and Delaware townships, as well as all of the mostly-rural Wayne Township.
Jensen made it clear his city plans to expand eastward into Wayne Township with both residential and commercial development. The mayor told HSE Schools officials he expects Noblesville to double in size in the coming five to 10 years and most of that growth will be into Wayne Township. That projection would mean HSE Schools would see dramatic growth in the student population.
Keep in mind that HSE Schools is already the fourth-largest school system in the state, based on student population, with a count of roughly 21,500. The largest district in Indiana is Fort Wayne (29,404), followed by Indianapolis Public Schools (26,410), and Evansville Vanderburgh Schools (22,601). If Noblesville expands as projected into Wayne Township, HSE Schools would rise on that list.
This would create a much larger school system than HSE is now and would bring burdens as well as opportunities. More buildings would be required for more students, but the tax base would also increase with all the projected growth.
After posting my original story on Mayor Jensen’s appearance before the board last Tuesday, plenty of comments followed about HSE giving up any territory annexed by Noblesville into Wayne Township. I have covered the HSE school board for more than nine years, and school officials have said consistently that there is no intention of giving up Wayne Township as part of HSE Schools.
So, with growth comes change. At HSE Schools, that change will likely come with more growth in the next decade, this time in Wayne Township and Noblesville rather than Fishers. The new superintendent of schools yet to be hired by the HSE school board will be facing all that change.
Some people think this change is not a good idea, others say it will be good for all of us. Only time will tell. But I will be watching and reporting on whatever happens.