Despite visible community opposition, a proposed 130-acre data center in Decatur Township cleared a key hurdle Thursday, moving one step closer to approval.

Decatur Township residents says a new developer is trying to bypass the city council to bring in a data center.

The line of concerned residents grew as the fire department capped attendance at an open-house meeting with developers and AES Indiana about a proposed data center in the southwest township.

Three school board seats are up for election in Decatur schools, a 6,700-student district in southwest Marion County that’s had staffing challenges.

Hoosier students are starting their third school year since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Now, many classrooms are closer to pre-pandemic normalcy.