Marion County School Board Elections: A Candidate’s Guide – Indianapolis News | Indiana weather | Indiana Traffic

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(CHALKBEAT INDIANA) — There are 40 candidates running for 33 seats on 10 county school boards in Marion County this election.

The winning candidates will begin four-year terms in January 2025 and serve until 2028. As school board members, they will provide oversight of the district, develop and enforce policies such as student handbooks, approve the budget and set goals. One of the most important jobs of a school board is to hire and supervise a superintendent.

The number of board members, and whether they are board members or represent a specific district, varies by school district. Board members can receive up to $2,000 per year in addition to meeting stipends. Generally, school board seats are nonpartisan elected positions, with the exception of Speedway, where the school board is appointed by the city council.

Overall, about half of Marion County school board candidates are incumbents, and most face at least some opposition.

The district with the most candidates overall is also the district with the most candidates — three — per seat: Indianapolis Public Schools. The race, one of four in the district, is also the only one in which an incumbent is seeking re-election.

And five districts — Beech Grove City Schools and Lawrence Township, Pike Township, Warren Township and Wayne Township Metropolitan School Districts — have one more candidate on the ballot than there are open seats.

In the remaining four districts, each candidate on the ballot will serve on the board: Decatur Township Metropolitan School Districts, Washington Township Metropolitan School Districts, Franklin Township Community Schools and Perry Township Schools. In Perry the board has four open seats with only two candidates on the ballot. A the third candidate runs as an entryThis means she can join the board with one vote, but that leaves one open seat.