Crawfordsville School Board

What a school board does

A school board is the elected or appointed governing body of a public school corporation, the legal unit that runs a local school district ^{[1, 2]}. The board hires and evaluates the superintendent, adopts policies, and approves the annual budget, while the superintendent and staff run schools day to day ^[3]. Most boards have five or seven members serving staggered four-year terms ^[3]. Starting in 2026, candidates may list a political party, run as independents, or list no affiliation on the ballot, and there is no primary for these seats ^{[2, 4]}.

Term

4 years, with elections staggered so part of the board is chosen every two years ^[3]

Elected

At the November general election (November 3, 2026, or November 2028 for some seats); depending on the local organization plan, members represent the whole school corporation (at large) or a district within it, and some boards are wholly or partly appointed ^[2]

Ballot label

Each candidate chooses a party label, 'Independent', or no affiliation, shown next to the name; no primary and no straight-ticket voting for these races ^{[2, 4]}

Pay

Set by board resolution: an annual amount of no more than 10% of the lowest starting teacher salary in the school corporation, plus a capped per diem ^[5]

On the 2026 ballot

632 races in 276 school corporations; 1,035 candidates, 197 races contested ^[6]

The job in full — what the Indiana Code puts in it, what it pays, and what to ask a candidate.

About Crawfordsville Community Schools

• The 'Crawfordsville School Board' seats belong to the Crawfordsville Community School Corporation (CCSC), the public school district for the city of Crawfordsville in Montgomery County ^{[24, 25]}. It runs Crawfordsville High School, Crawfordsville Middle School, Hoover, Nicholson and Hose elementary schools (organized by grade level: K-1, 2-3 and 4-5), Willson Preschool Academy and Athens Virtual Academy ^{[25, 26]}. Federal data list 2,730 students in seven schools in 2024-25 ^[27]. Dr. Rex Ryker is superintendent ^[28].
• The board has five members: Steven McLaughlin, Susan Albrecht, Kathy Brown, J. Monte Thompson and Kent Minnette ^[29]. At the January 8, 2026 reorganization the board elected McLaughlin president, Brown vice president, Albrecht secretary and Thompson assistant secretary, and named Minnette its legislative liaison to the Indiana School Boards Association ^[30]. (The district's board page lists Albrecht as vice president and Brown as secretary ^[29].)
• Seats on the 2026 ballot: the Journal Review reports that six candidates filed for three at-large seats ^[24]. In the last election for these seats (2022), all positions were at-large and the top three vote-getters won ^[31]. The state list also shows three seats in this race; voters choose up to three of the six candidates ^{[6, 24]}.
• Who holds the seats now: incumbents Kathleen (Kathy) Brown, Independent; J. Kent Minnette, Republican; and James Monte Thompson, Republican, are all seeking reelection ^[24]. In 2022, when three at-large seats were last on the ballot, Brown and Minnette ran as incumbents and Thompson as a newcomer ^{[31, 32]}. The challengers are former board member Ellen Elaine Ball, Democrat, and newcomers Darren M. Heeke, Independent, and Steven C. Tomamichel, Republican ^[24]. Board members McLaughlin and Albrecht are not on the 2026 ballot ^{[24, 29]}.
• Party labels: 2026 is the first election in which Indiana school board candidates may list a party; the law does not add primaries ^[24].
• Budget and property taxes: in July 2025 Superintendent Ryker projected a 19.1% cut to the district's Operations Fund, nearly $1 million by 2028, from state levy changes; he said CCSC has one of the lowest assessed property values per student in the state, that transportation costs rose 35% in five years, and that the district planned an audit of operating expenses ^[26]. He said classroom staffing was protected because the state's education fund rose, and that sports expenses would be reviewed ^{[26, 33]}. These two articles carry a League of Women Voters of Montgomery County tagline ^[26].
• Tax rates and reserves: the board's January 2026 finance report said the district's total 2026 tax rate fell to $1.5626 from $1.8122 in 2025, including a lower referendum debt service rate, and that the share of fund balance to expenditures was projected near 15.54% at the end of 2025, up from 10.47% at the end of 2024 ^[34]. In July 2025 the board held a hearing on a bond issue of up to $10.5 million through 2033 for HVAC, roofing, site work, technology and buses, and approved the final bond resolution in October 2025 ^{[35, 36]}. On Oct. 8, 2026 the board approved its budget and tax rates, capital projects and bus replacement plans, and a revised agreement with the city for two school resource officers ^[37].
• Staffing and enrollment: in October 2025 Ryker said total enrollment was up 6%, which allowed raises for returning teachers in the new teacher agreement ^[36]. In August 2026 he reported enrollment slightly above projections ^[38]. In June 2026 the board approved a new three-year agreement with SSC for outsourced maintenance, custodial and grounds work starting Sept. 1, 2026, which the business office described as a 10% reduction to a flat $2 million in the first year ^[39].
• Student needs: in a September 2026 grant proposal summary, Ryker reported 60% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, a 13.44% district chronic absenteeism rate (18.61% at Hose Elementary and 16.76% at the high school), and English learner enrollment growing from 8% to 14% ^[40].
• School choice: Ryker said the district launched Athens Virtual Academy after families sought virtual charter schools, and that it has brought nearly all of those students back to CCSC, with very few students leaving for in-person charter schools ^[26].
• Policies: in April 2026 the board approved grade 4-5 human sexuality instruction materials updated to meet state law (SEA 442) ^[41], and in June 2026 it took a first reading of a wireless-device policy required by SEA 78's 'bell-to-bell' restriction ^[39]. The board received an Indiana School Boards Association Exemplary Governance Award for 2025 ^[42].
• Forums: this guide found no 2026 candidate forum or questionnaire for this race. In 2022 the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County held a forum for Crawfordsville school board candidates ^{[31, 32]}. No public comments were made at the board's Sept. 10, 2026 budget hearing ^[40].

At Large

6 candidates · 3 seats

Key points

• Staffing and enrollment: in October 2025 Ryker said total enrollment was up 6%, which allowed raises for returning teachers in the new teacher agreement. In August 2026 he reported enrollment slightly above projections. (Crawfordsville Community School Corporation)
• Student needs: in a September 2026 grant proposal summary, Ryker reported 60% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, a 13.44% district chronic absenteeism rate (18.61% at Hose Elementary and 16.76% at the high school), and English learner enrollment growing from 8% to 14%. (Crawfordsville Community School Corporation)
• The 'Crawfordsville School Board' seats belong to the Crawfordsville Community School Corporation (CCSC), the public school district for the city of Crawfordsville in Montgomery County. (Journal Review)

Sources