Grant Mississinewa 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.

What has changed in this job lately

Changes in the law the next officeholder will work under, most distant first.

1. 2025

   Senate Enrolled Act 287 allowed school board candidates to declare a party affiliation; the Indiana School Boards Association opposed the change, and a supporter quoted by WNDU, a Noblesville school board member, said it adds transparency ^[17].

2. 2026

   Candidates choose a party, 'Independent' or no affiliation on their nominating petition, and that choice appears on the ballot; a candidate claiming the Democratic or Republican party must have voted in that party's primary in the two most recent primaries they voted in, or have certification from the county party chair, or can be challenged and removed from the ballot ^[2].

3. July 2026

   Chalkbeat reported, citing Indiana School Boards Association data, that 524 of 1,044 candidates chose a party, about 72% of them Republicans ^[18]; the Indiana Election Division's 2026 guidance and the wording of the law differ on the primary-voting test, a question county election boards decide ^[19].

4. February 2026

   Senate Enrolled Act 25 set the order of school board candidates on the ballot, grouped by party, with candidates who list no affiliation placed after the party and independent candidates ^[20].

5. 2025

   Senate Enrolled Act 1, a property tax law, limits how much operating revenue districts can raise through taxes and restricts school referendums to statewide general elections in even-numbered years ^{[21, 22]}.

6. 2025

   The same law requires districts to share operating revenue with brick-and-mortar charter schools that enroll their students, statewide starting in 2028 ^{[21, 22]}.

7. 2025

   The state budget opened Choice Scholarship vouchers to all Indiana families starting in June 2026 ^[16].

8. 2026

   The Indianapolis Public Education Corporation, rather than the Indianapolis Public Schools board, now certifies Indianapolis Public Schools referendum questions for the ballot ^[20].

9. 2023

   Senate Enrolled Act 391 changed the so-called $1 law so the Indiana Department of Education can order districts that lost at least 10% of enrollment over five years to close schools under 60% capacity and offer them to charter schools ^[23].

10. 2023

    House Enrolled Act 1447 required school districts to set up procedures for complaints that library material is obscene or harmful to minors ^[10].

About Mississinewa Community School Corp

• The 'Grant Mississinewa Community School Board' races on the state list are for the Mississinewa Community School Corporation, based in Gas City in Grant County ^{[6, 24]}. The district says it serves Gas City and Jonesboro and runs four schools: Westview Elementary, Northview Elementary, R.J. Baskett Middle School and Mississinewa High School ^[25]. Its per-school figures (about 450, 700, 600 and 750 students) add up to roughly 2,500 students ^[25].
• The superintendent is Jeremy Fewell, who started on July 1, 2024 ^[26]. On March 16, 2026, the board voted 7-0 to extend his contract through June 30, 2029 ^[26].
• The board has seven members: Denny Smith, Chris Cunningham, Jarrett Richards, Kyle Speakman, Mike Crouch, Conrad Herrera and Lani Stearns ^[27]. Members are elected from residence districts plus at-large seats in District 4; in 2024 four candidates ran for two District 4 at-large seats ^{[6, 28]}. Terms are four years ^[24].
• District 2 (one seat): incumbent Conrad Herrera is running unopposed ^{[6, 27]}.
• District 3 (one seat): Robert Couse, who is not a current board member, is the only candidate ^{[6, 27]}.
• District 4 at large: two seats; the state list shows two at-large seats and three candidates ^[6]. One is the seat Susan Miller left in 2026 after moving out of the district; the board appointed Lani Stearns on April 20, 2026 to serve through Dec. 31, 2026, and the seat is on the November ballot for a term running Jan. 1, 2027 through Dec. 31, 2030 ^{[24, 29, 30]}. Incumbents Denny Smith and Lani Stearns are both running, and Zach Aument (American Solidarity) is challenging them ^{[6, 27]}.
• Budget and the 2025 property-tax law: in fall 2025 the district released financial updates from Policy Analytics estimating that its operations fund could run out by 2027 and saying it 'is facing unprecedented financial challenges' ^[31]. The district says SEA 1 has reduced the operations fund revenue it receives each year ^[32].
• Building plans (October 2025): the district decided not to pursue a capital (building) referendum for previously discussed facilities projects and turned to an operating referendum instead ^{[33, 32]}.
• Transportation (December 2025 - February 2026): in December 2025 residents spoke to the board against a possible resolution to cut the district's transportation program ^[34]. In January 2026 the board tabled the vote until all seven members could be present ^[35]. The Feb. 16, 2026 agenda included a resolution to terminate the transportation program ^[36], and the board voted unanimously in favor of cutting the program ^[37]. The district says that if the referendum fails, bus routes could be decreased or eliminated, walking zones could grow and ride times could get longer ^[32].
• Operating referendum (Nov. 3, 2026 ballot): on June 15, 2026, the board approved a resolution placing an operating referendum on the November ballot ^[38]. The district says the money would go to retaining and attracting teachers and staff, transportation, safe facilities, academic and extracurricular programs and operating costs, that Indiana law limits such a levy to eight years, and that it would cost about $250 a year for a home of median assessed value ^[32].
• Staffing (2026): at its July 27, 2026 meeting the board approved personnel changes including six resignations and 17 hires ^[39].
• 2027 budget (September 2026): the board held its public hearing on the 2027 budget, capital projects plan and bus replacement plan on Sept. 21, 2026. The same agenda included a bond lease hearing and resolutions on a lease and construction bids ^[40].
• Forums: this guide found no 2026 candidate forum or questionnaire for these races. The only contested race is the District 4 at-large race, with three candidates for two seats ^[6].

Grant Mississinewa Community School Board, District 2

Unopposed

Grant Mississinewa Community School Board, District 3

Unopposed

Grant Mississinewa Community School Board, District 4 At Large

3 candidates · 2 seats · Vote for up to 2.

On the same ballot

• Mississinewa Community Schools operating referendum

  School referendum · Mississinewa Community School Corporation (Mississinewa Community Schools, MCSC)

  The district's first operating referendum request: up to $0.495 per $100 and $2 million a year for 8 years.

Key points

• Budget and the 2025 property-tax law: in fall 2025 the district released financial updates from Policy Analytics estimating that its operations fund could run out by 2027 and saying it 'is facing unprecedented financial challenges'. (Chronicle-Tribune)
• Building plans (October 2025): the district decided not to pursue a capital (building) referendum for previously discussed facilities projects and turned to an operating referendum instead. (Chronicle-Tribune)
• Operating referendum (Nov. 3, 2026 ballot): on June 15, 2026, the board approved a resolution placing an operating referendum on the November ballot. (Chronicle-Tribune)

Sources