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2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Hamilton Carmel Clay School Board

3 seats on the Carmel Clay Schools's board are on this year's ballot, with 3 names on them, alongside a question for the same voters. Which seats appear on your ballot depends on where in the corporation you live.

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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]
What the law puts in this job (12)
  • Hires, evaluates and can dismiss the superintendent, and approves the hiring and firing of principals, teachers and other staff recommended by the superintendent [1, 7, 3].
  • Adopts the annual budget, appropriates funds and oversees school finances [1, 3].
  • Decides whether to ask voters to approve an operating referendum (an extra property tax levy); the board adopts the resolution and the Department of Local Government Finance reviews the ballot language for compliance with state law [8].
  • Approves contracts, buys and sells property, and decides on construction, repair and demolition of school buildings [1].
  • Bargains with the teachers' union over salary, wages and wage-related benefits such as health insurance and retirement; state law excludes teacher evaluation procedures from those bargaining subjects [9].
  • Writes and updates policies and rules for schools, often in a policy handbook, including the student handbook [1, 3].
  • Buys curricular materials, provides them to students without charge, and runs programs such as student transportation and school lunch [1].
  • Must adopt a process for parents and residents to ask that library material be removed as obscene or harmful to minors, review requests at public meetings and keep a public catalog of library materials [10].
  • Hears written appeals of student expulsions, unless the board has voted not to hear them [11].
  • Must take official action openly; Indiana's Open Door Law says public agencies' official action is to be conducted openly so the people may be fully informed [12, 13].
  • A school board member must have lived in the school corporation (and, for a district seat, the district) for at least one year before the election, and a teacher or other employee of the school corporation may not serve on its board [2].
  • What the board does not control: the State Board of Education adopts statewide academic standards [14], the General Assembly sets the state school funding formula in the state budget [15], and voucher (Choice Scholarship) eligibility is set by state law [16].

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

About Carmel Clay Schools

  • The district: Carmel Clay Schools serves Clay Township in Hamilton County [24]. It runs 11 elementary schools, three middle schools and Carmel High School [25]. State enrollment counts were 16,352 students in 2018-19 and 15,913 in 2025-26, a drop of about 2.7% [26].
  • The board: five members, all elected to four-year terms [27, 25]. The district lists Jon Shapiro (president, at-large seat), Kristin Kouka (vice president, District 1), Greg Brown (secretary, District 3), Kristina Wheeler (at-large seat) and Jennifer Cashin (District 2) [25].
  • Seats on the 2026 ballot: Districts 1, 2 and 3, one seat each, with one candidate in each race, so all three are uncontested [6]. Cashin, appointed to the District 2 seat in January 2026, is the only incumbent running [28, 25]. Kouka (District 1) and Brown (District 3) are not on the state list, so those seats will go to new members [6, 25].
  • District 2 vacancy: Jennifer Nelson-Williams, who had held the District 2 seat since October 2021, resigned effective at the end of 2025, and the board took applications from District 2 residents in December 2025 to fill the seat [29]. Cashin was appointed in January 2026 [28].
  • Party labels: Stephanie Flittner and Jennifer Cashin are listed as Republicans and Michele Kirby as a Democrat [6].
  • Referendum (Nov. 3 ballot): Carmel Clay asks voters to replace its two current referendum levies (the 2023 operating levy at $0.19 and the 2019 school safety levy at $0.05 per $100) with one eight-year operating levy of up to $0.4274 per $100 of assessed value and up to $61,981,519 a year for 2027-2034 [24, 30]. The state-required ballot language says the tax bill on a $500,000 median home would rise by $1,062 a year; that figure is calculated as if no referendum existed and at the full rate [24]. The district's 2027 spending plan estimates collections of $47.1 million, not the maximum, for school safety including school resource officers, retaining teachers and staff, and academic and support programs [31]. If voters say no, the 2023 operating levy continues through 2031 but the safety levy ends after 2027 [30]. See the referendum explainer on this ballot for details.
  • How the referendum came about: on June 24, 2026, with all five members present (Shapiro, Kouka, Brown, Wheeler and Cashin), the board adopted the referendum resolution and spending plan; the district says the vote was unanimous [32, 30]. The district says the request responds to revenue reductions tied to the 2025 property-tax law (SEA 1) and shifts in state funding formulas [30]. A Legislative Services Agency estimate put SEA 1's effect on Carmel Clay's net levy at -$5.35 million in 2026, -$8.24 million in 2027 and -$11.69 million in 2028 compared with prior law [33].
  • Forums: this guide found no 2026 candidate forum or questionnaire. Current in Carmel's coverage of the races could not be read for this profile (the site returned a bot-check page). Support CCS, a political action committee, endorsed all three candidates [28].

District 1

Unopposed

Stephanie Flittner

Republican

Attorney and Carmel Education Foundation board member running unopposed for the open District 1 seat; listed as a Republican [6, 34].

Flittner's background

  • Says she is an attorney and engineer who serves as Chief Legal Counsel, working on conservation, land management, regulatory compliance and public service matters [34].
  • Serves on the Carmel Education Foundation board and chairs its governance committee; is a graduate of the district's Expedition program for community members [34].
  • Past president of the Junior League of Indianapolis; serves on the board of Indiana Wish; has served on a PTO executive committee and volunteered in classrooms [34].
  • Says she moved to Carmel in 2019 and is a public school graduate [34].
  • Ran for the District 1 seat in 2022 [35].

Flittner's positions

Priorities

  • Lists her priorities as 'strong academics, safe and supportive schools, transparent communication, responsible financial stewardship, and meaningful parent involvement' [34].
  • Says parents 'should be respected as partners, teachers should be supported as professionals, and taxpayers should be able to trust that decisions are being made carefully and responsibly' [34].

Board governance

  • In a 2022 candidate column she wrote that she was 'troubled by the shift from education to politics' she saw nationally and listed transparency, strong academics, fiscal responsibility and safety as her platform [35].
  • In the same 2022 column she objected to slates of candidates backed by PACs and special-interest groups, writing that slate voting would 'contribute to groupthink on our school board' [35].

How Flittner would run the office

  • Says she wants to bring 'steady, practical, student-centered leadership' to the board [34].

How Flittner got on the ballot

  • Filed June 10, 2026 as a Republican [6].
  • Unopposed for the District 1 seat now held by Kristin Kouka, who is not on the ballot [6, 25].

Flittner's endorsements and funding

  • Endorsed by Support CCS, a political action committee that endorsed all three 2026 Carmel Clay candidates [28].
  • Her website names a campaign committee, Friends of Flittner; its finance reports were not reviewed [34].

What we could not find about Flittner

  • No statement from her on the November 2026 referendum was found.
  • The governance statements are from her 2022 campaign; no 2026 questionnaire or forum remarks were found.
  • Current in Carmel coverage could not be read (bot-check page).

Flittner's campaign website

Sources for Flittner

District 2

Unopposed

Jennifer Cashin

RepublicanIncumbent (who says so)

Incumbent appointed to the District 2 seat in January 2026, seeking her first full term unopposed; listed as a Republican [28, 6].

Cashin's background

  • Appointed to the board in January 2026 to fill the District 2 seat left by Jennifer Nelson-Williams [28, 29].
  • Says she works as an independent consultant after a career in data analytics and brand management, and holds an MBA from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst [36].
  • Lists her school-related service as Carmel Education Foundation committees, the Clay Center Elementary PTO executive committee, founding member and vice president of Greyhound Council (a district-wide parent council), chair of Support CCS (a political action committee) and committee member of Yes for CCS (the 2023 operating referendum committee) [36]. Support CCS says she chaired it from 2024 to 2025 [28].

Cashin's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Cites 'the projected $9+ million revenue decrease from Senate Enrolled Act 1' and says she will prioritize 'protecting classroom resources, supporting teachers, and investing in programs' with 'a balanced, practical approach to budgeting' [37].

Teachers & staff

  • Says the district must 'continue to attract and retain exceptional educators by offering competitive pay, strong professional development, and a culture of respect and collaboration' [37].

Safety

  • Says every child's ability to learn 'begins with feeling safe and supported' [37].

Academics

  • Points to AP and dual-credit courses, the Carmel High School Polytechnic program and extracurriculars, and says the district 'must continue to offer diverse opportunities' for college-bound and career-focused students [37].

Community engagement

  • Commits to 'open, two-way communication and transparent decision-making processes' and, with 'challenges like redistricting on the horizon', to community forums and digital platforms for dialogue [37].

Cashin on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member. She was among the five members present on June 24, 2026 when the board adopted the referendum resolution; the district says the vote was unanimous [32, 30].

How Cashin got on the ballot

  • Filed June 11, 2026 as a Republican [6].
  • Unopposed [6].

Cashin's endorsements and funding

  • Endorsed by Support CCS, the political action committee she formerly chaired [28, 36].
  • Campaign finance reports were not reviewed.

What we could not find about Cashin

  • Her platform page does not address the 2026 referendum question directly.
  • Coverage of her January 2026 appointment in Current in Carmel could not be read (bot-check page); the board's appointment vote was not confirmed from a readable source.
  • No forum remarks or questionnaire were found.

Cashin's campaign website

Sources for Cashin

District 3

Unopposed

Michele L. Kirby

Democratic

Registered nurse and PTO volunteer running unopposed for the open District 3 seat; listed as a Democrat [28, 6].

Kirby's background

  • A registered nurse with IU Health's Nursing Professional Development program, according to Support CCS [28].
  • Has held PTO leadership and fundraising roles at Forest Dale Elementary and Carmel Middle School and co-founded Greyhound Council, a district-wide parent council, according to Support CCS [28].

How Kirby got on the ballot

  • Filed June 18, 2026 as a Democrat [6].
  • Unopposed for the District 3 seat now held by Greg Brown, who is not on the ballot [6, 25].

Kirby's endorsements and funding

  • Endorsed by Support CCS, a political action committee [28].
  • Campaign finance reports were not reviewed.

What we could not find about Kirby

  • No campaign website, questionnaire, forum remarks or public statement of positions was found; her background here comes from the endorsing PAC's announcement.
  • Current in Carmel coverage could not be read (bot-check page).

Sources for Kirby

On the same ballot

  • Carmel Clay Schools operating referendum

    School referendum · Carmel Clay Schools

    Replace both current levies (2023 operating at $0.19 and 2019 safety at $0.05) with one of up to $0.4274 per $100 and $62 million a year for 8 years. Ballot: +$1,062 a year for a $500,000 median home.

Key points

  • Also on this ballot for the same district: Carmel Clay Schools operating referendum. Replace both current levies (2023 operating at $0.19 and 2019 safety at $0.05) with one of up to $0.4274 per $100 and $62 million a year for 8 years. Ballot: +$1,062 a year for a $500,000 median home. (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance)
  • The district: Carmel Clay Schools serves Clay Township in Hamilton County. It runs 11 elementary schools, three middle schools and Carmel High School. State enrollment counts were 16,352 students in 2018-19 and 15,913 in 2025-26, a drop of about 2.7%. (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance)
  • The board: five members, all elected to four-year terms. (Carmel Clay Schools)

Sources

Researched Sunday, October 11, 2026

  1. Indiana Code 20-26-5-4: Specific powers of governing body (FindLaw (Indiana Code, current as of 2026-01-01))
  2. 2026 Indiana Candidate Guide (School Board Offices) (Indiana Election Division)
  3. 800 school board seats are up for election in Indiana (Chalkbeat Indiana / WFYI)
  4. Why there are no education elections on your primary ballot (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  5. Indiana Code 20-26-4-7: Compensation of governing body members (FindLaw (Indiana Code, current as of 2026-01-01))
  6. 2026 General Election Candidate List (Indiana Election Division)
  7. Indiana Code 20-26-5-4.5: Selection and discharge of employees (FindLaw (Indiana Code, current as of 2026-01-01))
  8. School Tax Levy Referendum (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance)
  9. Indiana Code 20-29-6-4: Subjects of collective bargaining (FindLaw (Indiana Code, current as of 2026-01-01))
  10. Obscene, or just objectionable? Here's how Indiana schools are tackling library book complaints (Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism / Indiana Capital Chronicle)
  11. Indiana Code 20-33-8-19: Expulsion appeals (FindLaw (Indiana Code))
  12. Indiana Code 5-14-1.5-1: Open Door Law policy (FindLaw (Indiana Code, current as of 2026-01-01))
  13. What We Do (Indiana Public Access Counselor)
  14. Indiana Code 20-31-3-1: State academic standards (FindLaw (Indiana Code, current as of 2026-01-01))
  15. Indiana K-12 State Tuition Support Annual Report FY2023 (Indiana Department of Education)
  16. Indiana lawmakers expand voucher eligibility, increase school funding in budget (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  17. 26-030 Carmel Clay Schools Operating: Findings and Final Determination on Proposed Question (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance)
  18. Board Members (Carmel Clay Schools)
  19. Corporation Enrollment by Grade Level, 2006-26 (Indiana Department of Education)
  20. About the Board (Carmel Clay Schools)
  21. Support CCS announces three endorsements in Carmel Clay School Board 2026 elections (submitted by Support CCS) (The Reporter)
  22. Jennifer Nelson-Williams Announces Resignation from Carmel Clay School Board (Carmel Clay Schools)
  23. Referendums (School Finance page) (Carmel Clay Schools)
  24. 26-030 Carmel Clay Schools Operating: Revenue Spending Plan (Carmel Clay Schools via DLGF)
  25. 26-030 Carmel Clay Schools Operating: Documentation (June 24, 2026 minutes excerpt, resolution, certification) (Carmel Clay Schools via DLGF)
  26. SB 1 Estimated Net Levies by unit, changes from baseline (LSA supplemental report) (Legislative Services Agency)
  27. Meet Stephanie (Stephanie Flittner for Carmel Clay School Board (campaign site))
  28. Why I'm Running for Carmel School Board (candidate column by Stephanie Flittner) (IndyPolitics.org)
  29. Meet Cashin (Jennifer Cashin for CCS (campaign site))
  30. Platform (Jennifer Cashin for CCS (campaign site))
What's included
the U.S. House, statewide offices, every Indiana House and Senate district on the ballot, Indiana's statewide public questions and judicial retention questions, and county, township, city, town and school board races from the Indiana Election Division's candidate list.
Everything else
Local races (county, city, school board, judges) and anything else on your ballot are on your official sample ballot: IndianaVoters.in.gov.
Candidate lists
As of Sunday, October 18, 2026.
At the polls
Indiana law lets you bring a list of candidates and public questions into the polling place, including one stored on your phone, as long as you don't electioneer. IC 3-11-8-18.5

This is not an official ballot. Confirm your registration, polling place and ballot with your election office through vote.gov.