Johnson Greenwood 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 Greenwood Community Sch Corp

• Greenwood Community School Corporation serves the city of Greenwood in Johnson County; Dr. Terry Terhune is superintendent ^[24]. A current enrollment figure could not be confirmed in the sources reviewed.
• Board: at the Sept. 16, 2025 meeting, Chad Shaffer presided as board president, with Peggy Daeger, Jack Napier and Lori Feller present and Sheila Martin listed as the board's Central Nine Career Center representative ^[24]. The board's size and current officers could not be confirmed from the district website.
• Seats on the 2026 ballot: the Johnson County election office lists one District 2 seat and two at-large seats, each for a four-year term ^[25]. Napier is the only District 2 candidate, so that race is uncontested; Shaffer, Laura Chisholm and Feller are running for the two at-large seats ^[6]. Napier, Shaffer and Feller are current board members ^[24]; BallotReady also lists Feller as a current at-large member ^[26].
• 2022 results: Mike Metzger (2,846 votes) and Chad Shaffer (1,787) won the two at-large seats over Peggy Daeger (1,733) and Brian Ford (1,628), and Napier was unopposed in District 2 ^[27].
• Party labels: on the state list, Shaffer and Feller are Republican, and Napier and Chisholm are Nonpartisan ^[6].
• Budget and finances: at the Sept. 16, 2025 meeting, the chief financial officer held public hearings on the 2026 budget and the bus and capital plans. She told the board that incoming student transfers account for about $5.5 million in revenue and are one reason the district has kept its financial footing ^[24]. That meeting also approved higher substitute-teacher pricing to stay competitive with neighboring districts ^[24].
• Other 2025 actions: the board approved the 2026–27 calendar, which was aligned with Central Nine Career Center's, and renewed its agreement with Adult and Child Services as school-based provider, which serves about 7% of students. The technology director reported that a Verkada building-security system was in place ^[24].
• Forums: no 2026 Greenwood candidate forum, questionnaire or candidate website was found. Local coverage (Daily Journal) could not be reviewed for this profile.

Johnson Greenwood Community School Board, District 2

Unopposed

Johnson Greenwood Community School Board, At Large

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

Key points

• Greenwood Community School Corporation serves the city of Greenwood in Johnson County; Dr. Terry Terhune is superintendent. A current enrollment figure could not be confirmed in the sources reviewed. (Greenwood Community School Corporation)
• Board: at the Sept. 16, 2025 meeting, Chad Shaffer presided as board president, with Peggy Daeger, Jack Napier and Lori Feller present and Sheila Martin listed as the board's Central Nine Career Center representative. (Greenwood Community School Corporation)
• Budget and finances: at the Sept. 16, 2025 meeting, the chief financial officer held public hearings on the 2026 budget and the bus and capital plans. (Greenwood Community School Corporation)
• Seats on the 2026 ballot: the Johnson County election office lists one District 2 seat and two at-large seats, each for a four-year term. (Johnson County Election Office)

Sources