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2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Marion Decatur School Board

3 seats on the MSD Decatur Township's board are on this year's ballot, with 8 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 MSD Decatur Township

  • The Metropolitan School District (MSD) of Decatur Township serves Decatur Township on the southwest side of Marion County (Indianapolis) and enrolled roughly 6,500 students last year [24, 25]. Chalkbeat reported in 2024 that nearly 72% of students come from low-income households [26]. The superintendent is Scott Collins, who started in July 2024 after leading Fayette County Schools [26, 25].
  • The board has five members, all elected at large by voters throughout the district [24, 26].
  • Seat count: three at-large seats are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot, and the top three vote-getters win; new members serve through 2030 [24, 27]. This matches the state candidate list's "vote for 3" [6].
  • Incumbents: the three seats are held by Judith Collins, Dale Henson and Chase Lyday, all Republicans seeking reelection; Chalkbeat reported that Collins and Henson have each served about two decades and Lyday since 2023 [24]. The other two members, Larry Taylor and Estella Vandeventer, were reelected unopposed in 2024 to terms through 2028 [26]. A Mirror Indy Documenters agency page lists Henson as board president, Lyday as vice president and Collins as secretary [28].
  • Field: eight candidates, the second-largest field in Marion County: four with no party, three Republicans and one independent [24, 29]. School board races are not part of straight-ticket voting [29].
  • Budget and property taxes: district leaders anticipated $3 million less in property taxes in 2026 because of the state's 2025 property tax changes [25]. In June 2026 the district announced new school start and end times, moving from six bell schedules to three to cut bus routes and save on a roughly $6.7 million transportation budget; more than 70% of students ride the bus daily [25].
  • Referendum: the board placed an operating referendum on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot that would repeal the levy voters approved in 2019 and replace it with a new eight-year levy of up to $0.2690 per $100 of assessed value (maximum $9 million a year) for student transportation, utilities, school safety and security, building maintenance and support services. The state-approved ballot language says the tax bill on a median $250,000 home would increase by $306 a year if approved [30]. The current rate is roughly 29 cents [25]; Chalkbeat described the measure as replacing the existing rate with a lower one, while still a tax increase from the base amount through 2034 [24]. Superintendent Collins said without referendum funds the district would have to consider busing changes such as walk zones and cutting after-school buses [25].
  • State law passed in 2026 requires public school districts to share more property tax revenue with charter schools, which Chalkbeat reported could make referendums harder to pass [31].
  • Forums: no 2026 candidate forum for this district was found. The Chalkbeat Indiana / Mirror Indy / WFYI survey published Sept. 11, 2026 is the main source of candidate positions; Teresa A. Burns, Judith Collins, Steve Jacobi and Kristyn D. Stoddard did not respond to it [24].
  • Points of difference among survey respondents: Berryman, Henson and Lyday said they support the referendum, while Johnson said it deserves careful consideration rather than a yes-or-no answer; Berryman raised concerns about the new school start times, while Henson and Lyday cited the change as a cost saving; Berryman named academic underperformance relative to neighboring districts as the top issue, while Henson and Lyday emphasized literacy and funding pressures [24].

Marion Decatur Township School Board, At Large

8 candidates · 3 seats

Randi Berryman

Nonpartisan

Scientist running with no party affiliation, focused on academic performance and budget review [24].

Berryman's background

  • Age 42; holds a bachelor of science degree and works as a scientist [24].
  • Has a child who does not attend a district school [24].

Berryman's positions

Academics

  • Called underperformance the district's most pressing issue, saying Decatur is falling behind neighboring districts; wants to focus on math, science and language arts and review curriculum against top-performing districts [24].

Budget & taxes

  • Supports the referendum, but said funding must be paired with a clear plan for how dollars improve student outcomes and teacher salaries [24].
  • Would conduct a budget review across departments, compare spending with other districts, and scrutinize administrative overhead and vendor contracts [24].

Transparency & community input

  • Plans regular listening sessions, input channels for parents, teachers, staff and students, and public reporting back [24].

How Berryman would run the office

  • Budget analysis and reallocation toward classrooms, curriculum review, and data-driven decision-making [24].

Berryman on the current officeholder

  • Expressed "serious concerns" about the district's new school start times, citing research on age-appropriate schedules and student health [24].

How Berryman got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as Nonpartisan [6, 24].

What we could not find about Berryman

  • No endorsements or campaign finance reports were found; fundraising is unknown.
  • No campaign website or coverage beyond the Chalkbeat/Mirror Indy/WFYI survey was found.

Sources for Berryman

Teresa A. Burns

Nonpartisan

Candidate running with no party affiliation; did not respond to the Chalkbeat survey [24].

How Burns got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as Nonpartisan [6, 24].

What we could not find about Burns

  • Did not respond to multiple requests to complete the Chalkbeat/Mirror Indy/WFYI survey.
  • No background, positions, website, endorsements or campaign finance information was found in reviewed sources.

Sources for Burns

Judith Collins

Republican

Incumbent board member for about two decades, running as a Republican; did not respond to the Chalkbeat survey [24].

Collins's background

  • Chalkbeat reported she has served on the board for two decades [24]. A Mirror Indy Documenters page lists her as board secretary [28].

Collins on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member. No statement of her account of the board's record was found [24].

How Collins got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Republican [6, 24].
  • Received the most votes in the 2022 at-large race, 2,991 [27].

What we could not find about Collins

  • Did not respond to multiple requests to complete the Chalkbeat/Mirror Indy/WFYI survey; no stated 2026 positions were found, including on the referendum.
  • No occupation or other background was found.
  • No campaign website, endorsements or campaign finance reports were found.
  • No record of her individual board votes was reviewed.

Sources for Collins

Dale Henson

Republican

Incumbent board member for about two decades, running as a Republican; retired Decatur Township fire chief [24].

Henson's background

  • Age 69; graduate of Decatur Central High School and the National Fire Academy; does not have children in district schools [24].
  • Retired as Decatur Township's fire chief in 2014 after 35 years, and was executive director of the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association [24].

Henson's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Supports the referendum, citing legislative changes to school funding and a $3 million reduction in 2026 [24].
  • Said the new start times will cut fuel costs, and that Decatur was the only Marion County school corporation to reduce its total 2026 budget, by half a million dollars [24].

Academics

  • Goals: keep the graduation rate at 95% or higher (he cited 97.48% in 2025), meet the state average on IREAD-3 with a goal of 95%, and raise ILEARN language arts and math scores by 3% [24].
  • Called reading the district's top academic focus [24].

School safety

  • Listed being safety-conscious for students and staff among the most pressing issues [24].

Transparency & community input

  • Said he has always been open to listening to community members and attends many district events besides monthly meetings [24].

How Henson would run the office

  • Meet stated graduation, IREAD and ILEARN targets and pass the referendum [24].

Henson on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member. Cites the 2025 graduation rate, the 2026 budget reduction and the start-time change as evidence of the board's fiscal responsibility [24].

How Henson got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Republican [6, 24].
  • Reelected in 2022 with 2,899 votes, second among four candidates for three seats [27].

What we could not find about Henson

  • No endorsements or campaign finance reports were found; fundraising is unknown.
  • No campaign website was found.

Sources for Henson

Steve Jacobi

Nonpartisan

Candidate running with no party affiliation; did not respond to the Chalkbeat survey [24].

How Jacobi got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as Nonpartisan [6, 24].

What we could not find about Jacobi

  • Did not respond to multiple requests to complete the Chalkbeat/Mirror Indy/WFYI survey.
  • No background, positions, website, endorsements or campaign finance information was found in reviewed sources.

Sources for Jacobi

Patrice Johnson

Nonpartisan

Community service provider and district parent running with no party affiliation [24].

Johnson's background

  • Age 36; holds a bachelor of science in public health education and works as a community service provider [24].
  • Her daughter graduated from Decatur Central High School; her son attends school online [24].

Johnson's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Said the referendum "deserves thoughtful consideration rather than a simple yes or no answer," and that taxpayers should know why more money is requested, how it would be spent, what accountability would apply and what alternatives were explored [24].
  • Proposed reviewing operating expenses, contracts and vendor agreements, pursuing grants and partnerships, and aligning programs with measurable outcomes before asking taxpayers for more [24].

Academics

  • Wants to strengthen reading and math, use achievement data to identify struggling students, and support advanced coursework [24].

Transparency & community input

  • Lists transparency as a top priority; said the district must rebuild trust and explain why decisions are made, and plans regular communication through events and social media [24].

How Johnson would run the office

  • Review spending and contracts, hold the district accountable for measurable results, and communicate regularly with families [24].

Johnson on the current officeholder

  • Called rebuilding trust while balancing financial pressures one of the district's biggest challenges, saying families want to know why decisions are made [24].

How Johnson got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as Nonpartisan [6, 24].

What we could not find about Johnson

  • No endorsements or campaign finance reports were found; fundraising is unknown.
  • No coverage beyond the Chalkbeat/Mirror Indy/WFYI survey was found; her campaign Facebook page could not be reviewed.

Johnson's campaign website

Sources for Johnson

Chase Lyday

Republican

Incumbent board member since 2023, running as a Republican; former police chief for Avon Community Schools [24].

Lyday's background

  • Age 39; graduated from Decatur Central High School and attended Ivy Tech Community College; has no children in the district [24].
  • Previously served as police chief for Avon Community Schools [24].

Lyday's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Supports the referendum, saying it is needed to continue services such as mental health support, school resource officers and child nutrition workers [24].
  • Listed solidifying fiscal plans in light of the deficit created by tax code changes as a priority, and wants data to drive spending decisions and more outside grants and local partnerships [24].

School safety

  • Lists continuing a comprehensive approach to school safety as a top priority [24].

Academics

  • Wants substantial resources focused on early elementary students reading at grade level and passing IREAD, and literacy resources for older students [24].

Teachers & staff

  • Called taking care of teachers and funding literacy specialists, mental health counselors, school resource officers and coaches the most pressing issue [24].

Transparency & community input

  • Said he meets community members for coffee and lunch, takes calls at all hours, and routes concerns to administrators and follows up [24].

How Lyday would run the office

  • Pass the referendum, continue the safety program, raise early literacy scores and pursue grants and partnerships [24].

Lyday on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member. Said the district has done "an excellent job" saving money and executing an efficient spending plan [24].

How Lyday got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Republican [6, 24].
  • Won his seat in 2022 as "Steven Chase Lyday" by a single vote, 2,540 to 2,539, over Jimmy Ray for the third at-large seat; no recount was requested [27].

What we could not find about Lyday

  • No endorsements or campaign finance reports were found; fundraising is unknown.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • No record of his individual board votes was reviewed. The board officer roles listed on the Documenters page are undated.

Sources for Lyday

Kristyn D. Stoddard

Independent

Candidate running as an independent; did not respond to the Chalkbeat survey [24].

How Stoddard got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as Independent [6, 24].

What we could not find about Stoddard

  • Did not respond to multiple requests to complete the Chalkbeat/Mirror Indy/WFYI survey.
  • No background, positions, website, endorsements or campaign finance information was found in reviewed sources.
  • Whether she has run for office before was not determined.

Sources for Stoddard

On the same ballot

  • Decatur Township schools operating referendum

    School referendum · Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township

    Repeal the 2019 levy (max $0.289) and replace it with one of up to $0.269 per $100 and $9 million a year for 8 years. Ballot: +$306 a year for a $250,000 median home, counted as if no levy existed.

Key points

  • Also on this ballot for the same district: Decatur Township schools operating referendum. Repeal the 2019 levy (max $0.289) and replace it with one of up to $0.269 per $100 and $9 million a year for 8 years. Ballot: +$306 a year for a $250,000 median home, counted as if no levy existed. (Indiana DLGF)
  • Budget and property taxes: district leaders anticipated $3 million less in property taxes in 2026 because of the state's 2025 property tax changes. (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  • State law passed in 2026 requires public school districts to share more property tax revenue with charter schools, which Chalkbeat reported could make referendums harder to pass. (Chalkbeat Indiana)

Sources

Researched Saturday, October 10, 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. Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township: School board election voter guide (Chalkbeat Indiana / Mirror Indy / WFYI)
  18. Why this Indianapolis-area district is changing the start and end times for school days (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  19. Decatur Township school board election: Who's running and how to vote (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  20. Marion County school board election winners 2022 (WFYI)
  21. Decatur Township School Board (agency page) (Documenters Network / Mirror Indy)
  22. Voter guide: 2026 school board elections across Indianapolis (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  23. Findings and Final Determination on Proposed Question, No. 26-039-REF (MSD of Decatur Township) (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance)
  24. 5 takeaways from Chalkbeat's panel on Indiana's changes to school board elections and referendums (Chalkbeat Indiana)
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.