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2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Marion Warren School Board

3 seats on the MSD Warren Township's board are on this year's ballot, with 6 names on them. 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.

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 MSD Warren Township

  • The Metropolitan School District of Warren Township serves about 11,500 students on Indianapolis' far east side [24]. In 2025-26 it ran one high school, three intermediate-middle schools (grades 5-8) and nine elementary schools [25, 26]. In 2023-24, about 55% of students were Black, about 20% were Hispanic, and almost 70% came from low-income backgrounds [27]. Tim Hanson was identified as superintendent in 2023 coverage, and Mirror Indy quoted Hanson addressing the board in February 2026 [28, 25].
  • The board has seven members, all elected at large to overlapping four-year terms; voters may vote for candidates for every open seat [29, 24].
  • Three at-large seats are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot, and winners serve January 2027 through December 2030 [24]. The state candidate list also shows three seats [6].
  • The three seats now belong to board president Terri Amos, Rachel Burke and vice president Kevin Humphrey Sr., and all three are running again. Six candidates are running in all: the three incumbents and challengers Jerry Crites, Samantha Douglas and Steve Tutsie [24]. Tutsie is listed as an Independent; the other five did not declare a party [24, 6].
  • Fifth-grade move: in September 2025, administrators proposed moving fifth graders from the intermediate-middle schools back into the elementary schools for fall 2026 [26]. The board approved the plan Feb. 4, 2026, but delayed it to 2027-28 because elementary schools would be over capacity without additions. The plan adds four classrooms each at Lowell, Pleasant Run, Hawthorne and Grassy Creek elementaries for about $21 million, paid with bonds rather than a tax-increase request. Some elementary school assignments may change [25]. Candidates who answered the 2026 survey said they support the change [24].
  • Referendum and budget: Warren voters approved an eight-year, $88 million operating referendum in 2023 for transportation, technology, academic programs, safety and staff wages [27, 28]. The board's referendum spending plans total about $14.0 million for FY2026 (adopted March 19, 2025) and about $13.7 million for FY2027 (adopted March 24, 2026). In the FY2027 plan, the staff retention and support-staff line falls from $4.6 million to $3.5 million, and transportation rises from $3.3 million to about $4.5 million [30, 31]. Incumbents Amos and Humphrey named state funding and budget cuts as the most pressing issue [24].
  • Career education: Warren is using a $30 million Lilly Endowment grant to build career classrooms at every middle school, according to an associate superintendent [32].
  • Academics: in 2022, Warren had the lowest share of students passing both ILEARN math and English among Marion County districts (8%) [29]. Third-grade IREAD results rose nearly 12 percentage points in spring 2024 [27], and in 2026 board president Amos said more than 83% of third graders passed and that the district is now focused on ILEARN math [24].
  • Forums and differences: no 2026 candidate forum was found. Five of six candidates answered the Chalkbeat Indiana/Mirror Indy/WFYI survey; Burke did not respond [24]. The incumbents who answered pointed to state funding and budget cuts as the main challenge. Crites put feeding programs and a facilities review first, Douglas stressed keeping Warren families' first choice and community partnerships, and Tutsie focused on keeping and attracting middle school students [24].

Marion Warren Township School Board, At Large

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

Terri Amos

Nonpartisan

Incumbent and board president, first elected in 2014, seeking a fourth term without a party label; she teaches in another school district [24, 6].

Amos's background

  • Teacher in another school district [24].
  • Her three children attended Warren schools from kindergarten through 12th grade and have graduated; age 55 [24].
  • First elected in 2014; now board president [24]. WFYI reported in 2022 that she was a member of the Indiana School Boards Association [29].

Amos's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Called inadequate state funding the most pressing issue and would advocate with legislators and other districts for "a more equitable funding formula" [24].
  • Said any request for more money, such as a referendum, should rest on "a demonstrated need and a clear plan" [24].
  • Would put classroom instruction, student support services and competitive teacher pay first, and look for efficiencies [24].

Academics

  • Cited improved IREAD results (more than 83% of third graders passing) and said the focus is now ILEARN math; supports evidence-based instruction, teacher professional development and monitoring of achievement data [24].

Teachers & staff

  • Said low teacher pay makes recruiting and keeping educators difficult, and wants to keep salaries as competitive as possible [24].

Transparency & community input

  • Wants regular updates on board decisions and openness with residents about the district's financial challenges [24].

How Amos would run the office

  • Wants to work with legislators and other districts on state funding, and to plan staffing, space and programming for the fifth-grade move [24].

Amos on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member and president. She credits the district with steady achievement gains over the past three years and supports the planned fifth-grade transition, including leadership opportunities for fifth graders [24].

How Amos got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as Nonpartisan [6].
  • Seeking a fourth term [24].

What we could not find about Amos

  • No campaign website or social media page was found.
  • No record of her individual board votes was reviewed.
  • Marion County Election Board campaign finance filings were not reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • No endorsements or campaign finance figures were found in reviewed sources [24].

Sources for Amos

Rachel M Burke

Nonpartisan

Incumbent and former board president seeking a fourth term, running without a party label; she was elected in June 2026 as the National PTA's vice president of advocacy [24, 6].

Burke's background

  • Born and raised in Warren Township and attended district schools including Warren Central [24, 33].
  • Parent of three children who have attended district schools; has volunteered with robotics and Science Olympiad teams and parent-teacher groups [24].
  • Has served as board secretary, vice president and president [24]. In 2022 WFYI reported she had served two non-consecutive terms and was president of the Indiana PTA [29].
  • Elected National PTA vice president of advocacy in June 2026 [24].

Burke's positions

Academics

  • In 2022, said she wanted to prioritize educational equity by meeting the needs of all students, especially those who fell behind during the pandemic [29].

Facilities

  • Her campaign website, last updated in 2016-2018, lists "rebuilding and sustaining infrastructure" and public education as "the cornerstone of a productive democracy" among her issues [34].

Burke on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member and former president. She did not respond to the 2026 survey, so no 2026 account of the board's record from her was found [24].

How Burke got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as Nonpartisan [6].
  • Seeking a fourth term [24].

Burke's endorsements and funding

  • Her campaign website's issues page, created in 2016, says she was endorsed by the Indiana State AFL-CIO; no 2026 endorsement was confirmed [34].

What we could not find about Burke

  • Her campaign website appears to date from 2016-2018 and may not reflect her 2026 positions.
  • Her website lists "MSD Warren Township Board of Trustees 2013-2016"; her exact service dates were not confirmed in news sources.
  • No record of her board votes was reviewed.
  • Marion County Election Board campaign finance filings were not reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • No 2026 plans were found; she did not respond to multiple requests to complete the Chalkbeat/Mirror Indy/WFYI survey [24].

Burke's campaign website

Sources for Burke

Jerry Crites

Nonpartisan

First-time candidate and retired Warren Township schools facilities director, running without a party label [24, 6].

Crites's background

  • Retired facilities director for Warren Township schools [24].
  • Does not have students now enrolled in the district; age 62 [24].

Crites's positions

Academics

  • Wants to raise test scores through targeted instruction, tutoring and intervention, and clear progress monitoring [24].
  • Said the district should focus on technology and digital literacy, including coding, data literacy and responsible use of AI, "not just access to devices" [24].

Budget & taxes

  • Named federal cutbacks to feeding programs as the most pressing issue; would protect those programs in the district budget, partner with food banks and nonprofits, and lobby state and federal officials [24].
  • Would work with the board and chief financial officer to review spending, find efficiencies and stay accountable to taxpayers [24].

Teachers & staff

  • Supports competitive salaries and incentives for both certified and classified staff [24].

Facilities

  • Wants a thorough facility review that ranks repairs, safety upgrades and learning-space improvements by need [24].
  • For the fifth-grade move, would meet regularly with district officials to track construction progress and timelines [24].

Transparency & community input

  • Would respond directly to people who attend board meetings and make his contact information available on the district website [24].

How Crites would run the office

  • Wants to conduct a facilities evaluation and track renovation schedules for the fifth-grade transition [24].

Crites on the current officeholder

  • Did not criticize specific board decisions in his survey; he said elementary schools need an evaluation of space and capacity before the fifth-grade move [24].

How Crites got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as Nonpartisan [6].
  • Running for a first term [24].

What we could not find about Crites

  • No campaign website or social media page was found.
  • Marion County Election Board campaign finance filings were not reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • No news coverage beyond the Chalkbeat/Mirror Indy/WFYI survey was found.
  • No endorsements or campaign finance figures were found in reviewed sources [24].

Sources for Crites

Samantha Douglas

Nonpartisan

First-time candidate, president of the Far Eastside Community Council and a Warren parent, running without a party label [24, 6].

Douglas's background

  • President of the Far Eastside Community Council [24]. Her campaign site says she is also Community Builder for the Far Eastside Quality of Life Plan, a communications professional, and host of The Black Briefing Podcast [35].
  • Parent of students at Brookview Elementary, Stonybrook Intermediate and Middle School and Warren Central; a Warren graduate; age 36 [24, 35].

Douglas's positions

Enrollment & school choice

  • Called keeping Warren "the first choice for families" the most pressing issue, and said the district should focus on being innovative, supportive and connected rather than "competing out of fear" [24].

Academics

  • Wants strong literacy and math instruction alongside investment in STEM, the arts, and career and technical education [24].

Budget & taxes

  • Said every financial decision should start with how it improves student outcomes, and that "we can't simply cut our way to excellence"; supports partnerships that expand opportunities without burdening families [24].

Transparency & community input

  • Wants to make decisions "with the community, not just for the community," and to give residents information on issues before the board [24].
  • Wants more communication with families and fewer barriers to family engagement [35].

How Douglas would run the office

  • Wants to build partnerships among schools, families, nonprofits, businesses and neighborhood groups so schools serve as community hubs [24, 35].

Douglas on the current officeholder

  • Supports the board-approved fifth-grade transition and said she would ask questions and seek accountability during implementation [24].

How Douglas got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as Nonpartisan [6].
  • Running for a first term [24].

Douglas's endorsements and funding

  • Her campaign website takes online donations and volunteer sign-ups; no amounts raised or endorsements were found [35].

What we could not find about Douglas

  • Marion County Election Board campaign finance filings were not reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • No news coverage beyond the Chalkbeat/Mirror Indy/WFYI survey was found.

Douglas's campaign website

Sources for Douglas

Kevin S. Humphrey, Sr

Nonpartisan

Incumbent and board vice president, first elected in 2022; a Marine Corps veteran and retired postal worker running without a party label [24, 6].

Humphrey's background

  • Served in the U.S. Marine Corps and is a retired postal worker [24].
  • Longtime youth sports volunteer; age 64 [24]. In 2022 WFYI reported he had teaching experience and coached youth football [29].
  • First elected in 2022 and sworn in January 2023; now board vice president [24, 28].

Humphrey's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Named "the new budget cuts" as the most pressing issue and said the board "must work with legislators to reevaluate things" [24].
  • Said his approach to finances is "to stay fiscally disciplined" [24].

Academics

  • Named continued academic growth as a priority; said state policy and regulation changes "keep moving the goal post" [24].

Teachers & staff

  • Named increasing teacher salaries as a priority [24].

Enrollment & school choice

  • Named increasing enrollment (average daily membership) as a priority [24].

Facilities

  • Said space is being added for the fifth-grade move and that the board will give teachers who change buildings "all the support they need" [24].

How Humphrey would run the office

  • Wants to work with state legislators on school funding, raise teacher pay and grow enrollment [24].

Humphrey on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member and vice president. He supports the board-approved fifth-grade transition and described the space additions under way [24, 25].

How Humphrey got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as Nonpartisan [6].
  • Seeking a second term [24].

What we could not find about Humphrey

  • No campaign website or social media page was found; his survey answers were brief.
  • No record of his individual board votes was reviewed.
  • Marion County Election Board campaign finance filings were not reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • No endorsements or campaign finance figures were found in reviewed sources [24].

Sources for Humphrey

Steve (Coach) Tutsie

Independent

First-time candidate running as an Independent; an assistant head football coach at Marian University who previously coached at Warren Central [24, 6].

Tutsie's background

  • Assistant head football coach at Marian University; held multiple coaching stints at Warren Central, including the 2006 state championship team [24].
  • Cites 12 years of service in Warren Township schools and experience as an educator at elementary, middle and high school levels [24].
  • Has no family now attending Warren schools; age 60 [24].

Tutsie's positions

Enrollment & school choice

  • Named keeping and attracting middle school students as the most pressing issue; called the fifth-grade move "one vital strategy" and wants paths for student success explored [24].

Academics

  • Wants elementary reading and math gains to continue, better identification of each middle schooler's academic and extracurricular needs, and a high school focus on the new state graduation requirements [24].

Budget & taxes

  • Said the board "must be responsible stewards of taxpayers' dollars with accountability" [24].

Transparency & community input

  • Plans to attend as many school activities as possible and encourage feedback [24].

How Tutsie would run the office

  • Wants a middle school retention strategy built on the fifth-grade move and on identifying individual student needs [24].

Tutsie on the current officeholder

  • Supports the fifth-grade move; said the district should engage the affected teachers, parents and students to anticipate problems early [24].

How Tutsie got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as an Independent; the ballot name includes the nickname "Coach" [6].
  • Running for a first term [24].

What we could not find about Tutsie

  • His Facebook page could not be reviewed; positions come only from the Chalkbeat/Mirror Indy/WFYI survey.
  • Marion County Election Board campaign finance filings were not reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • No endorsements or campaign finance figures were found in reviewed sources [24].

Tutsie's campaign website

Sources for Tutsie

Key points

  • The board has seven members, all elected at large to overlapping four-year terms; voters may vote for candidates for every open seat. (WFYI / Chalkbeat Indiana)
  • Referendum and budget: Warren voters approved an eight-year, $88 million operating referendum in 2023 for transportation, technology, academic programs, safety and staff wages. (Chalkbeat Indiana / Mirror Indy)
  • Career education: Warren is using a $30 million Lilly Endowment grant to build career classrooms at every middle school, according to an associate superintendent. (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. Indiana school board candidates split 50-50 on affiliating with a party (WNDU)
  18. 5 takeaways from Chalkbeat's panel on Indiana's changes to school board elections and referendums (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  19. Confusion on partisan school board law puts two IPS candidates' spots at risk (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  20. 2026 Indiana Election Legislation Summary (Indiana Election Division)
  21. Indiana school referendum elections: Districts seek funding for teacher pay, class size, buses (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  22. Indiana school district referendum guide 2026: What to know about your district's requested tax increase (WFYI and Chalkbeat Indiana (via WVXU))
  23. Indiana charter schools could now have an easier path to acquiring district buildings (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  24. Warren Township school board voter guide 2026: Meet the 6 candidates (Chalkbeat Indiana / Mirror Indy / WFYI)
  25. Warren Township delays move of 5th graders into elementary schools (Mirror Indy)
  26. 'I'm so ready': Eastside parents embrace Warren school changes (Mirror Indy)
  27. Five candidates running for four seats on Warren Township school board (Chalkbeat Indiana / Mirror Indy)
  28. Warren Township school board to send $88 million referendum to voters (IndyStar (via Yahoo News))
  29. Four candidates are on the ballot for Warren Township's school board (WFYI / Chalkbeat Indiana)
  30. MSD Warren Township FY26 Referendum Spending Plan (MSD of Warren Township (Indiana Gateway fiscal ads))
  31. MSD Warren Township FY27 Referendum Spending Plan (MSD of Warren Township (Indiana Gateway fiscal ads))
  32. The Lilly Endowment is pouring millions into Indy school buildings. What does that mean for students? (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  33. About Rachel - Rachel Burke for Warren Township School Board (Rachel Burke campaign)
  34. Issues - Rachel Burke for Warren Township School Board (Rachel Burke campaign)
  35. Samantha For Warren (Samantha Douglas campaign)
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.