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2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Richmond School Board

3 seats on the Richmond Community Schools'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 Richmond Community Schools

  • Richmond Community Schools (RCS) serves Richmond in Wayne County and is governed by an elected seven-member Board of School Trustees [24]. Its schools include Richmond High School, Dennis Middle, Test Intermediate, the Hibberd Program Building and six elementary schools, plus the Richmond Area Career Center [25]. The superintendent is Curtis Wright [26, 27]. A local radio report said 2025–26 enrollment fell by 21 students from the year before, with a senior class of 302 [28]; this guide did not find a confirmed district-wide enrollment total.
  • Seats on the 2026 ballot: two at-large seats and District 3, which covers much of the city's west side [29, 30]. The state list shows the at-large race electing two members from five candidates, matching Western Wayne News and the county election guide [6, 30, 31].
  • District 3: incumbent Kristen Brunton is the only candidate [30]. At large: incumbents Michael Elorreaga and Kimberly Brown Pickering are running against Bruce A. Laudermilk, Tevin Roger Thomas and Roderick 'Rod' Weiss [32]. Both at-large incumbents were appointed: Pickering in September 2023 to replace Stacy Mopps, with a term ending in December 2026 [33], and Elorreaga in November 2024 after at-large member Peter Zaleski resigned [34, 35]. Joyce Downing Mopps, an Independent, withdrew from the at-large race on July 13, 2026 [32].
  • Budget and staffing (2025–2026): in October 2025 the district projected losses from state tax changes of $584,000 in 2026, $630,500 in 2027 and $556,010 in 2028 [36]. In April 2026 an assistant superintendent projected a $2,024,436.10 shortfall in the education fund by December 2026, and the superintendent said 22 teaching positions still needed to be cut; the board asked administrators to look for savings that keep music, art and physical education [27]. On June 29, 2026 the board voted 4–2 to approve a reduction in force of 23 positions, 19 staff and four administrative roles, which the article attributed to state legislation limiting property tax income [37].
  • Strategic and facilities plan (February 2026): the board approved a 2026–2030 strategic plan that would move the preschool center to the former Baxter Elementary, return fifth graders to elementary buildings in 2027–28 and could lead to decommissioning the Hibberd Program Building; Pickering voted no [38]. In January 2026 the board approved advertising for bids on Richmond High School renovation projects [39].
  • Academics (2025–2026): principals reported gains on i-Ready reading and math measures at several elementary schools in June 2026 [26]. State data show 2025 ILEARN proficiency at Starr Elementary of 18.5% in English and 30.4% in math [40].
  • Forums and questionnaires: Western Wayne News published questionnaire answers from Elorreaga, Laudermilk, Pickering and Weiss; Thomas did not submit one [31]. This guide found no 2026 candidate forum for this race.
  • Key differences (from the questionnaires): Weiss puts test scores and winning back students who left first and calls for a change in leadership; Laudermilk and Elorreaga emphasize transparency, spending reviews and earlier public input; Pickering emphasizes financial stability, teacher support and career pathways [41, 42, 43, 44].

Richmond Community School Board, District 3

Unopposed

Kristen R Brunton

Nonpartisan

Incumbent running unopposed for District 3 [30].

Brunton's background

  • Former RCS teacher who teaches a course at IU East on integrating the arts in education, per Western Wayne News [27].
  • Has represented District 3 since at least 2022, when she was reelected unopposed [45]. She was board president in 2024 and is policy chair in 2026 [46, 39].

Brunton's positions

Budget & taxes

  • At the April 2026 meeting, cited declining enrollment, rising costs and the 2025 property-tax law SEA 1 as causes of the budget gap, and said doing nothing to cut costs was not an option [27].
  • Moved to approve the June 2026 reduction in force, calling the decision 'incredibly difficult' and saying it was needed so the district 'remains fiscally sound' [37].

Teachers & staff

  • Said in April 2026 she hoped for smaller cuts spread more widely, starting at the administrative level [27].
  • Voted against a staff outside-activities policy in June 2026, citing liability concerns; it passed 6–1 [26].

Brunton on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member. Said in June 2026 that the staff reductions were needed so RCS 'continues to offer excellent education' [37].

How Brunton got on the ballot

  • Filed by petition and is listed as Nonpartisan [30, 6].

What we could not find about Brunton

  • Did not appear in the Western Wayne News questionnaire series for contested races; no 2026 campaign statements, website or social media were found.
  • Her current occupation beyond teaching an IU East course could not be confirmed.
  • No endorsements or campaign finance reports were found.

Sources for Brunton

Richmond Community School Board, At Large

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

Michael David Elorreaga

Nonpartisan

Incumbent appointed in November 2024 and board secretary in 2026, seeking his first full term [34, 39].

Elorreaga's background

  • Works at Indiana Farm Bureau Insurance in Richmond [43, 34].
  • Richmond High School graduate (1999) with a business degree from Earlham College and a master's from IU East [43].
  • Has served on Reid Health's finance committee, the Amigos board and IU East's School of Business advisory board [34].
  • Parent of students in the district [34].

Elorreaga's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Lists fiscal responsibility and close budget oversight as a top priority; proposes a line-by-line audit of operations to cut redundancies and utility costs, public-private partnerships and sponsorships, and grants [43].

Teachers & staff

  • Wants updated tools and staff retention and says frontline teachers and staff are what is working well [43].
  • Voted against the June 2026 reduction in force and opposed eliminating the chief of operations position, saying, 'Districts our size do not eliminate that role' [37].

Academics

  • Said in April 2026 that many students find where they belong through the creative arts [27].
  • Listed early childhood education, trade and workforce pathways, aging facilities and attendance as priorities when appointed in 2024 [34].

Transparency & community input

  • Wants earlier, clearer communication on long-term plans, proposing a monthly digital newsletter or public advisory committee, listening sessions at libraries and parks, and short online surveys on major decisions [43].

How Elorreaga would run the office

  • Says he will accept the certified results [43].

Elorreaga on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member. Says communication about long-term planning and major policy shifts should come earlier [43].

How Elorreaga got on the ballot

  • Filed by petition and is listed as Nonpartisan [30, 6].

What we could not find about Elorreaga

  • No website or social media campaign pages were found.
  • Western Wayne News lists his middle name as 'Davis' in one article; the state list shows 'David'.
  • No endorsements or campaign finance reports were found.

Sources for Elorreaga

Bruce A Laudermilk

Nonpartisan

Middle school administrator and former RCS teacher and assistant principal running for an at-large seat [42].

Laudermilk's background

  • Taught science at Test Intermediate School from 2004 to 2018 and was assistant principal at Dennis Middle School from 2018 to 2022; has worked in administration at Eaton Middle School since 2022 [42].
  • Holds bachelor's and master's degrees in education from IU East and a school leadership certification from Ball State [42].
  • Ran for an at-large seat in 2022 and finished fourth of 10 candidates [45].

Laudermilk's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Lists stabilizing the district's finances among his top priorities and proposes protecting classroom resources, reviewing spending and contracts, pursuing grants and multi-year financial planning with public budget information [42].

Academics

  • Says course offerings and graduation pathways, including the STEAM program and applied skills courses, are working well, though access has narrowed because of state funding cuts [42].

Transparency & community input

  • Wants to improve trust and communication among the board, administration and community through community forums, clearer explanations of decisions and spending, surveys and listening sessions, and earlier chances for feedback [42].

How Laudermilk would run the office

  • Would hold forums and listening sessions and report how public input shaped decisions [42].
  • Says he will accept the election results [42].

Laudermilk on the current officeholder

  • Says some past strengths of the district have been lost and should be restored, and that trust and communication between the board, administration and community need to change [42].

How Laudermilk got on the ballot

  • Filed by petition; the state list shows him as Nonpartisan, while Western Wayne News lists him as Independent [6, 31].

What we could not find about Laudermilk

  • Party label differs between sources: Nonpartisan on the state list, Independent in Western Wayne News.
  • No website, social media or forum appearances were found.
  • No endorsements or campaign finance reports were found.

Sources for Laudermilk

Kimberly Brown Pickering

Nonpartisan

Incumbent appointed in 2023 and board president in 2025, seeking her first full term [33, 46].

Pickering's background

  • Senior HRIS (human resources information systems) manager at Odyssey Consulting [44].
  • Richmond High School graduate (1997) and parent of four RCS students [33, 27].
  • Was appointed in September 2023 to fill an at-large vacancy, with a term ending in December 2026, and served as board president in 2025 [33, 46].

Pickering's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Lists stability despite state funding pressure as a top priority, and proposes both new revenue and cost cuts; points to a 2025 education foundation fund she helped set up with the Wayne County Foundation and to energy audits she requested [44].
  • Objected in February 2026 to added personnel costs in the strategic plan, such as an expanded marketing role, during financial challenges [38].

Teachers & staff

  • Lists giving teachers the tools and support they need as a top priority [44].
  • Voted against the June 2026 reduction in force and moved to vote separately on eliminating the chief of operations position, which failed 3–2 [37].

Academics

  • Wants to expand real-world skills and post-high-school pathways and to grow the STEAM program at the Hibberd building [44].
  • At the April 2026 meeting on arts and PE staffing, said she was disappointed in the proposed solution [27].

Transparency & community input

  • Proposes listen-and-learn forums and anonymous surveys before votes that affect staff or students [44].

How Pickering would run the office

  • Would bring back open forums and anonymous surveys [44].
  • Says she will support any board member who is elected [44].

Pickering on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member. Voted against the 2026–2030 strategic plan, citing concerns about accountability and how the board will track progress [38]. Says communication among the board, teachers, staff, parents and students needs to improve [44].

How Pickering got on the ballot

  • Filed by petition and is listed as Nonpartisan [30, 6].

What we could not find about Pickering

  • No website or social media campaign pages were found.
  • Her 2023 appointment coverage listed a different employer (Air Methods); the questionnaire lists Odyssey Consulting.
  • No endorsements or campaign finance reports were found.

Sources for Pickering

Tevin Roger Thomas

Independent

Candidate for an at-large seat running as an Independent; no campaign statements were found [31].

How Thomas got on the ballot

  • Filed by petition with the Independent label [32, 6].

What we could not find about Thomas

  • Did not submit answers to the Western Wayne News questionnaire.
  • No news coverage, website, social media or forum appearances were found; his occupation and ties to the schools are unknown.
  • One Western Wayne News article spells his middle name 'Rodger'; the state list and the county guide show 'Roger'.
  • No endorsements or campaign finance reports were found.

Sources for Thomas

Roderick (Rod) Weiss

Republican

Real estate business owner and longtime sports official running for an at-large seat as a Republican [41].

Weiss's background

  • Self-employed for about 44 years; owns commercial and residential real estate companies [41].
  • Licensed basketball and volleyball official for 47 years [41].
  • Richmond High School graduate (1979) and parent of RCS graduates; board member and treasurer of the RHS Alumni Association, president of Circle U Food Bank and board member of Richmond Kiwanis [41].

Weiss's positions

Academics

  • Lists raising test scores as his first priority [41]; told the board in October 2025 that addressing low test scores should be the district's focus [36].

Enrollment & school choice

  • Wants to raise enrollment by bringing back students who left and recruiting new ones [41]; told the board in October 2025 he believes more than 1,000 former RCS students attend other schools and that bringing them back would ease budget problems [36].

Budget & taxes

  • Says the board should keep working with legislators for changes that benefit the district [41].
  • Questioned several expenditures and priorities at an October 2025 board meeting [36].

Transparency & community input

  • Would grow the PTO, keep residents informed through newspapers, radio and possibly billboards, and invites residents to contact him with questions [41].

How Weiss would run the office

  • Wants to help secure the resources teachers need [41].
  • Says he will accept the outcome whether or not he wins [41].

Weiss on the current officeholder

  • Says he does not see anything going well in the district now and that leadership needs to change, with the board pushing the administration to do its best [41].

How Weiss got on the ballot

  • Filed by petition with the Republican label [30, 6].

What we could not find about Weiss

  • No website or social media campaign pages were found.
  • The figure of more than 1,000 former students attending other schools is his estimate; this guide did not find district data on it.
  • No endorsements or campaign finance reports were found.

Sources for Weiss

Key points

  • Seats on the 2026 ballot: two at-large seats and District 3, which covers much of the city's west side. The state list shows the at-large race electing two members from five candidates, matching Western Wayne News and the county election guide. (Western Wayne News)
  • Budget and staffing (2025–2026): in October 2025 the district projected losses from state tax changes of $584,000 in 2026, $630,500 in 2027 and $556,010 in 2028. (Western Wayne News)
  • Richmond Community Schools (RCS) serves Richmond in Wayne County and is governed by an elected seven-member Board of School Trustees. (Richmond Community Schools)

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. Board of School Trustees (Richmond Community Schools)
  25. Richmond Community Schools home page (Richmond Community Schools)
  26. RCS principals highlight academic gains (Western Wayne News)
  27. RCS board: Cut costs, not arts teachers (Western Wayne News)
  28. RCS enrollment numbers holding steady (Kicks 96 (WKBV))
  29. 4 candidates file for 12 open seats (Western Wayne News)
  30. School board candidate slate finalized (Western Wayne News)
  31. 2026 Wayne County Election Guide (Western Wayne News)
  32. Battles increase on Nov. ballots (Western Wayne News)
  33. RCS parent, graduate joins school board (Western Wayne News)
  34. RCS parent, graduate will join board (Western Wayne News)
  35. RCS board member resigns (Western Wayne News)
  36. Richmond Community Schools readies for budget uncertainties (Western Wayne News)
  37. RCS approves RIF at special meeting (Western Wayne News)
  38. RCS board approves 2026-30 strategic plan (Western Wayne News)
  39. RCS board members sworn in for new term (Western Wayne News)
  40. Starr Elementary School report card (Indiana Department of Education (Indiana GPS))
  41. Candidate Q&A: Roderick Weiss (Western Wayne News)
  42. Candidate Q&A: Bruce Laudermilk (Western Wayne News)
  43. Candidate Q&A: Michael Elorreaga (Western Wayne News)
  44. Candidate Q&A: Kimberly Brown Pickering (Western Wayne News)
  45. Zaleski, Mopps top vote-getters for Richmond; most Wayne County school board incumbents retain seats (Palladium-Item (via Yahoo News))
  46. Newer members lead RCS board (Western Wayne News)
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.