Sheridan 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 Sheridan Community Schools

• The 'Sheridan School Board' seats belong to Sheridan Community Schools, based in Sheridan in northwestern Hamilton County; the district's boundaries cover parts of both Hamilton and Boone counties ^{[24, 25]}. Federal data list 1,169 students in three schools in 2024-25 ^[25]. Dr. Dave Mundy is superintendent ^[26].
• The Board of Trustees has five members ^[27]. Seats carry area labels: two Adams Township seats and an at-large seat were on the 2022 ballot, and two Marion Township (Boone County) seats were on the 2024 ballot, held then by Dan Fleming and John Hunt ^{[28, 29]}. Tyler Henning is board president ^[26]. This guide did not find the district's written election plan or a current board roster; the district website could not be reviewed for this profile.
• Seats on the 2026 ballot: WFYI reports two Adams Township seats and one At Large seat, all three held by incumbents who are running again ^[24]. The state list also shows two Adams Township seats, matching the 2022 Hamilton County ballot's 'vote for 2' ^{[6, 28]}, so with two candidates for two seats, both Adams Township candidates are expected to be seated.
• 2022 results (Hamilton County portion only): in Adams Township (vote for 2), Kim Zachery received 1,048 votes and Tyler Henning 826, and both were seated as new members ^{[28, 27]}. In the At Large race, Nancy Boone received 686 votes, Cheri Hume 466 and Drew J Carlisle 290 ^[28]. The Reporter described Boone as representing Marion Township in Boone County and said 2022 was her second-term win ^[27]. Boone County's share of the vote was not checked.
• Party labels: 2026 is the first Hamilton County school board election under a state law that lets candidates list a party, list as independent or list no affiliation on the ballot ^[24]. Henning is listed as Independent; Zachery and Boone are listed as Nonpartisan on the state list and as 'no party' by WFYI ^{[6, 24]}.
• Operating referendum on the same ballot (Nov. 3, 2026): Sheridan Community School Corporation asks voters to approve a property tax rate of up to $0.40 per $100 of assessed value for up to eight years, with a maximum annual levy of $2.9 million, to fund 'educational and operational stability in response to reductions in property tax revenue,' including teacher and staff retention, academic programs and operating costs ^[30]. The ballot question says a median residence of $250,000 would pay $454 more per year if it passes, and notes that the district's 2023 operating referendum passed ^[30]. The state approved the ballot language June 10, 2026 ^[30].
• Budget and SEA 1 (2025 property-tax law): in a district announcement, board president Henning said the new referendum 'was not part of our original long-range financial planning' and was needed because of Senate Enrolled Act 1; the district said the new rate would replace, not add to, the 2023 referendum rate and aims to keep the same level of referendum funding voters approved in 2023 ^[26]. The district said the 2023 referendum passed with about 84 percent support and that cost-saving measures had already cut several hundred thousand dollars this budget cycle ^[26]. That announcement gives the current and proposed rates per $1,000 of assessed value, while the state's ballot-language ruling states the proposed maximum as $0.40 per $100 ^{[26, 30]}.
• Forums: this guide found no 2026 candidate forum, questionnaire or news coverage of the candidates' views.

Adams Township (Hamilton, Boone)

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

At Large (Hamilton, Boone)

Unopposed

On the same ballot

• Sheridan Community Schools operating referendum

  School referendum · Sheridan Community Schools (Sheridan Community School Corporation)

  A levy of up to $0.40 per $100 and $2.9 million a year for 8 years. The district says it replaces the 2023 levy ($0.25) and the two would not run together. Ballot: +$454 for a $250,000 median home.

Key points

• Also on this ballot for the same district: Sheridan Community Schools operating referendum. A levy of up to $0.40 per $100 and $2.9 million a year for 8 years. The district says it replaces the 2023 levy ($0.25) and the two would not run together. Ballot: +$454 for a $250,000 median home. (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance)
• The 'Sheridan School Board' seats belong to Sheridan Community Schools, based in Sheridan in northwestern Hamilton County; the district's boundaries cover parts of both Hamilton and Boone counties. Federal data list 1,169 students in three schools in 2024-25. (WFYI Public Media)
• The Board of Trustees has five members. Seats carry area labels: two Adams Township seats and an at-large seat were on the 2022 ballot, and two Marion Township (Boone County) seats were on the 2024 ballot, held then by Dan Fleming and John Hunt. (The Reporter)

Sources