Silver Creek 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.

About Silver Creek School Corporation

• The district: Silver Creek School Corporation, based in Sellersburg in Clark County, runs four schools: Silver Creek Primary (K-1), Silver Creek Elementary (2-5), Silver Creek Middle (6-8) and Silver Creek High (9-12) ^{[24, 25]}. It split from the former West Clark Community Schools, along with Borden and Henryville schools, in 2020 ^[26]. State data show 3,189 students in 2026, up from 2,799 in 2021 ^[27].
• Superintendent: Dr. Chad Briggs. Dr. Todd Balmer is assistant superintendent and CFO ^[28].
• Board: five members, Chris Rountree, Scott Groan, Kristy Franklin, Joe Basham and Laurryn McDaniel ^[29]. Three are elected from districts: Rountree (District 1), Groan (District 2) and McDaniel (District 3) won those seats in 2024 ^{[30, 31]}. The other two seats are at-large. Basham and Franklin won them in 2022, when the state results show two seats and only those two candidates; Basham got 2,618 votes and Franklin 2,253 ^[32]. The district website does not list officer roles or term dates ^[29].
• Seats on the 2026 ballot: the state list shows the at-large race electing two members ^[6]. That matches 2022, when the two at-large seats were filled together (state results: two seats) ^[32]. With two candidates for two seats, both are expected to be elected.
• Who is running: both at-large incumbents are on the ballot and no one else filed. Louisville Public Media listed Joseph W. 'Joe' Basham as Independent and Kristy Franklin as nonpartisan ^{[33, 6]}. LPM noted that 2026 is the first general election in which school board candidates can run with a party label under a 2025 state law, and that most candidates still chose to run as nonpartisan ^[33].
• Building capacity and the failed referendum (May 2025): the board asked voters to approve a property tax referendum of up to $62.86 million over 25 years. It would have paid for a new elementary school and fieldhouse, more classrooms at the primary school (pre-K, kindergarten, first grade and special education), classroom changes at the elementary and middle schools, and HVAC, roofing and paving work at the high school ^[34]. LPM reported that the primary, elementary and middle schools were all over their best capacity as of fall 2024. The measure would have raised residential property taxes paid to the district by an average of 44.13% and business property taxes by 32.56% ^[34].
• Referendum result: voters rejected it on May 6, 2025, 3,759 (94%) to 238 (nearly 6%), with 12,356 registered voters eligible ^[26]. Assistant Superintendent and CFO Todd Balmer said, 'We know we've got to still look at creating capacity.' He said the district would 'take a step back' and look at other options, and LPM reported that modular classrooms were one immediate option ^[26]. A resident who opposed the measure ran a Facebook page called 'No To Silver Creek Tax Hikes' ^[26]. This guide found no news report of a replacement building plan.
• Town funding proposal (September 2026): the Town of Sellersburg's redevelopment commission was considering a partnership with the school corporation. Commission Vice President Patrick Duggins proposed using tax-increment financing (TIF) money, which state law lets commissions spend on educational and job-training programs ^[35]. The outcome was not found in freely available sources.
• Budget and SEA 1: this guide found no public statement from the board or district on how the 2025 property-tax law (SEA 1) affects Silver Creek's budget.
• Forums: this guide found no candidate forum, questionnaire or campaign coverage for this race. With two candidates for two seats, the race is not contested.

At Large

2 candidates, 2 seats

Key points

• The district: Silver Creek School Corporation, based in Sellersburg in Clark County, runs four schools: Silver Creek Primary (K-1), Silver Creek Elementary (2-5), Silver Creek Middle (6-8) and Silver Creek High (9-12). (Silver Creek School Corporation)
• Board: five members, Chris Rountree, Scott Groan, Kristy Franklin, Joe Basham and Laurryn McDaniel. Three are elected from districts: Rountree (District 1), Groan (District 2) and McDaniel (District 3) won those seats in 2024. The other two seats are at-large. (Silver Creek School Corporation)
• Building capacity and the failed referendum (May 2025): the board asked voters to approve a property tax referendum of up to $62.86 million over 25 years. (Louisville Public Media)

Sources