Sullivan Southwest 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 Southwest School Corporation

• The state list's 'Sullivan Southwest School Board' is the Southwest School Corporation (SWSC) in Sullivan County, which runs Carlisle Elementary and Carlisle Middle schools and Sullivan Elementary (with a preschool), Sullivan Middle and Sullivan High schools ^{[6, 24]}. State enrollment counts were 1,800 students in 2023-24, 1,776 in 2024-25 and 1,785 in 2025-26 ^[25]. In August 2026 the district reported 217 students at the Carlisle schools and 1,542 at the Sullivan schools ^[26].
• Superintendent: Chris Stitzle, with Assistant Superintendent Jon Stuckey ^{[26, 27]}.
• The board has five members. Those voting at the Sept. 16, 2026 meeting were Jon Bobbitt (president), Mike Eslinger, Jerry Wilson, Detrich Harris and Jaque Steele ^{[26, 24]}. Seats are staggered: two members were elected in 2018 and 2022 (Jerry D. Wilson and Michael J. Eslinger both times), and three in 2020 and 2024 (Jon H. Bobbitt, Leigh Detrich Harris and Jacqueline L. Steele in 2024) ^{[28, 29, 30, 31]}. This guide did not find which townships each numbered district covers or whether all district voters vote in every race.
• Seats on the 2026 ballot: District 1 and District 5, one seat each, matching the two seats filled in 2022 ^{[6, 29]}. Wilson is running in District 5 against Derrick Demoss, who also ran against him in 2022 (Wilson 1,851 votes, DeMoss 1,461) ^{[6, 29]}. Eslinger, the other member elected in 2022, is not on the 2026 list, so District 1 appears to be an open seat contested by Colt Thompson and Melissa Stearley; this guide did not confirm which district Eslinger represents ^[6].
• Party labels: all four candidates filed without a party and are listed as Nonpartisan; 2026 is the first year Indiana school board candidates could list one ^{[6, 32]}.
• Facilities (August 2026): at an Aug. 19, 2026 public hearing the board approved a lease/bond-financed project that includes four new primary classrooms, four new intermediate classrooms and a commons area and an expanded office at Sullivan Elementary, renovated PE and athletic locker rooms at Sullivan High School and other district-wide work. The district's municipal advisor said issuing the new bonds is not projected to raise the tax rate. No one from the public commented ^[26].
• Budget (August–September 2026): the treasurer's report in August showed about $5.1 million in total cash, including $2.08 million in the Education Fund, $1.17 million in the Operations Fund and $1.48 million in the Rainy Day Fund ^[26]. The board approved a 4% overall health insurance increase for 2026-27 and adopted the 2027 budget on Sept. 16, 2026 after a Sept. 2 hearing ^{[26, 24]}. This guide found no reporting on how the 2025 property-tax law SEA 1 affects SWSC, and no SWSC referendum.
• Staffing and parent concerns (2026): the board held its required hearing on teacher collective bargaining on Aug. 19, 2026 ^[26]. At the Sept. 16 meeting a parent raised transportation problems for a second time; Eslinger said administrators planned to review and adjust bus routes after fall break. Another parent spoke about tutoring and reading help ^[24].
• Forums: this guide found no 2026 candidate forum, questionnaire or voter-guide entries for these races. The Sullivan Daily Times' 2026 coverage found by this guide did not cover the school board races.

District 1

2 candidates

District 5

2 candidates

Key points

• Budget (August–September 2026): the treasurer's report in August showed about $5.1 million in total cash, including $2.08 million in the Education Fund, $1.17 million in the Operations Fund and $1.48 million in the Rainy Day Fund. (Sullivan Daily Times)
• The state list's 'Sullivan Southwest School Board' is the Southwest School Corporation (SWSC) in Sullivan County, which runs Carlisle Elementary and Carlisle Middle schools and Sullivan Elementary (with a preschool), Sullivan Middle and Sullivan High schools. (Indiana Election Division)
• Superintendent: Chris Stitzle, with Assistant Superintendent Jon Stuckey. (Sullivan Daily Times)

Sources