Vincennes 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 Vincennes Community School Corp

• The Vincennes Community School Corporation (VCSC) in Knox County covers Vincennes Township, including the city of Vincennes ^[24]. It enrolled about 2,700 students in 2024–25 across seven schools, according to federal data: Lincoln High School, Washington Learning Academy, George Rogers Clark Middle School and the Franklin, Tecumseh-Harrison, Vigo and Riley elementary schools ^[25]. Greg Parsley is superintendent ^{[26, 27]}. Bobe said in 2026 that the board has kept him 'for over 15 years' ^[28]. In 2026 the state superintendents' association named Parsley its District VII Superintendent of the Year ^[29].
• The board has five members, all elected at large. In January 2025 they were Pat Hutchison (president), Karla Smith, Lynne Bobe, Kolby Kerzan and Aaron Bauer ^[30]. Smith, Kerzan and Bauer were among the five candidates in the 2024 at-large race, and they took the oath of office in January 2025 ^{[31, 30]}. Smith was board president as of May 2026 ^[29].
• Seats on the 2026 ballot: two at-large seats, matching the state list ^[6]. Board members Pat Hutchison and Lynne Bobe are running for reelection, and Breanne Clark is the only other candidate ^[28]. Knox County Clerk David Shelton said the race has 'three candidates running for two at-large positions.' Machines were reprogrammed before early voting began Oct. 6 because the ballot wrongly told voters they could choose three. About 60 absentee ballots that had already been mailed carried the error; affected voters may request a replacement ^[32].
• Budget and SEA 1 (2025–2026): in August 2026 the board voted to advertise a 2027 budget of about $47 million, at an advertised tax rate of $1.50 per $100 of assessed value. The 2026 rate was advertised at $1.32 and finalized at $1.04 ^[27]. Parsley said the district has left some positions vacant through attrition ^[27]. In August 2025 he told the board that state budget cuts meant VCSC could not give the same 'significant' wage increases as in the past ^[33]. The board ratified a 2025–27 teacher contract in November 2025 ^[34].
• Facilities contract (Sept. 2026): the board voted to end Sodexo's maintenance, grounds and custodial contract, worth about $2.5 million, and bring the work in-house as of Oct. 31. The Sun-Commercial reported that the move is part of efforts to cut costs 'amid the financial impact of Indiana Senate Bill 1.' Parsley said, 'We're looking for every savings that's potentially out there' ^[35].
• Building projects (2025–2026): the board held public hearings in January and February 2026 on a bond-financed renovation project of up to $16.23 million. The project is centered on Lincoln High School and also covers Clark Middle School and support buildings ^{[36, 37]}. Under the plan the debt service tax rate would rise from $0.5342 to a projected maximum of $0.6548 per $100 of assessed value, first paid in 2027 ^[37]. In March 2026 the board approved a $1.66 million culinary arts renovation at Lincoln High and a new Franklin Elementary playground. It also laid out a longer-range plan that includes moving the football facility to the high school campus within five to ten years ^[38].
• School safety: VCSC created its own police department, and its first officers were sworn in in January 2025 ^{[30, 24]}. Hutchison says the department has six full-time officers ^[28].
• Forums and differences: the Sun-Commercial published profiles of all three candidates on Oct. 1, 2026 ^[28]. No 2026 candidate forum was found. All three cite school safety and responsible spending. The incumbents point to the board's record (program additions, building remodels, the police department) and to tighter finances under SEA 1. Clark, a former VCSC teacher and now an assistant principal elsewhere, stresses reading and literacy, support for teachers, and the board's oversight role ^[28].

At Large

3 candidates · 2 seats

Key points

• The Vincennes Community School Corporation (VCSC) in Knox County covers Vincennes Township, including the city of Vincennes. (Wikipedia)
• Budget and SEA 1 (2025–2026): in August 2026 the board voted to advertise a 2027 budget of about $47 million, at an advertised tax rate of $1.50 per $100 of assessed value. The 2026 rate was advertised at $1.32 and finalized at $1.04. (Vincennes Sun-Commercial)
• Facilities contract (Sept. 2026): the board voted to end Sodexo's maintenance, grounds and custodial contract, worth about $2.5 million, and bring the work in-house as of Oct. 31. (Vincennes Sun-Commercial)

Sources