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2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Zionsville School Board

3 seats on the Zionsville Community Schools's board are on this year's ballot, with 6 names on them, alongside a question for the same voters. 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 Zionsville Community Schools

  • Zionsville Community Schools (ZCS) serves Zionsville and Eagle and Union townships in Boone County, with a high school, two middle schools and six elementary schools [24]. The district counted 7,852 students on the Oct. 1, 2025 count day, up 28 from the prior year [25]. Rebecca Coffman is superintendent [26].
  • The Board of School Trustees has five elected members representing Eagle and Union townships [24], serving four-year terms [27]. Current members: Katie Aeschliman (president), Michael Berg (vice president), Michael Coussens (secretary), Jennifer Valentine and Christy Wessel-Powell [24]. In 2022 the IndyStar reported that any registered voter in the district may vote in each seat's race regardless of where they live [28].
  • Three seats are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot, one per race (at-large, Eagle Township and Union Township), matching the state list's "vote for 1" [27, 6]. All three incumbents are running: Wessel-Powell (at-large), Berg (Eagle) and Valentine (Union), each first elected or reelected in 2022 [27, 28]. Each faces one challenger; the three challengers are listed as Republicans and the incumbents with no party [6, 27]. The other two seats (Aeschliman, Eagle; Coussens, Union) were elected in 2024 and are not on the ballot [27].
  • Referendum: on June 8, 2026, the board voted 4-0 to place an eight-year operating referendum on the November ballot, renewing a levy first approved in 2012 and last renewed in 2019 that expires in December 2027 [29, 26]. The question sets a maximum rate of 0.4128 per $100 of assessed value and a maximum annual levy of $21,463,325; state-required ballot language says a $600,000 median home's tax bill would rise $1,368 a year, which the state approved on June 10 [30].
  • The superintendent says the referendum pays for about one in three ZCS teachers, that 100% of its revenue goes to teacher salaries and benefits, and that ZCS is the lowest-funded Indiana district per pupil; she says the required ballot figure is calculated as if no referendum existed and will appear higher than what residents would actually pay [26]. The parent group YES for ZCS calls it a renewal, not a new tax, and estimates an average change of $7.10 a year for a median residence [31].
  • Budget and SEA 1: the district says the 2025 property-tax law (SEA 1) reduces the taxable value of homes, so school revenue from them is expected to fall even as home values rise, and that because the current levy expires in December 2027 and referendums may now appear only in even-year November elections, waiting until 2028 would be too late [26].
  • Facilities and growth: in spring 2026 ZCS broke ground on an Early Learning Center that will also house administrative offices; the district says this lets it accommodate growth without opening a new elementary or middle school for now and frees space at the high school [32]. Class-size targets are 18 in kindergarten and first grade, 20 in grades 2-3 and 25 in grades 4-12 [25].
  • Accountability: in August 2025 district staff briefed the board on the state's proposed new accountability and grading model taking effect in fall 2026 [33].
  • Forums: no joint school board candidate forum was found in reviewed sources; the Zionsville Village Residents Association scheduled a presentation by Superintendent Coffman on the referendum for Oct. 11, 2026 [34]. Of the six candidates, Valentine and Waters said they support the referendum, and all three incumbents voted to place it on the ballot [35, 36, 29].

Zionsville Community School Board, At Large

2 candidates

Thomas (Tom) Trupe

Republican

Engineer, small-business owner and ZCS parent running for the at-large seat, listed as a Republican [38, 39, 6].

Trupe's background

  • Has a bachelor's degree in engineering from Penn State and a master's in engineering from Purdue; worked in product development for a local Fortune 500 company [39].
  • Zionsville resident since 2015; co-owns several Zionsville-based businesses; parent of ZCS students [39].
  • Says he has coached Zionsville Little League, served on his HOA board and volunteered with the Zionsville Food Pantry, Wheeler Mission and Safe Families [39, 38].

Trupe's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Says ZCS's budget "has grown exponentially over the last decade while student growth and academic success have moderated," and wants to fully understand district finances and direct dollars to students' learning needs [38].
  • Lists financial audits among procedures the district should adopt [38].

Teachers & staff

  • Says a sound budget prioritizes competitive teacher pay and classroom support, and that he would reduce "unnecessary administrative burdens" on teachers [38, 40].

Academics

  • Wants the board to set high academic goals and "stretch targets" for administrators, prioritizing math, reading and science [38, 40].

Curriculum & library policy

  • His website lists "Classrooms and curriculum should remain neutral" and "Parents are the decision makers in their children's education" among top issues [40].

Transparency & community input

  • Calls for structured, accessible ways for parents, teachers and taxpayers to be heard, and for the board to consult outside experts as well as those recommended by administrators [38].

How Trupe would run the office

  • Says he would seek and debate options on financial and curricular decisions and focus on safety, financial audits, student support and educational resources [40, 38].

Trupe on the current officeholder

  • Says the board needs members who collaborate with experts beyond those recommended by the administration [38]. No direct comment on specific board votes was found.

How Trupe got on the ballot

  • Listed as a Republican on the 2026 ballot list [6]. First run for this office found in reviewed sources [38].

Trupe's endorsements and funding

  • Said in his Aug. 26, 2026 Ballotpedia survey that he had not accepted any endorsement [38]. No campaign finance reports were found in reviewed sources.

What we could not find about Trupe

  • No stated position on the 2026 operating referendum was found.
  • Local coverage (Current in Zionsville) could not be reviewed for this profile.
  • Campaign finance filings with Boone County were not reviewed.

Trupe's campaign website

Sources for Trupe

Christina Wessel-Powell

Nonpartisan

Incumbent at-large member, first elected in 2022; a Purdue education professor and ZCS parent, she is listed with no party [27, 6, 37].

Wessel-Powell's background

  • Was an assistant professor of literacy and language education at Purdue University as of 2022; holds a Ph.D. in education from Indiana University Bloomington and was earlier a K-2 classroom teacher and literacy coach, according to her 2022 campaign site [37].
  • Parent of two children in ZCS, per her 2022 campaign site [37].

Wessel-Powell's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Voted with the 4-0 majority on June 8, 2026, to place the operating referendum on the ballot [29].

Teachers & staff

  • In 2022 she campaigned on giving teachers support and autonomy, maintaining student safety and managing district growth [28].

How Wessel-Powell would run the office

  • Her 2022 campaign site pledged to support teachers, welcome all families and provide responsible stewardship of the schools [37].

Wessel-Powell on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member [24]. No 2026 statement on the board's record was found in reviewed sources.

How Wessel-Powell got on the ballot

  • Listed with no party on the 2026 ballot [6].
  • Won the at-large seat in 2022 over Matthew Keefer and Sarah Sampson; sworn in January 2023 [27, 28].

Wessel-Powell's endorsements and funding

  • In 2022 she was endorsed by then-board president Debbie Ungar [28]. No 2026 endorsements or campaign finance reports were found in reviewed sources.

What we could not find about Wessel-Powell

  • No 2026 campaign platform, interview or Ballotpedia survey was found; her listed campaign website dates from 2022.
  • Current job title (assistant vs. associate professor) not verified for 2026.
  • Local coverage (Current in Zionsville) could not be reviewed for this profile.
  • Campaign finance filings with Boone County were not reviewed.

Wessel-Powell's campaign website

Sources for Wessel-Powell

Zionsville Community School Board, Eagle

2 candidates

Michael Berg

Nonpartisan

Incumbent Eagle Township member and board vice president seeking a third term; listed with no party [24, 6, 28].

Berg's background

  • As of 2022, a licensed therapist and program manager for HIV services at a large health network [28].
  • Parent of two daughters in ZCS as of 2022 [28].

Berg's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Voted with the 4-0 majority on June 8, 2026, to place the operating referendum on the ballot [29].
  • In 2022 he campaigned on responsible management of tax dollars and teacher autonomy in the classroom [28].

Berg on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member and its vice president [24]. No 2026 statement on the board's record was found in fetched sources.

How Berg got on the ballot

  • Listed with no party on the 2026 ballot [6].
  • Joined the board in 2018 and won the Eagle Township seat in 2022 over Timothy Hardt [28, 27].

Berg's endorsements and funding

  • Endorsed by the Zionsville Educators Association, per Ballotpedia [42]. No campaign finance reports were found in reviewed sources.

What we could not find about Berg

  • His campaign Facebook page (Berg4Board) could not be read.
  • Current employment not verified for 2026.
  • Local coverage (Current in Zionsville) could not be reviewed for this profile.
  • Campaign finance filings with Boone County were not reviewed.
  • No 2026 platform was found in fetched sources.

Sources for Berg

Melissa Waters

Republican

Former elementary teacher and ZCS parent challenging the Eagle Township incumbent, listed as a Republican [41, 6].

Waters's background

  • Has a B.A. in education from Purdue; taught for nine years (second and third grades at a charter school, then fourth and fifth grades at a public school) and has substituted in ZCS and nearby districts [41].
  • Moved to Zionsville in 2017; parent of two ZCS students; has volunteered with Boone County CASA and school PTOs [41].

Waters's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Says she plans to support the referendum to protect class sizes, but that if it passes the district should pursue independent financial audits and keep administrative costs as low as possible [36].

Academics

  • Supports more recess for middle schoolers, more textbooks and paper-based learning "where appropriate," hands-on learning and academic competition [36].
  • Wants a rigorous writing curriculum, explicit grammar instruction and mastery of foundational math in elementary grades [36].

Teachers & staff

  • Lists retaining and attracting excellent educators as a focus [36].

Curriculum & library policy

  • Says classrooms should remain politically neutral, and that students' broader social, emotional and medical needs should be addressed by parents and outside professionals rather than school resources [36].

How Waters would run the office

  • Says she would focus on student achievement, partnering with families and educators, and stewardship of taxpayer money [41].

Waters on the current officeholder

  • Her calls for independent audits and lower administrative costs imply changes to current practice, but no direct comment on the board's record was found [36].

How Waters got on the ballot

  • Listed as a Republican on the 2026 ballot list [6].

What we could not find about Waters

  • Local coverage (Current in Zionsville) could not be reviewed for this profile.
  • Campaign finance filings with Boone County were not reviewed.
  • No endorsements or campaign finance reports were found in reviewed sources.

Waters's campaign website

Sources for Waters

Zionsville Community School Board, Union

2 candidates

Rachel Brandli

Republican

Nonprofit event planner and ZCS parent challenging the Union Township incumbent, listed as a Republican [43, 6].

Brandli's background

  • Has a bachelor's degree in communications from Grace College and works as an event planner for a local nonprofit [43].
  • Built a home in Zionsville in 2016; parent of three children in ZCS elementary, middle and high schools; has coached Zionsville Little League sports [43].

Brandli's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Says the largest possible share of school funding should go to teachers and classroom learning, with streamlined administrative costs [44].

Teachers & staff

  • Wants administrators to give teachers more help with classroom behavior to protect instructional time, and supports strategic use of teacher aides, especially in larger classes [44].

Curriculum & library policy

  • Says classrooms should stay politically impartial and that students' social, emotional and medical needs should be led by families and outside professionals [44].
  • Says the health and sex-education curriculum should cover nutrition, physical development and fitness, and that instruction on condom use, sexually transmitted diseases and the causes of pregnancy is not appropriate in public school; supports requiring explicit parental approval for health curriculum materials [44].

How Brandli would run the office

  • Lists prioritizing academic instruction, classroom-focused funding and protected instructional time [44].

Brandli on the current officeholder

  • Her proposals on health curriculum and behavior support imply changes to current practice, but no direct comment on the board's record was found [44].

How Brandli got on the ballot

  • Listed as a Republican on the 2026 ballot list [6].

What we could not find about Brandli

  • No stated position on the 2026 operating referendum was found.
  • Local coverage (Current in Zionsville) could not be reviewed for this profile.
  • Campaign finance filings with Boone County were not reviewed.
  • No endorsements or campaign finance reports were found in reviewed sources.

Brandli's campaign website

Sources for Brandli

Jennifer Valentine

Nonpartisan

Incumbent Union Township member first elected in 2022, listed with no party; endorsed by the Zionsville Educators Association [35, 6].

Valentine's background

  • Has a bachelor's degree from Oakland University [35].
  • Parent of two ZCS graduates and two current students; her family is in its 13th school year in Zionsville [35].
  • Says she volunteers with sports, robotics, the civics bee and other community programs [35].

Valentine's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Supports the operating referendum and says she is running to continue the board's fiscal stewardship [35].
  • Voted with the 4-0 majority on June 8, 2026, to place the referendum on the ballot [29].

Teachers & staff

  • Calls for strategic investment in teachers and staff, and says retention is vital [35].

Facilities

  • Lists responsible planning for growth, including land and capital needs [35].

School safety

  • Lists student safety, mental health and inclusion as top priorities [35].

Transparency & community input

  • Wants clear channels for parent feedback and decision-making in which the community can see the steps taken [35].

How Valentine would run the office

  • Says she will focus on K-12 academic standards, early childhood development and vocational training, and on prioritizing spending that directly affects student outcomes [35].

Valentine on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member [24]. Describes the board as "collaborative, with diverse strengths" and says Zionsville is ranked No. 2 among Indiana public school districts and should aim for No. 1 [35].

How Valentine got on the ballot

  • Listed with no party on the 2026 ballot [6].
  • Won the Union Township seat in 2022 in a three-way race with Michael Coussens and Marcus Such [27, 28].

Valentine's endorsements and funding

  • Endorsed by the Zionsville Educators Association, per her Ballotpedia survey [35]. No campaign finance reports were found in reviewed sources.

What we could not find about Valentine

  • The ranking she cites (No. 2 in Indiana) was not independently verified; its source was not stated.
  • Current occupation not stated in 2026 sources.
  • Campaign finance filings with Boone County were not reviewed.

Valentine's campaign website

Sources for Valentine

On the same ballot

  • Zionsville Community Schools operating referendum

    School referendum · Zionsville Community Schools

    A new levy of up to $0.4128 per $100 and $21.5 million a year for 8 years. It succeeds the 2019 levy ($0.2444), which ends in December 2027. Ballot: +$1,368 a year for a $600,000 median home.

Key points

  • Also on this ballot for the same district: Zionsville Community Schools operating referendum. A new levy of up to $0.4128 per $100 and $21.5 million a year for 8 years. It succeeds the 2019 levy ($0.2444), which ends in December 2027. Ballot: +$1,368 a year for a $600,000 median home. (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance)
  • Referendum: on June 8, 2026, the board voted 4-0 to place an eight-year operating referendum on the November ballot, renewing a levy first approved in 2012 and last renewed in 2019 that expires in December 2027. (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance)
  • Forums: no joint school board candidate forum was found in reviewed sources; the Zionsville Village Residents Association scheduled a presentation by Superintendent Coffman on the referendum for Oct. 11, 2026. (Zionsville Village Residents Association)

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. School Board (Zionsville Community Schools)
  25. Class Size and Enrollment Report (Zionsville Community Schools)
  26. 2026 Referendum (letter from Superintendent Rebecca Coffman) (Zionsville Community Schools)
  27. Zionsville Community Schools, Indiana, elections (Ballotpedia)
  28. Meet the school board candidates for Zionsville Community Schools (Indianapolis Star (via Yahoo News))
  29. Excerpts of Minutes and Referendum Tax Levy Resolution, Zionsville Community Schools (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance)
  30. Findings and Final Determination on Proposed Question, No. 26-001-REF (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance)
  31. YES for ZCS (YES for ZCS (parent-led referendum committee))
  32. ZCS Digest March 2026 (Zionsville Community Schools)
  33. August 2025 Board Meeting (Zionsville Community Schools)
  34. 10/04/2026 newsletter (Zionsville Village Residents Association)
  35. Jennifer Valentine (candidate survey) (Ballotpedia)
  36. Vision (Melissa Waters campaign)
  37. Dr. Christy for School Board (2022 campaign site) (Christy Wessel-Powell campaign)
  38. Thomas Trupe (candidate survey) (Ballotpedia)
  39. About Tom Trupe (Committee to Elect Thomas Trupe)
  40. Issues (Committee to Elect Thomas Trupe)
  41. About Melissa Waters (Melissa Waters campaign)
  42. Michael Berg (2026 candidate page) (Ballotpedia)
  43. About Rachel Brandli (Committee to Elect Rachel Brandli)
  44. Issues (Committee to Elect Rachel Brandli)
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.