Letter: Be wary of partisan school board candidates

In 2025, the Indiana Legislature passed a bill providing for partisan school board elections. However, candidates can still declare Independent or non-partisan on the ballot rather than Democratic or Republican. Candidates truly seeking to serve the students, parents, educators, and community of a district will choose Independent or non-partisan.

Voters must be cautious of candidates selecting a party affiliation. Those displaying a party label likely would use the school board position to move further politically and have a higher probability of being beholden to a political party boss rather than the residents of the district.

Imagine the negative impacts of a party chair controlling the decisions of school board members – influencing the selection of the superintendent, hiring of employees, creation of positions, work contracts, and in-classroom education – all likely to favor those aligned with that political party.

Remember this General Election, vote for the best candidate for school board (and all offices), not a party label.

With candidate filings for school board occurring from May 19 to June 18, those choosing to declare a party should have voters asking, “Who are they really running to serve?”

John Hurley
Richland, Ind.