When we think of important elections, we think about the presidential race, governor, congress, the state legislature and a number of other elections. However, one of the most important decisions local voters will be making in November is the school board election.
Our local Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School District is the 4th-largest in the state, based on number of students enrolled. The people serving on that school board make important decisions impacting our K-12 students, the staff serving those students and impacts the quality of life for all of us. Ask any real estate agent and that person will tell you the quality of local schools has a major impact on everyone’s property values.
We have three school board seats up for election this year. First, a brief explanation of how local school board elections work.
We have HSE School Board elections every two years. in 2018, 4 seats were on the ballot, but you could only vote for the school board member representing your district. In other words, you voted for the one school board member representing your geographic boundary.
In 2020, there will be an “at-large” election for three seats. All voters in Fall Creek, Delaware and Wayne Townships are allowed to vote in all three races. The only proviso is that the candidate for each township must reside in that township. So, of the current board members, Amanda Shera lives in Delaware Township, Clint Wilson in Fall Creek Township and Sylvia Shepler in Wayne Township.
Wilson was appointed by the board to fill-out the term of Fall Creek Township at-large school board member Mike Bottorff, who resigned during his term of office. In order to receive that appointment, Wilson was required to live in Fall Creek Township.
The period for school board candidates to file their paperwork began Wednesday, July 22nd. The deadline for school board candidate filings is noon, August 21st.
As of close of business Friday, July 24th, the Hamilton County Election Office in Noblesville had received two HSE School Board filings – incumbent Clint Wilson in Fall Creek Township and Sarah E. Parks-Reese in Wayne Township.
Incumbents Amanda Shera in Delaware Township and Sylvia Shepler in Wayne Township are expected to seek re-election, but I have seen no official announcements as of this writing.
Director of Planning and Zoning for the City of Fishers Tony Bagato has been on social media in the past few days announcing he plans to run for HSE School Board in Delaware Township.
I will have a lot more to say about the school board election once we know all the candidates, which will be noon, August 21st. In the meantime, I will try to keep you posted as candidates file their official documents as candidates.
The HSE School Board vote will be one of the most important you will cast in November.