Indiana school voters approve most funding plans

Voters across Central Indiana largely supported school funding measures on election day, with 27 referendums receiving approval. The results provide immediate financial relief to several large districts in Indianapolis and Hamilton County, though other communities will face deeper budget cuts in the coming years.

In Hamilton County, residents approved funding requests in Hamilton Southeastern, Carmel Clay, Noblesville, and Westfield Washington. Matt Kegley, superintendent of Hamilton Southeastern Schools, said the new revenue will support teacher salaries and benefits. He noted the funds will also provide counseling resources and address safety measures. Kegley described the approval as a continuation of existing work, allowing the district to support those efforts moving forward.

The Hamilton Southeastern School Board approved the district budget and a tentative contract with teachers on Wednesday, following the referendum victory. New funding for Hamilton Southeastern and Indianapolis Public Schools, known as IPS, is scheduled to begin in 2027.

Indianapolis Public Education Corp. also received voter approval for additional funding. IPS Superintendent Aleesia Johnson stated the district has two specific actions planned for this month. First, she said the board will act on recommendations for school mergers for the next school year. Second, the board will take necessary action to formally begin rightsizing agreements for existing Innovation Network schools, which are public autonomous schools run by nonprofit boards.

The Indiana School Boards Association reported that voters in most communities chose to support additional funding despite concerns about the rising cost of living. Terry Spradlin, the association's executive director, said the results show voters view public schools as anchor institutions for their local communities.

Not every district succeeded. Decatur Township Schools in Indianapolis saw its referendum fail. Superintendent Scott Collins said the district will face difficult decisions regarding the necessity to cut over $8 million from its budget by 2028. Collins stated that district leadership and the school board will evaluate their financial situation over the coming months. They will identify staffing and programming to cut to operate within available resources.

A referendum also failed in Shelby County. Matt Vance, superintendent of Shelbyville Central Schools, said the district will work to minimize the impact on students and staff. Vance indicated the district will likely need to prepare for another referendum in the future to maintain current programs. The Indiana School Boards Association said failed referendums could lead to layoffs, larger class sizes, and delays to programming and maintenance in the next few weeks and months.